The Dallas Cowboys missed the playoffs in 2024 and do not seem to be in striking distance of the Philadelphia Eagles or Washington Commanders. They could start thinking about the future.

Dak Prescott has missed 26 games in the last five seasons and is coming off a significant injury. He is under contract for the next few seasons, but TWSN’s Daniel Alameda predicts the Cowboys will start thinking about life after Prescott now. He predicts the Cowboys will swing this trade with the New York Giants to move up to the third overall pick and select Shedeur Sanders.

• Cowboys receive: No.3 overall pick
• Giants receive: No. 12 overall pick, No. 44 overall pick, 2026 first-round pick and 2026 third-round pick

“Trading for Sanders wouldn’t spell the end for Prescott immediately, but it would give Prescott this season to prove they could go far in the playoffs, or a 2026 trade could be imminent,” wrote Alameda. “The Cowboys don’t seem to have a roster that can immediately compete with the Eagles or Commanders, so they should be looking towards the future.”

Prescott has an $89 million cap hit for 2025 and a $60 million-plus cap hit from 2026-2028. His contract will be restructured, but he still has failed to reach an NFC Championship Game in his career. The gap between the Cowboys and Commanders or Eagles is quite evident. The Cowboys could draft Sanders, let him learn for a year and then trade Prescott. The Green Bay Packers did a similar thing with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love, and Love ended up embarrassing the Cowboys in the Playoffs in his first season as a starter.

The move could also put some pressure on Prescott. Rodgers won consecutive MVP Awards after the Packers drafted Love. Ultimately, this trade could help the Cowboys now while also securing a franchise quarterback for the future.

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