The Dallas Cowboys, in a lot of ways, have everything to lose this season. Mike McCarthy is a lame duck head coach who was not given a new contract due to his abysmal 1-3 record in the NFL Playoffs since he arrived in Dallas. Last season’s postseason loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round served as his final notice: regular season success means nothing without a Super Bowl run.
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Quarterback Dak Prescott is due for a massive contract extension, and while the feeling is that a deal will eventually get done, his price is only going up as more and more quarterbacks around the league sign contracts that pay them more than $50 million per year.
Of course, Prescott’s contract is not the only one on the Cowboys’ minds. All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was a OTA’s and minicamp holdout as he awaits a new contract extension from Dallas. He is seeking something in the neighborhood of what Justin Jefferson got with the Minnesota Vikings (four years, $140 million). The two sides’ inability to reach an agreement yet have led some to believe that Dallas could be open to trading him.
The Dallas Cowboys Are Thin at Wide Receiver and Running Back
Dallas Cowboys, CeeDee Lamb
The Cowboys have a ton of pressure to succeed in 2024, but they do not necessarily have the best offensive roster to do so. Of course, Prescott is a phenomenal quarterback who gives Dallas a good chance to be competitive every Sunday. Lamb is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and should go on to be one of the most accomplished pass catchers in franchise history if they ever figure out his contract.
Additionally, tight end Jake Ferguson is one of the most exciting young players at his position in the NFL. He has seamlessly reached the standard of stellar tight end play that the Cowboys have become so well-known for in recent seasons.
Beyond these players, however, the Cowboys’ offense is a collection of has-beens and might-be’s. Ezekiel Elliott may be back as starting running back, but he has not happened a 1,000-yard season since 2021. Last year, with the New England Patriots, he averaged a career-worst 3.5 yards per carry. The depth behind him does not inspire much confidence in the ground game either.
In the wide receiver room, Lamb is the only target of note and he, as mentioned, is holding out. Sure, Brandin Cooks is back, but he is on he wrong side of 30. If Dallas is going to make the deep playoff run that is expected of them, they need more help in the passing game.
NFL Analyst Suggests the Dallas Cowboys Trade for Courtland Sutton of the Denver Broncos
One team that is completely rehauling its roster is the Denver Broncos, who released future Hall of Fame quarterback Russell Wilson earlier this year. Wilson has since signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who also acquired former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
The Broncos drafted Bo Nix as their next quarterback and traded for former second-overall pick Zach Wilson. As they move into the future with Sean Payton at the helm, it is possible that they will part ways with other holdovers from the old regime.Ezoic
One of these players, wide receiver Courtland Sutton, could be acquired by the Cowboys as Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report suggests:
“The Dallas Cowboys are allegedly “all-in” on the 2024 campaign. But the team has some potentially glaring needs at running back and wide receiver that could prevent it from repeating as NFC East champions.
“Sutton would fill one of those needs—an upgraded WR2 opposite star CeeDee Lamb. Given the team’s questions at running back, the Dallas offense may have to lean on quarterback Dak Prescott and the passing game more than ever. In a contract year for Prescott in which quarterback salaries continue to climb.
“Lamb, Sutton, Brandin Cooks and tight end Jake Ferguson would offer Prescott an impressive array of weapons. And improved odds of keeping up with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.
“‘All-in’ should be the mantra in 2024. Because the Cowboys are in more than a few ways at the edge of a proverbial cliff.”
Sutton, a 2019 Pro Bowl wide receiver, has been a pretty solid pass catcher despite poor quarterback play in Denver. Last season, for example, he caught a career-high 10 touchdown passes.
Imagine what he could do with Prescott throwing him the ball and Lamb/Cooks/Ferguson taking attention away from him.
