Cowboys should let go of Dak, Keep Dalton and build a defense

LLANO, Texas — Andy Dalton has played so well as a backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys that you have to wonder if they’d be better off keeping him and letting Dak Prescott earn his $41 million somewhere else.

This is not meant as a knock on Prescott, but a reckoning with the reality that his right ankle is so mangled – compound fracture and dislocation – that he could be permanently deprived of the running ability that’s one of his distinguishing assets.  His injury is eerily similar to that suffered two years ago by Washington’s Alex Smith, a once-mobile quarterback who’s now essentially restricted to the pocket.

Although Cowboys impresario Jerry Jones continually insists that his highest priority is re-signing Prescott, that “he’s our quarterback,”  there should be second thoughts after Dalton on Sunday completed 22 of 30 passes for 377 yards in a 37-17 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium.  

The Cowboys, who were barely breathing a month ago, have won three straight games.  Dalton has become comfortable with receivers and schemes, after his first start was delayed two weeks by concussion and Covid-19.  In his most recent 86 throws, he’s averaged 9.0 yards, with 7 touchdowns and 1 interception.  Granted, he was picking on losers – Bengals, 49ers, Eagles – but only a handful of NFL quarterback can approach his numbers.  Would Dak have done better?

As much as Jerry loves Dak, he’s reluctant to pay him more than Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady or Russell Wilson is making.  Prescott is very good, but is he better than Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson, Ryan Tannehill, Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson?

It’s fair to call Prescott a Franchise Quarterback, but can the Cowboys put together a championship team around him?  They’re strained by their overpayment of Zeke Elliott, who’s guaranteed $22 million over the next two years.

Dalton, 33, would be an easy sign.  He schooled at TCU, married a woman from Dallas, where they keep their off-season home.

Dalton became available when the Cincinnati Bengals released him to usher in the Joe Burrow era.  Dalton signed with Dallas for one year, $3 million, but he’s earned another $2 million or so for starting games.  And there will be more bonus if the Cowboys make the playoffs and still more if they win a postseason game.

And yes, Dalton is thinking Super Bowl, pointing out that “it’s not always the team with the best record that wins the Super Bowl, it’s the hottest team.”

The Cowboys, amazingly enough, are hot, even with Dalton enduring shaky protection from third-string offensive tackles, following injuries to Tyron Smith, La’el Collins and Cam Erving. 

“We match up well against anybody,” Dalton insisted after the Cowboys took down the Eagles.  “And for me it was just giving guys an opportunity to make plays.”

He distributed to seven receivers against the Eagles, who could not match up.  Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and first-round draftee Cee Dee Lamb will have an advantage over any secondary they face.

So now the 6-9 Cowboys can win the ragged NFC East by beating the New York Giants on the road, if Philadelphia, 4-10-1, wins at home against Washington, which is 6-9 and has the tie-breaker against Dallas.

The Football Team desperately needs Alex Smith, but he’s missed the past two games because of a strained calf in his right leg.  In the myriad surgeries to rebuild this leg, the calf lost much of its muscle.   Coach Ron Rivera does not want to start Smith until he’s fully sound.

Smith’s backup, Dwayne Haskins, is an ongoing disaster story.  After losing his captaincy following a much publicized foray to a strip club, Haskins had three turnovers in the first half of Sunday’s 20-13 loss to Carolina.  He was replaced in the second half by undrafted rookie Tyler Heinicke. And on Monday morning, last year’s first-round draft pick was released.

I see no path deep into the playoffs for the Cowboys.  Their defense did a surprisingly good job of “spying” on Jalen Hurts, but it’s still a 4-3 trying to be a 3-4, and there are constant gaps. 

It’s a foregone conclusion that defensive coordinator Mike Nolan will be gone soon after their season ends, but it’s equally certain head coach Mike McCarthy will get a second chance.  

The talent on the defense is better than you think and better than it’s looked this year.  Rookie corner Trevon Diggs has a Pro Bowl future.  Another rookie (third round), Neville Gallimore, is a disruptor up front.  

Linebacker Leighton Vader Esch has had a dreary season, hampered by injuries and Nolan’s scheme.  But he’s 24, and in 2018 he was ranked by Pro Football Focus as the fourth-best linebacker in the NFL.

Demarcus Lawrence remains one of the league’s best defensive ends, though he’s more effective in a 4-3 than a 3-4, where he’s easily double-teamed.  

If the Cowboys let Prescott go and re-sign Dalton, they could create $20 million of cap space to replenish their offensive line and upgrade their defense.  Stephen Jones has proved to be an astute judge of young players.  He just needs to keep his dad from overpaying them.