After sitting idly by as some of his top players including center Tyler Biadasz, defensive end Dorance Armstrong, and running back Tony Pollard all signed elsewhere and as the premier free agents also signed with other teams during the 2024 offseason, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was a bit more proactive this time around.
The Cowboys drafted guard Tyler Booker and running back Jaydon Blue, brought back pash-rusher Dante Fowler Jr., and signed guard Robert Jones, running backs Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams, defensive ends Payton Turner and Soloman Thomas, plus they traded for talented-but-troubled wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And if you ask one former NFL MVP, this all adds up to a no-excuse year for $60 million quarterback Dak Prescott.
On the most recent episode of his “4th & 1” podcast, ex-Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton made the case that if the Cowboys don’t at least reach the NFC Championship game this season, it could put an abrupt end to Prescott’s NFL career.
“If you do not perform this year, that [championship] door is going to close,” Newton said. “And in comes, drumroll please — Arch Manning. If you don't go to that NFC Championship this year… This is your career, bro.”
Few would argue there is an immense amount of pressure on Prescott’s shoulders.
He’s coming off a season-ending hamstring injury suffered back in November, and he’s entering the first year of his new monster $240 million contract that makes him the highest-paid QB in NFL history.
There’s also the speculation going around that if Manning decides to leave the Longhorns early and enter the 2026 draft that Jones would do everything in his power to secure the No. 1 pick in order to keep him in the state of Texas.
While it’s unlikely Prescott has to worry about losing his job anytime soon given his exorbitant contract, Newton is right about there being an astronomically high bar for Prescott to reach to live up to that contract.