There's a lot at stake for the Dallas Cowboys as we approach the 2024 NFL season. For them, the bar is set pretty high as no amount of regular season success will make them happy.
Instead, anything short of an NFC Championship Game will be the same old, same old.
Add to that a quarterback and head coach with contract years and several aging players that could be on their way out and the reality is overwhelming: The long-term future of the franchise largely hinges on how things go this particular year. Let's break down what's at stake in the upcoming Cowboys season.
Mike McCarthy's job
Even 36 regular season wins in three years can't keep you safe in the NFL world. It's a cold business and one that requires postseason success for front offices to be truly happy. Sure, there's so much management could've done this offseason to help McCarthy out, but the reality is Mike is going to be coaching for his job in 2024 as he enters a contract year.
If the Cowboys fail to take the next step in the playoffs following an embarrassing home playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers that felt over by halftime, the front office might determine it's time for a new face to lead the team. At this point, it's unlikely more regular season success keeps McCarthy his gig, whose seat might've reached boiling temperature.
We'll see if the pressure surrounding a full coaching staff - even Mike Zimmer is coaching on a one-year deal - ends up benefitting or harming the team.
Is Dak Prescott's future at stake?
I lean toward saying no on this one as I believe Dak's fate might just be sealed before the season starts. The Cowboys should be trying to get a deal done before kickoff comes around although they'll have to cave in to the contract Dak wants as he holds the most leverage in the entire NFL.
And if the season kicks off and an agreement is yet to be reached? Why on Earth wouldn't Prescott want to reach free agency and make his pick while quarterback-thirsty franchises throw unprecedented offers at him? By the time the season is underway, I'd be surprised if negotiations continue as Dak will likely mentally move on to strictly just football.
And yet, another All-Pro caliber season from Dak could persuade the Cowboys to hand their quarterback a blank check before March of 2025 just to keep him from reaching free agency. But as stated above, at that point I don't see why he wouldn't want to roll the dice on free agency.
Cowboys might just blow it all up after 2024
Here's the big thing though: If the Cowboys don't get to where they want to go this year, they will be staring at every NFL team's worst nightmare: A true rebuild season.
2025 could be their first true rebuild season in many, many years and if Prescott indeed doesn't receive a new deal, they might even have to start looking for a quarterback (or perhaps tanking for one with their eyes set in the 2026 NFL Draft).
But that would only be the start of the teardown process. Below is a list of some notable players on contract years ahead of 2024, who might not be resigned if the Cowboys are thinking rebuild in 2025:
- QB Dak Prescott
- WR CeeDee Lamb (could be tagged if not extended first)
- OG Zack Martin (considering retirement)
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence
- WR Brandin Cooks
- DT Osa Odighizuwa
- QB Trey Lance
So to answer what's at stake in 2024, the answer is close to everything. Cowboys might be staring at a hard reset if things don't go their way. But if the next step is taken, you could see the Cowboys doing their best to extend the team's window of Super Bowl contention.
