NFL insider outlines scenario where Raiders could eye Dak Prescott and break the bank for 3x Pro Bowl QB
Amidst the standoff in contract negotiations between Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys, possible suitors for the quarterback are keeping a close eye on what's going to happen after the 2024 season. Even with all his problems, Prescott is an above-average quarterback and an upgrade for many franchises.
One of these teams that could be looking for a new quarterback after 2024 is the Las Vegas Raiders. The team returned to the market after the failed Jimmy Garoppolo experience, but Prescott would be a major signing. The Athletic's Raiders beat writer Vic Tafur wrote about the possibility, and a possible scenario for it to happen:
"Why not? If the Raiders are a winning team this year that was held back by their quarterback, breaking the bank for Dak Prescott, a very good 31-year-old quarterback, may be the only real ticket available. "
Tafur added that the Raiders are unlikely to be able to trade up in the draft to get a quarterback.
The team signed Gardner Minshew in free agency and has Aidan O'Connell on the roster as they compete for the starting spot. Nevertheless, the Raiders don't have much of a chance to compete in the AFC West with these quarterbacks. Dak Prescott would easily put them into a playoff contender status.
What's a fair salary for Dak Prescott in his new deal?
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback is certainly looking to earn around the $55 million that Trevor Lawrence received in recent negotiations. Prescott knows that, at 31 years of age, it's unlikely he'll become the highest-paid quarterback in the league, but he's set to get close to it.
For the Cowboys, however, their wariness to pay the quarterback is understandable. Nobody doubts his individual quality or his regular-season success, but he has played in seven playoff games, winning two and losing five. The quarterback plays at a high level, but once the lights get brighter, his level diminishes.
If he wants to earn top-of-the-market money with just two playoff wins in eight seasons, he'll be disappointed with the team. Finding some common ground could leave them on better terms, but if 2024 once again is marred by distractions and contract negotiations during the season, that's where the Las Vegas Raiders can pounce.