The Dallas Cowboys are spiraling out of control after losing their third consecutive game and falling to 3-5. Now Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott is reportedly expected to miss multiple games due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in Week 9.
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, Dallas could stay afloat in the NFC during Prescott’s absence with a proposed deal to land a former first-round quarterback.
Cowboys Could Stay Alive by Landing Former First-Round QB
Trade Proposal
- Cowboys acquire: QB Justin Fields and 2025 seventh-round pick
- Steelers acquire: 2025 sixth-round pick
The Pittsburgh Steelers got off to a 4-2 start to the regular season with Fields as the team’s starting quarterback. After trading a 2025 conditional sixth-round pick for Fields in the offseason, he held onto the starting job for six weeks before being replaced by Russell Wilson.
Now Fields has been relegated to backup duty in Pittsburgh while the offense has flourished with Wilson running the show. Therefore, the Steelers could be willing to move Fields ahead of the trade deadline and regain the draft pick compensation that they initially traded away for him.
In this proposed deal, that’s exactly what would happen. Pittsburgh would send Fields and a 2025 seventh-round pick to Dallas in return for a 2025 sixth-round pick, which is what the Steelers initially traded away for Fields back in March.
Given that the Cowboys are currently 3-5 and in 13th place in the NFC, many believe that Dallas should be sellers at this year’s trade deadline, including Dan Orlovsky of ESPN.
.@DanOrlovsky believes the Cowboys should consider becoming "sellers" at the trade deadline, if Dak Prescott is placed on IR 😯 pic.twitter.com/4I3ATfob42
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 4, 2024
Despite Orlovsky’s comments, Dallas technically isn’t eliminated from the playoff race just yet. Therefore, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones could opt to trade for Fields and make another push in 2024.
Unlike Prescott, Fields played mistake-free football as a starting quarterback this season. In six starts, Fields had 10 total touchdowns and just four turnovers. Meanwhile, Prescott had 12 total touchdowns and nine turnovers in eight starts.
While Fields certainly isn’t the passer that Prescott is, his rushing ability and turnover-free playstyle offer a potentially higher floor at quarterback for the Cowboys.
In Fields’ final start for the Steelers in Week 6, he had one of his worst performances of this season. Yet according to PFN’s Insights QB+ metric, Fields still outperformed Prescott in Week 6.
Fields received a letter grade of C+ for his performance against the Las Vegas Raiders, ranking 21st out of 28 quarterbacks that played in Week 6.
Prescott received a letter grade of D+ for his two-turnover performance in a blowout loss to the Detroit Lions, ranking last among all quarterbacks that played in Week 6.
If the Cowboys make a deal for Fields, he will likely provide a significant boost for Dallas’ rushing attack as well. The Cowboys currently average 82.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks 31st in the NFL in 2024.
In six starts for the Steelers, Fields averaged 38.5 rushing yards per game and scored five rushing touchdowns. Given Dallas’ uninspiring backfield, Fields would provide a much-needed rushing threat that defenses would have to account for on every play.
Following Prescott’s injury, the Cowboys may punt on the remainder of the regular season and shift their focus to 2025. However, the potential addition of Fields at the trade deadline could keep Dallas’ playoff hopes alive while they wait for Prescott to return.