The Dallas Cowboys are going to need to be clicking on all cylinders as soon as opening kickoff of Week 1 in 2024 if this team — and it’s core nucleus — is going to continue to stick around and compete for that elusive Super Bowl they’ve been chasing far before Dak Prescott took over as QB.

After the 2023 season abruptly ended, almost everyone tied into NFL circles believed the Cowboys would extend Prescott to free up salary cap space so they could add talent around him and make another run at a winning a Lombardi Trophy  in 2024.

Instead, Jerry Jones surprised everyone and stated he had a conversation with the Dallas Cowboys franchise QB and both sides were in agreement to let him play out the final year of his contract.

The move is puzzling for a few reasons. The first? If Prescott isn’t your guy and the Dallas brass knows that ahead of one of the most critical seasons in recent franchise history, Jones and company should have addressed that by adding his eventual successor in the NFL Draft.

But Jones continues to reiterate the Cowboys have tremendous belief in Prescott and plan to have him as their starter for many years to come, even when their actions are saying the exact opposite.

For the first time since joining America’s Team out of Mississippi State, there’s a real chance Dak Prescott could play for another team following the 2024 season.

Ironically, the Dallas signal caller is coming off one of his best statistical seasons in the NFL.

Dak Prescott finished the regular season as a strong MVP candidate after wrapping up one of the best campaigns of his NFL career. The Dallas Cowboys QB led the NFL in several key categories with 4,516 passing yards (third), 36 touchdowns (1st), nine interceptions and a QBR of 72.7 (second in the NFL).

In a way, the Dallas Cowboys have painted themselves into a corner when it comes to Dak Prescott.. He has a no-trade clause in his deal, so he can’t necessarily be dealt. They owe him $59 million in 2024, which gives him a lot of leverage in negotiations—at worst, he can walk away from the table and the Cowboys will have to pay him that money. Again, a cut is a longshot here.

It feels like the Cowboys always enter a new season with a ton of pressure but this one feels bigger than any in recent history. Mike McCarthy is playing for his job and it seems like if Prescott doesn’t lead Dallas to at least a playoff win or two, Jones is poised to hit the reset button on the whole operation.

One of the most notable improvements to the Dallas offense in 2023 came due to the undeniable connection of Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, who the organization has been waiting to take the jump and cement himself as a dominant No. 1 WR in the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Shares Surprising Thoughts On CeeDee Lamb’s Absence

One of the more puzzling development when it comes to the 2024 Cowboys is that Jones and company have done almost nothing to add much-needed talent lost through free agency and have failed to give security to the team’s three biggest stars.

With Prescott still making a solid chunk of change playing the final year of his deal, CeeDee Lamb is the natural choice when it comes to a significant contract extension for one of the Dallas Cowboys biggest stars.

After posting his best NFL season in 2023 with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns that was good enough to earn him All-Pro honors, the Cowboys wideout hasn’t shown up for voluntary workouts this offseason and there’s a chance he may hold out of training camp until he’s paid as one of the top WRs in the NFL.

Prescott was asked about his star receiver not being in the building this offseason and the Cowboys QB dismissed it as a non-issue.

“We’re roommates all of July, so if that’s the case, that’ll be fine,” Prescott said. ”No worries. I know what he’s doing. I know how he’s preparing. All the confidence in the way he’s preparing and how he’s doing.”

Lamb is expected to make just under $18 million this season ($17.99 million), the final year of his contract. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2025 and will be eligible for the franchise tag.

After three-straight 1,000-yard seasons and a breakout campaign in 2023, it’s difficult as to why the Dallas Cowboys are waiting to make a move that feels inevitable.