How the Matthew Stafford Trade Impacts Dak Prescott
Well, the Dallas-Dak Saga just got a bit more interesting. Late on Saturday night, Adam Schefter broke the news that the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions had agreed to a blockbuster trade. The deal would send Matthew Stafford to LA and Jared Goff to Detroit. Additionally, the Rams would send the Lions their third-round […]
Well, the Dallas-Dak Saga just got a bit more interesting. Late on Saturday night, Adam Schefter broke the news that the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions had agreed to a blockbuster trade. The deal would send Matthew Stafford to LA and Jared Goff to Detroit. Additionally, the Rams would send the Lions their third-round pick this season as well as their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. The Rams do not own a 2021 first-round pick due to the Jalen Ramsey trade. Meanwhile, Detroit now owns the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft. Plus, they'll have multiple first-round picks in each of the next two drafts after 2021.
So, why should Cowboys fans care about this deal? The deal affects both Prescott and the Cowboys as a whole, actually. There are positives and negatives for Dak's situation as well as Dallas' as they try to come to a long-term agreement.
For Dak, it shows the value that the quarterback position holds via a trade. The 32-year old Matt Stafford garnered the Lions two first-round picks as well as a younger, although more unproven, quarterback in Jared Goff. If the Cowboys were to franchise tag and then attempt to trade Dak, he would most likely get even more for Dallas than Stafford did for Detroit in this deal. It gives Prescott some leverage in a sense.
How? It tells the Cowboys that they could probably get a "King's Ransom" in return for him because of his age and elite play. That should make you want to pay the guy or deal him to someone that clearly wants him more. Now, that aspect can also play to the Cowboys' favor. Dallas could see how much Detroit received in the trade and feel less motivated to pay Dak long-term if they aren't fully committed to him. Both sides know his value better than ever right now.
Additionally, this trade also shows the power that the modern quarterback has nowadays. There were rumors of frustration from Goff almost immediately after they lost in the playoffs. Some have said the disparage had begun even before that. Regardless, just a few weeks later, he is out the door.
Dak has an even bigger bone to pick than Goff does currently as well. Before Dak was franchise tagged last year, the former Rams QB had made $80 million more than Prescott in their NFL careers. Part of that is because of Goff's draft pick position. A bigger part of it is the fact that Dallas has allocated big chunks of change in other players like Ezekiel Elliott and Jaylon Smith. If Dak and his agent continue to be unpleased with offers from Dallas, he ultimately has some power to force his way out. The franchise tag possibility makes that tougher, but never say never in 2021.
As for Dallas, the Rams just traded multiple first-round selections, the 88th overall pick this year, and their first-round pick in 2016 (Goff) to off-load Goff's mega-contract. For reference, the trade costs LA $22 million in dead cap. He is under contract through the 2024 season – when he'll be 30 years old. They also upgraded at QB in the short-term with Stafford. Although, the price would have undoubtedly been lower if they did not want to get Goff off of their books.
This trade could caution the Cowboys in their attempt to lockup Dak for the long-term haul. LA put themselves in a tough situation with Goff. They arguably paid him too early. After the extension, they clearly saw flaws that they felt could prevent them from winning a Super Bowl with him. Once the tension between him and Head Coach Sean McVay arose, the Rams had no choice but to move on. Dallas would not want to make the mistake. Prescott has certainly showed more than Goff individually, though. Alas, the Cowboys team as a whole has just not been able to put it together like the Rams have at times over the past few seasons.
Furthermore, this deal makes the Rams an even bigger threat in the NFC. At least for the short-term, LA looks better on paper after this deal. Now, Dallas certainly wasn't a contender in the conference last season. There are some reasons to believe they could at least be a playoff team in 2021. They do happen to play in the NFC East.
In all likelihood, Dak is back in Dallas for at the very least the 2021 season. Nevertheless, this blockbuster deal may certainly alter the framework of the negotiations between Prescott and the Cowboys.
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Featured Image via USA-TODAY Sports
