NFL analyst urges Jerry Jones and Cowboys to tank to land Shedeur, Deion Sanders in package deal
The poor start for the Dallas Cowboys in the 2024 season has plenty of analysts wondering how much the franchise will change for the upcoming season.
They handed massive extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb in the offseason, but the "all-in" of Jerry Jones backfired massively, with a 3-6 record and Prescott heading to the injured reserve.
Although the expectation is for head coach Mike McCarthy to be fired, the problems inside the franchise run deeper. Prescott had a sharp decline in 2024, completing just 64.7% of his passes, his lowest mark since 2018; he also has eight interceptions in eight games, while last year, he had nine in 17 contests.
Stephen A. Smith thinks that the best way for the Cowboys to recover their contender status involves big changes and is not limited to the head coach. The ESPN analyst wants the franchise to tank the rest of the season, use a high pick in Shedeur Sanders from Colorado, and hire his father, Deion Sanders, to become their head coach.
"I believe that the Dallas Cowboys should tank the rest of the season, get the No. 1 overall pick so you can draft Shedeur Sanders and hire Prime Time Deion Sanders as your head coach," Smith said.
Deion Sanders is in his second season as the head coach in Colorado. He had a 4-8 record in 2023 but has already improved to 7-2 in 2024 and will coach the Buffaloes in a bowl game later this season.
Jerry Jones does not think the current Cowboys roster is a problem
The Cowboys owner had a rant during a recent radio appearance after being criticized for his roster-building for the upcoming 2024 season. He has doubled down on this opinion, defending what Dallas is constructing:
"I like our talent. I like our young talent, but young talent has few more mistakes associated with it, than if you are dealing with a veteran player."
Many decisions, such as signing Ezekiel Elliott instead of pursuing Derrick Henry, have been questioned by fans and analysts. So far, they haven't paid off. The defense allows 28.7 points, the second-worst mark in the league, losing to the Carolina Panthers, who allow 31 points per game.