If the season ended today, the Dallas Cowboys would own the 11th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. And, considering Dak Prescott will miss the rest of the campaign due to a partially torn hamstring, there’s a decent chance of Dallas finishing with a top-five pick.
To that end, it’s easy to view the Cowboys as a perfect fit for Shedeur Sanders, who’s considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, for multiple reasons, it wouldn’t make any sense for Dallas to use a first-round pick on Sanders — or any quarterback, for that matter.
Why Dak Prescott Contract Will Prevent Cowboys From Drafting Shedeur Sanders
Let’s just get this out of the way: The Cowboys aren’t drafting Sanders. It’s a fun idea, but it isn’t happening. Even if the Cowboys were to replace Mike McCarthy with Deion Sanders — which also isn’t happening — Sanders’ son wouldn’t join his father in Dallas.
The biggest reason? The four-year, $240 million contract extension Prescott signed before the start of the season. Whether Cowboys fans like it or not, the franchise is wedded to Prescott for a few more years.
And, sure, Jerry Jones might be experiencing buyer’s remorse with Prescott out for the rest of the season, but there’s nothing he can do about the contract.
Jerry Jones answered some questions about Dak Prescott after today's Cowboys game. pic.twitter.com/YoV5koyJlc
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 11, 2024
If you take a quick look at Prescott’s deal, which includes $129 million guaranteed, you might look at the zero guaranteed money after the 2025 season and think the Cowboys are just a year away from being able to trade or cut Prescott.
Well, it’s not that simple.
First of all, Prescott’s deal includes a no-trade clause, so he controls his own destiny. Furthermore, trading or cutting Prescott would carry significant financial implications.
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown per Over the Cap:
2025
Salary: $47.75 million (guaranteed)
Cap number: $89.9 million
Dead cap charge if cut/traded pre-June 1: $150.9 million
Dead cap charge if cut/traded post-June 1: $89.9 million
2026
Salary: $40 million (not guaranteed)
Cap number: $67.7 million
Dead cap charge if cut/traded pre-June 1: $61 million
Dead cap charge if cut/traded post-June 1: $27.6 million
2027
Salary: $45 million (not guaranteed)
Cap number: $61.7 million
Dead cap charge if cut/traded pre-June 1: #33.3 million
Dead cap charge if cut/traded post-June 1: $16.7 million
2028
Salary: $55 million (not guaranteed)
Cap number: $71.7 million
Dead cap charge if cut/traded pre-June 1: $16.7 million
Dead cap charge if cut/traded post-June 1: $16.7 million
And that doesn’t even get into signing bonuses, incentives, and other contract details. No matter how you slice it, Prescott’s contract is a behemoth.
As for the non-guaranteed salaries beyond 2025 and future void years, the Cowboys likely baked in those details with future restructures in mind. With Prescott set to carry a nearly $90 million cap hit in 2025, Dallas surely will look to restructure parts of his deal next offseason, which is when the contract minutia will come into play.
Is there a path for the Cowboys to get out from under Prescott’s contract before it runs out? Yes, but not during the next two offseasons. And Dallas isn’t going to use a top pick on Sanders — and invite the noise and distraction that would come with him — just to bench him for two full seasons.
For as much as the Cowboys seemingly love to create drama, the reality is that perception is largely created by Jones’ candor and sports talk shows. In fact, the Cowboys run a rather conservative operation and aren’t in the business of making controversial “splash” moves.
Is There any Argument for Cowboys Drafting Sanders?
Not really.
Would things change if the Cowboys hired Deion Sanders as their next head coach? You could squint and see an argument, but it wouldn’t hold up.
First of all, there wouldn’t be any guarantees that Dallas could draft Shedeur. And even if the Cowboys did draft Sanders, they would have to move Prescott and plunge themselves into financial hell.
Would Deion really leave Colorado for that kind of situation? It’s far easier to envision him joining the New York Jets, who also could be in a position to draft Shedeur.
.@DeionSanders says he will step in if the wrong team drafts Shedeur. 👀 pic.twitter.com/WK67vSyouY
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) November 12, 2024
And, again, the Cowboys aren’t going to draft Sanders to back up Prescott for one season, let alone two. The noise generated by fans and reporters on a weekly basis would create too much chaos.
The only realistic path toward Sanders landing with the Cowboys would require Prescott to request a trade next offseason. Even in that scenario, Dallas would need to find a trade partner willing to take on a massive contract attached to a 31-year-old quarterback rehabbing a significant hamstring injury.
It’s fantasy-land stuff, and it isn’t happening.
What Are Sanders’ College Stats This Season?
Sanders is having a fantastic senior season.
Through nine games, he led all FBS quarterbacks in completion percentage (72.9%) and touchdown passes (24). Sanders also racked up 2,882 yards while throwing just six interceptions.
Every Shedeur Sanders dropback and run vs. NDSU
26/34 (76% completion)
445 yards
4 TDs
1 INT
1 sack6 rushes for 17 yards pic.twitter.com/S36Wubz8RI
— Jake Schwanitz (@JakeDNVR) September 4, 2024
Whether Sanders will be the first quarterback drafted in 2025 remains to be seen. Interested teams must weigh his undeniable talent with the inevitable headache created by his relationship with his father.
In the latest Pro Football Network 2025 NFL Mock Draft, we have the Cleveland Browns selecting Sanders with the No. 5 overall selection.