Within the moments that mattered most on Sunday evening, Dak Prescott was in a position to bail out the Dallas Cowboys. He confirmed why they made him the highest-paid participant in soccer. He pulled out a victory from a near-certain defeat.
And that’s nice, nevertheless it must be clear to the Cowboys by now that they’ll’t spend all the season ready for Prescott to trip to their rescue. The remainder of their 20-17 win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh was a reminder of what the Cowboys have seen all season: That their offense is flawed and severely undermanned.
If solely there was assist obtainable. If solely there have been reinforcements prepared to hitch them. If solely there was some staff, someplace, prepared — anxious, even — to commerce an offensive weapon, possibly an elite extensive receiver, who could be thrilled to be in Dallas within the subsequent few days.
If solely Jerry Jones and his entrance workplace might see the reward of Davante Adams that’s staring them within the face.
In fact they’ll. They only don’t need to — at the very least not at his worth. And that could be a ridiculous, unfathomable and unlucky stance for a staff that actually could possibly be a championship contender in the event that they had been prepared to make one daring transfer.
Granted, this isn’t a brand new story. It’s a well-recognized one for the Cowboys who hardly ever appear to be large gamers in free company. Take this offseason, the place they ignored their apparent want at operating again and balked on the $9 million assured that might’ve landed them Derrick Henry. They claimed they couldn’t tackle a contract like that when in fact, with a little bit cap administration, they completely might.
Now right here they’re once more, with the Las Vegas Raiders seemingly determined to dump the 31-year-old Adams on anybody who’ll take him. He clearly desires no a part of the Raiders’ present recreation of quarterback roulette. And even though Adams has topped 100 catches and 1,100 yards in 5 of the final six seasons, the Raiders appear motivated to ship him out by the tip of the week.
They’re reportedly searching for a second-round decide in return, although a number of league executives suppose the most effective they’ll hope for is a third-rounder, plus possibly one thing else. That appears a reasonably affordable worth to pay for an elite receiver who might do what the Cowboys want essentially the most — take some strain off the over-covered CeeDee Lamb and provides Prescott a second harmful goal.
There’s a little bit extra to the value, although, and that is the place the Cowboys sadly get jittery. If the Cowboys traded for him this week they’d be accountable for the remaining $12.558 million he’s owed in wage this season. And as Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones mentioned final week, “When you have got the challenges cap-wise that we’ve got, that will be a protracted putt for us.”
Now, the Cowboys have about $21.5 million in cap house obtainable, in accordance with NFLPA data — which is the seventh most within the league and greater than sufficient to slot in what’s left of Adams’ contract. Even higher, there’s no assured cash left after this season on the five-year, $140 million contract Adams signed again in 2022, which suggests he’d simply be a rental. They’d owe him nothing past the tip of this 12 months.Â
May Davante Adams and Dak Prescott team-up in Dallas? (Picture by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Photos)
However Jones’ fear is outwardly this: The Cowboys are solely projected to have about $28 million in cap house obtainable in 2025, in accordance with OverTheCap.com. That’s one of many lowest figures within the league. And it might make issues tight once they attempt to signal linebacker Micah Parsons to what absolutely shall be one of many greatest contracts ever given to a defensive participant.Â
It might absolutely assist if many of the $21.5 million in cap room stays unused so that they nonetheless have for this season could possibly be rolled over into subsequent season. Then they might signal Parsons with out breaking a monetary sweat. And that looks as if an inexpensive monetary technique.Â
However what number of instances are the Cowboys going to maintain punting alternatives into future seasons? What the heck ever occurred to being “all-in”?
[Related:Should the Cowboys attempt to trade for Davante Adams?]
OK, at this level, the “all-in” factor is only a punch line. Clearly, when Jerry Jones mentioned that, he didn’t imply it in the way in which any affordable pondering particular person took it. He was by no means going to do no matter was essential to win this season. He apparently meant he was “all in” on the staff he had, for higher or for worse.
But it surely’s beginning to look far worse. As a result of he was apparently allergic to paying operating backs this offseason, the Cowboys nonetheless can’t generate a robust speeding assault. Positive, Rico Dowdle had a season-high 87 speeding yards on Sunday. However within the recreation’s greatest second, when he had an opportunity to plunge into the tip zone for a game-winning landing within the fourth quarter, he had the soccer knocked out of his fingers. And as soon as once more, Prescott needed to bail a teammate out by pouncing on the ball earlier than a Steelers defender might.
Prescott has been doing numerous that, nevertheless it hasn’t been straightforward. He’s acquired an elite receiver in Lamb and a very good tight finish in Jake Ferguson, however there’s nonetheless no dependable third receiver. And that’s a fair greater subject now that Brandin Cooks is on injured reserve after creating an an infection after a process on his knee every week in the past.
Prescott was nonetheless in a position to throw for 352 yards on a moist evening in Pittsburgh. However he was additionally shaky, throwing two interceptions, overthrowing his receivers far too usually (he completed 29 of 42). Cooks’ alternative, Jalen Tolbert, had a pleasant second Sunday evening, catching seven passes for 87 yards and the game-winning, 4-yard landing. However he nonetheless has simply 20 catches for 247 yards although 5 video games. And extra to the purpose, he’s no Davante Adams. Few receivers within the NFL are.
So simply think about for a second what the Cowboys would appear like in the event that they had been actually “all-in,” in the event that they had been extra involved about this season than the longer term, if they’d a entrance workplace that could possibly be trusted to determine their long-term monetary image out. They’d have an elite quarterback in Prescott with two of the most effective receivers within the NFL at his disposal. Defenses would have nightmares determining whom to cowl. They’d have to sit down extra gamers again, which might take a number of the strain off Prescott, and possibly even open lanes up for a operating recreation that appears lifeless.
Sure, the Cowboys produce other points. Their defensive tackles aren’t sturdy they usually’re having hassle stopping the run. The accidents to Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are inflicting concern for his or her protection. However including Adams might give their offense such a jolt, that every one of their different points would immediately look small.
He’d be what Amari Cooper might have been if the Cowboys hadn’t foolishly traded him to the Cleveland Browns in 2022. He could possibly be the ultimate piece of the championship puzzle, the participant that places them excessive.
It might be so easy and would make a lot sense and would immediately enhance their Tremendous Bowl probabilities. If solely the Cowboys had it in them to be so daring.
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Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent the earlier six years overlaying the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years overlaying the Giants and the NFL for the New York Day by day Information. Observe him Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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