Cowboys Predicted to Land ‘Most Polarizing’ Star QB to Replace Dak Prescott
It’s a bit unusual for the Cowboys to be in the depths of the 2024 NFL offseason, with a quarterback on the roster who was a Pro Bowler and an MVP candidate, a guy who was third in the NFL with 4,516 yards, first in completion percentage (69.5%), first in touchdowns (36) and second in rating (105.9), and yet still be uncertain about the franchise’s future at the league’s most important position.
That’s just the way things are for the team and Dak Prescott, whose regular-season heroics were not enough to stave off another NFL playoff bust, as the team flamed out against the Packers at home in the opening round. With Prescott heading into the final year of his contract, his future in Dallas is strangely murky.
But USA Today offers some comfort, hypothetical though it may be. In its early 2025 NFL mock draft, the site has the Cowboys landing the son of franchise legend and Colorado coach Deion Sanders—quarterback Shedeur Sanders—to replace Prescott.
“While there’s plenty of time for Dak Prescott to iron out an agreement to stay in Dallas for the foreseeable future, the eight-year veteran hasn’t engaged in any contract talks yet and can force his way onto the free-agent market – where he’d be sure to command an astronomical payday,” the site noted this week.
“If the nightmare scenario somehow materializes for Jerry Jones, having Sanders take the reins to the Cowboys’ attack would be a fascinating possibility.”
Shedeur Sanders Tabbed ‘Most Polarizing Prospect’
During last season, USA Today’s Curt Popejoy declared Sanders, “the most polarizing prospect in the country.” That’s not an issue for the Cowboys, of course.
He was right, no question. After two stellar seasons at Jackson State, he followed his father to the Boulder last year, and made an immediate splash, when he threw for 510 yards and four touchdowns against 16th-ranked TCU in his Colorado debut. That was followed by six touchdowns, one interception and 941 yards in his next two games, both wins, against Nebraska and Colorado State.
From there, Sanders kept up the numbers, but the Buffaloes went 1-7, taking some bloom off his rose and nudging him to return for his senior season rather than testing the 2024 NFL draft, which was top-heavy on quarterbacks, with six picked in the first 12 selections.
