Dak Prescott Can Lead Cowboys To Tremendous Bowl. Will Jerry Jones Observe Swimsuit?

What Jerry Jones noticed late in time beyond regulation this previous Sunday was what he described as “classic Dak Prescott.” First got here a pinpoint cross to George Pickens for 27 yards, simply past the attain of the opponent’s finest nook. Then got here Prescott avoiding the cross rush and taking off for a 14-yard run.

To Jones, the membership’s hands-on proprietor, these have been greater than two clutch performs that arrange the game-winning area purpose within the Cowboys’ 40-37 time beyond regulation win over the Giants. They have been justification for the religion Jones has had in his quarterback all alongside. He’s by no means shied away from his perception that Prescott is able to main his Cowboys to the Tremendous Bowl.

And he’s proper. Prescott actually is that good. 

He’s simply by no means had robust sufficient of a supporting forged to win all of it.

Perhaps he’ll quickly.

It’s too early to inform after simply two video games, in fact. However because the Cowboys put together for a Week 3 matchup in opposition to the Chicago Bears (4:25 p.m. ET on FOX), Jones certain does appear to consider he’s bought the best group round Prescott for the primary time within the quarterback’s now 10-year profession. And he believes it even after buying and selling away linebacker Micah Parsons, the most effective defensive gamers within the sport, and embracing what his critics consider is a amount over high quality method.

“We’ve bought some actual expertise on our roster,” Jones stated throughout a latest look on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “You’ll be able to’t maintain all of these gamers beneath our [salary cap] system. It’s important to make some choices. 

“One of many issues that I satisfaction myself in, regardless that I’m criticized for dragging a negotiation out, is that it is advisable see the wreck when it’s coming or see the occasion when it’s coming. Once we signed Dak Prescott, we knew that we have been going to need to be very considered as we go ahead to place the form of roster round Prescott that offers us an opportunity to win the Tremendous Bowl.”

It is definitely a controversial method, within the wake of the 82-year-old’s determination to commerce Parsons to Inexperienced Bay quite than pay him the $46.5 million per 12 months the Packers gave him (4 years, $186 million with $136 million assured). However for Jones, it’s all a part of his dedication to Prescott. He signed Prescott to a four-year, $240 million deal final September, making him the highest-paid participant within the NFL — a distinction Dak nonetheless holds. And he adopted that up by giving his finest weapon, CeeDee Lamb, a four-year, $136 million deal, making him the highest-paid receiver within the league.

Dak Prescott could not have been extra clutch whereas main the Cowboys to a comeback victory over the Giants in Week 2. (Photograph by Cooper Neill/Getty Photos)

Jones thought of paying Parsons, too, and making them his new long-term Huge 3. However his concept gave the impression to be that tying up all that wage cap area in three gamers was going to restrict what he may spend on the remainder of his staff. And Jones definitely hasn’t been shy about spending this offseason. This summer time alone, he’s prolonged tight finish Jake Ferguson, fullback Hunter Luepke, All-Professional cornerback DaRon Bland and Professional Bowl guard Tyler Smith. 

That every one got here after he traded for Pickens again in Might, including the second receiver the Cowboys have wanted since buying and selling away Amari Cooper 4 years in the past. Jones has additionally gotten promising returns from free-agent pickup Javonte Williams, who’s already rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns. With cash left over so as to add to a struggling cross rush — insert Parsons quip right here — he took a one-year, $3.5 million flier on Jadeveon Clowney.

Not all of that’s immediately associated to the choice to not pay Parsons, clearly, although Jones did say the addition of Clowney is “the rationale we deal with the roster the best way we deal with it, so we will do these sorts of issues.” However his level has been constant. The Parsons commerce has given Jones the form of monetary flexibility and draft (or commerce) property to construct the form of staff Prescott wants and deserves.

Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have been one of many league’s most formidable passing duos since first becoming a member of forces in 2020. (Photograph by Ron Jenkins/Getty Photos)

And he needed to, as a result of it was clear that Prescott couldn’t make it work with Lamb alone. For just a few years now, the Cowboys’ offense has been startlingly one-dimensional. Any staff that managed to close down the Prescott-to-Lamb connection had an amazing likelihood to win the sport. When Prescott and Lamb went off, the Cowboys have been a risk to everybody. The 2 of them alone may cowl many of the Cowboys’ different flaws.

Now they don’t essentially need to — if Jones’ grasp plan proves right. On protection, Jones is betting that defensive sort out Kenny Clark, acquired within the Parsons commerce, will shore up their leaky run protection, particularly late within the season, even when it’s onerous to argue that his new-look protection is best general. And the addition of Pickens offers the Cowboys an overqualified Robin reverse Lamb’s Batman within the passing sport.

“He’s the man who’s going to win one-on-one or if not, draw fouls,” Prescott stated of Pickens. “Very bodily. He is a mismatch for any DB on this league. So, they will need to double. And that’s your troubles proper there. You need to double him or double CeeDee?

“When these guys aren’t doubled, they will benefit from it.”

There are nonetheless holes in Jones’ grand plan. The offensive line he’s painstakingly constructed over the previous few drafts hasn’t appeared good within the first two video games, and can now be with out heart Cooper Beebe for 6-8 weeks. And, naturally, the Parsons-less protection has appeared like a legal responsibility early, placing much more strain on Prescott to mild up the scoreboard.

“I do know Jerry loves Kenny Clark and I get that he needs to enhance the run protection,” the scout stated. “However Parsons is a wrecking ball. You’ll be able to’t simply change all of the issues he does.”

True, however Prescott is the form of quarterback who could make up for what the Cowboys misplaced — once more, assuming the correct of staff is lastly round him. He threw for 4,516 yards and an NFL-best 36 touchdowns in 2023 when the Cowboys had a middling speeding assault, with about 40% of his passing yards going to Lamb. Everybody knew Prescott solely had one actual viable possibility, and he nonetheless one way or the other made it work because the Cowboys went 12-5 and gained the NFC East.

With higher personnel round him, there’s no actual cause why he can’t try this once more.

“[Jones] will not be flawed in what he’s saying,” one NFC scout stated. “The extra property you have got, the extra cap room you have got, the higher staff you possibly can construct. And Prescott is an elite quarterback who definitely can win with the best staff round him.

“However it’s about what you do with these property that you’ve. These draft picks they bought for Parsons (first rounders in 2026 and 2027) gained’t assist for a few years. Does Dak have a greater staff round him now with Parsons gone? I don’t know that we all know that but.”

Jones thinks he is aware of. Buying and selling Parsons away was both a) a wager in opposition to Prescott not being adequate to win all of it with three gamers gobbling up a lot of the membership’s cap area, or b) Parsons not being definitely worth the largest deal within the league for a non-QB. Jones is clearly suggesting the latter.

Practically one month after buying and selling Micah Parsons, Jerry Jones continues to be explaining his rationale for making the transfer. (Photograph by Cooper Neill/Getty Photos)

“I will inform you this proper now,” Jones stated, “as we stay up for Dak’s time, after we made his contract and we glance ahead, this was one of the simplest ways to maximise our likelihood to get a Tremendous Bowl for Dak.

“We have now the highest-paid participant within the NFL at quarterback. We made that dedication final 12 months, and we’re proud we made it. It had every little thing to do with [the Parsons trade]. Every little thing. It offers us each alternative with Dak Prescott and Lamb and the bottom that we’ve bought to win now.”

He’s not flawed about that. He’s bought the best quarterback.

The one query is whether or not Jones, whose personnel blunders have wasted a lot of Prescott’s first 9 years within the NFL, can lastly do proper by him.

Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Each day Information. Observe him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised e-newsletter every day.

Get extra from the Nationwide Soccer League Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra