The Dallas Cowboys are figuring out their plan before the 2024 season, and that includes the future of quarterback Dak Prescott, who is entering the final year of his contract. There has been speculation over whether Dallas will stick with him going forward.

Much of the noise indicates that, yes, they will. However, USA Today’s K.D. Drummond suggested a way they could move on from Prescott. It involves trading back from the No. 24 pick in the first round with the plan to select star Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. with the 31st overall pick.

“In this scenario, the Cowboys have Prescott as an in-house bridge to the future. This can play out a few different ways,” Drummond wrote on January 30. “More than likely, Prescott plays out the final year of his deal, and then Dallas hands the reigns over to [Penix] in 2025. Perhaps the selection pisses Prescott off to the point that he not only considers waiving his no-trade clause, but demands it. Dallas could then shop Prescott, coming off a top-3 MVP candidate season, for a bounty of picks.”

Taking a QB in the first round would be a sensational decision for Dallas. That being said, the Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is famous for moves like the one Drummond described.

Michael Penix Jr. Finishes Second in Heisman Voting

There was no shortage of high-quality QB play at the college level in 2023. And of all the impressive displays, only LSU QB Jayden Daniels edged out Penix in the Heisman race. On the back of Penix, Washington not only won the Pac-12 but made an unexpected National Championship appearance.

Penix totaled 4,903 passing yards and 36 touchdowns. Volume totals are always eye-catching, but he completed 65.4% of his passes and averaged 8.8 yards per attempt.

That’s absurd, and what’s wild is that Penix had a very similar season as a junior (65.3% completion rate, 4641 passing yards, 31 touchdowns.) The Heisman runner-up was a “super senior” who had 21 appearances in four seasons at Indiana before his two seasons with the Huskies.

Other QBs seemingly have more potential, but Penix looks like the most complete QB at the college level. If Dallas does decide to move on from Prescott, Penix Jr. may be one of the few prospects who could “plug and play.”

Cowboys Have Small Window to Cut Dak Prescott

If Dallas wants to move on from Prescott, a trade makes the most sense. However, they have only a small window in which they can trade or cut Prescott and avoid $34 million of his contract money becoming guaranteed.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano broke it down, but the essential info is that Prescott’s roster bonus locks on March 17. Considering that Dallas can’t make any moves with Prescott until the beginning of the league year on March 13, they basically have three to four days to make that decision.

If March 17 arrives, it will be a significant sign of the Cowboys’ plan for Prescott. It’s not impossible to trade the QB after that, but Dallas will be losing money and likely have less suitors.