Dak Prescott’s Current Situation With the Dallas Cowboys Is Comparable to Jared Goff’s Situation With the L.A. Rams Before He Was Traded to the Detroit Lions

The Dallas Cowboys selected Dak Prescott out of Mississippi State in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Although the Cowboys’ plan was for Prescott to serve as backup to Tony Romo in 2016, Romo suffered a vertebral fracture in a preseason game, and Prescott was named the starter for the regular season opener.

After his injury, Romo only returned for a few plays late in the 2016 season. Prescott has been the Cowboys’ QB1 ever since. Over eight seasons, Prescott has started 114 regular-season games and seven postseason games. He has an impressive 73-41 record in the regular season, but a disappointing 2-5 record in the postseason.

Prescott has earned impressive accolades in his career. At Mississippi State, he was twice named first-team All-SEC. In 2016, he was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times. In 2023, he was the NFL passing touchdowns leader and was named second-team All-Pro.

In March 2021, Prescott and the Cowboys entered into a four-year, $160 million deal. Prescott is entering the final year of that deal and will become a free agent in 2025 unless he and the Cowboys agree to an extension. However, according to NFL.com, “the Cowboys seem to be content to let things play out.”

Jared Goff and the L.A. Rams

Like Prescott, 29-year-old Jared Goff was selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. However, Goff was the No. 1 overall selection. The Rams traded up for Goff after his standout, three-year career at the University of California, Berkeley, during which he threw 96 touchdown passes as the Golden Bears QB1.

Goff began his rookie season as the backup to Case Keenum. However, he was named the starting quarterback for the final seven games of that season. The Rams finished with a 4-12 record in the 2016 season.

In 2017, the Rams hired Sean McVay, and Goff began to flourish. Over the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the Rams regular-season record was 24-7, and they went to the Super Bowl following the 2018 season. Goff was named to the Pro Bowl in both 2017 and 2018.

In 2019, the Rams and Goff entered into a four-year $134 million deal. However, as reported by ESPN, the relationship between McVay and Goff “fractured” in 2019 and “slowly decayed throughout the 2020 season.”

The Rams’ win-loss records in 2019 and 2020 were mediocre. And, during those seasons, McVay criticized Goff for turning the ball over too frequently.

The Trade that Sent Goff to the Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford to the L.A. Rams

Following the 2020 season, Matthew Stafford requested a trade after twelve seasons with the Detroit Lions.

His wish was granted, and the Lions dealt him to the Rams in exchange for Goff and three draft picks. The Lions received a 2021 third-round pick and the Rams’ first-round picks in 2022 and 2023.

With Stafford at the helm, the Rams won Super Bowl LVI. However, following the 2023 season, the Lions and Rams met in a wild-card game, which the Lions won.

Goff was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022 — his third time receiving that honor. Stafford has been named to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2023.

Is Prescott Headed Down the Same Path as Goff?

Is Prescott destined to follow a path similar to that taken by Goff?

There are striking parallels between the two: They were both drafted in 2016. They have both been selected to the Pro Bowl three times. They both signed large contract extensions with the teams that originally drafted them. They have both had limited success in the postseason. Prescott’s postseason record is 2-5, and Goff’s is 4-4.

Just as the Rams decided to move on from Goff after signing him to a large contract extension, the Cowboys do not appear overly enthusiastic about keeping Prescott in Dallas beyond 2024. When recently asked about Prescott’s contract situation. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones responded, “We are where we are. We have our contract. We’re locked and loaded for this year, and we can see as we move along how we are thinking.” That does not exactly sound like Cowboys ownership is “all in” on Prescott’s future role with the team.

Unless Dallas has a change of heart, it appears Prescott is on a path toward free agency or a trade reminiscent of that which sent Goff to Detroit.