A volatile QB market leaves the Cowboys with two options: Sign Dak Prescott soon or move on – The Dallas Morning News

It may be impossible at this stage to put aside your emotions on how the negotiations with Dak Prescott have unfolded.

Chances are you’re entrenched along ideological lines, either indignant this hasn’t been resolved or baffled by why the Cowboys would break the bank for a quarterback that has one postseason victory to his name.

The purpose here isn’t to continue that contentious debate. Friends of Dak (FOD) won’t be swayed.

Neither will Critics of Dak, a group that goes by the unfortunate acronym of COD.

Now it’s time to acknowledge the ticking clock. Now it’s time to accept reality.

If the two sides are unable to reach a long-term agreement by March 9, when a second franchise tag must be applied, a split must take place. If the club isn’t convinced a deal is imminent, it must move on.

This isn’t the desired outcome. Ownership wants to move forward with Prescott.

But face it. Negotiations have been ongoing for more than 19 months. If little or no progress is made in the next six weeks, there’s no reason to believe it will occur in the ensuing weeks and months.

There are other factors at work that establish this time frame. Let’s start with a volatile quarterback market.

Philip Rivers has retired in Indianapolis. Drew Brees is expected to follow in New Orleans.

Detroit and Matthew Stafford, who has two years left on his contract at $43 million, have reached a mutual agreement to separate. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger turns 39 on March 2. He has one year left on his contract for an untenable $41.25 million.

Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers made cryptic comments about an uncertain future after losing to Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship Game, although he modified his comments Tuesday by saying on a radio interview he didn’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be back with the Packers. Houston’s Deshaun Watson has been acting like someone who wouldn’t mind forcing his way out of town.

Moments after the LA Rams were eliminated from the playoffs, head coach Sean McVay ended his press conference by saying Jared Goff is “the quarterback right now.” Given a chance to clarify that statement a day or so later, McVay stressed that every position would be evaluated in the offseason.

New England’s Cam Newton. Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz. Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky, who will be a free agent. San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo. Carolina’s Teddy Bridgewater. Washington’s Alex Smith. Sam Darnold of the New York Jets.

Who in that group is on solid ground? How many of those clubs would consider Prescott a significant upgrade or a remarkable escape plan?

An unprecedented opportunity presents itself. The quarterback market is unlikely to be as fluid as it appears, but it should be more active than usual. The Cowboys can’t afford to miss it on the hope they can sign Prescott to an extension before the July deadline.

The Cowboys need more certainty. So does Prescott. He doesn’t want to be frozen out of this market if it’s not going to work with Dallas.

Other factors? A second consecutive franchise tag on the quarterback will cost the Cowboys $37.7 million. That’s money that can’t go to upgrading the defense in free agency.

The Cowboys own the 10th pick in the April draft. That pick can be used to select a quarterback or applied as leverage to move up and acquire a quarterback.

The absolute worst scenario for Dallas: it doesn’t trade Prescott, it doesn’t draft a quarterback and allows him to play this season on the franchise tag. Once a player gets to the second franchise tag, he’s gone.

Please see Kirk Cousins.

In this scenario Prescott leaves in free agency next season. The Cowboys have no veteran replacement, no top level rookie they have been developing and a first-round pick in the 20s.

Again, the club’s priority is to stay the course and pay Prescott. But if that can’t be accomplished in the next six to eight weeks the Cowboys must pivot.

In the days leading up to Green Bay’s game against the Buccaneers, Rodgers called his future a “beautiful mystery.” There’s no mystery with Prescott.

The Cowboys are currently at DEFCON 2. The threat moves to DEFCON 1 if the quarterback isn’t signed to a long-term deal in six weeks or gives an assurance that he will sign.

Time is running out.

Catch David Moore and Robert Wilonsky as they co-host Intentional Grounding on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) every Wednesday night starting at 7 o’clock through the Super Bowl.

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