5 NFL Teams That Should Go All In on Pursuing Dak Prescott If He Tests Free Agency
Dak Prescott isn't afraid to bet on himself, figuratively speaking of course, and he could be a free agent in 2025. Quarterback-needy teams should monitor how the Dallas Cowboys' season plays out.
The Cowboys may need a deep postseason run to keep their current regime together. Head coach Mike McCarthy and Prescott are entering the final year of their deals.
When asked about his team's sense of urgency ahead of a potential make-or-break campaign, Prescott didn't seem uptight about the situation.
"This is the urgency you should always have, to be honest," he said to reporters. "Maybe guys who wouldn't normally feel it, feel it. I don't mind it. I've been in this position before. I'm a gambling man. I'll gamble on myself and my guys."
Prescott sounds like a quarterback who knows that he will have a list of teams willing to pay him high-end starting quarterback money regardless of what happens in the 2024 campaign.
In eight years, Prescott has put together three Pro Bowl seasons, and he's thrown for 4,499-plus yards in every other term since 2019. Last year, Prescott led the league in completions with 410.
If the Cowboys let Prescott walk next offseason, he will land on his feet with a new club on a solid deal.
While several teams should be interested in Prescott if he's available, five of them should go all in with strong offers for the veteran signal-caller.
Las Vegas Raiders
1 of 5
Among the five teams that should monitor Dak Prescott's situation, the Las Vegas Raiders are the only squad that will have a true quarterback competition at training camp, which underscores why they need to approach the 2025 quarterback market with urgency.
This offseason, the Raiders signed journeyman signal-caller Gardner Minshew to compete against second-year pro Aidan O'Connell for the starting job.
In five seasons, Minshew has performed well as a starter in stretches, but with the Indianapolis Colts last year, he lost a quarterback battle to then-rookie Anthony Richardson. Thus far, Minshew "is still getting his feet wet with his new team," per The Athletic's Vic Tafur.
In all likelihood, the Raiders' answer at quarterback isn't on the roster right now.
Minshew has bounced around the league over the previous few years. O'Connell has below-average athleticism at a time when quarterbacks have to be more mobile to evade bigger, stronger and faster defenders in the pocket.
Because of their defense, which ranked ninth in scoring last year and now features newcomer Christian Wilkins, the Raiders may not be bad enough to bottom out and get a top-10 draft pick in 2025.
Therefore, general manager Tom Telesco may have to spend heavily on a veteran quarterback to improve the offense's outlook.
The Raiders have a projected $24.2 million in cap space next offseason, per Over the Cap. They could restructure Wilkins' and Davante Adams' contracts to save an additional $37.8 million in cap space.
New York Giants
2 of 5
Daniel Jones may only have one more season to show that he can be the New York Giants' franchise quarterback.
After a promising 2019 rookie campaign, throwing for 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, Jones has thrown for just 38 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in 47 games.
Even though the Giants signed Jones to a four-year, $160 million extension last offseason, they can designate him as a post-June 1 cut and save $30.5 million in 2025.
If Jones struggles to move the ball through the air with rookie wideout Malik Nabers, who's already turning heads at practice, the club must find a quarterback who can elevate the offense.
The Giants know what Dak Prescott can do on the field. He typically plays well against them, and the Dallas Cowboys have a 12-2 record against New York with him as a starter.
Saquon Barkley left New York for a division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. Prescott can do the same, signing with Big Blue to stick it to the Cowboys.
Pittsburgh Steelers
3 of 5
The Pittsburgh Steelers only have one quarterback under contract beyond the 2024 season, undrafted rookie John Rhys Plumlee.
In the upcoming season, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields could get a trial run as the starting quarterback, but if neither of the two showcases their best, the Steelers should look for an upgrade at the position.
Moreover, Wilson will turn 36 years old in November. Even if he plays well in the upcoming season, the 13th-year veteran could be headed toward a sharp decline in the near future.
Fields is still in the early stages of development with 40 games on his NFL resume.
At 32 going into the 2025 term, Dak Prescott may still have five or more optimal years left in his career if he stays healthy.
With a stout veteran-led defense, the Steelers should look for an experienced signal-caller who can immediately elevate their offense rather than take a chance on a rookie who may need a few years to hit his stride.
As of 2025, Pittsburgh will have the fourth-most cap space with a projected $78.2 million. Among the teams that should go all in on Prescott, the Steelers can offer him the most money.
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Seattle Seahawks
4 of 5
During an appearance on Seattle Sports 710 AM, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said Geno Smith is "the guy" and Sam Howell will back him up.
Coming off consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns, Smith should be the signal-caller to lead the Seahawks' new-look offense under Ryan Grubb.
However, Seattle's turnover within its coaching staff can lead to changes in the short-term future if the offense doesn't produce optimal results.
Though Smith earned Pro Bowl nods in his two seasons as the Seahawks' full-time starting quarterback, he regressed along with the passing attack in 2023.
The Seahawks ranked 11th and fourth in passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2022 and dropped to 14th and 20th in those respective categories last season.
With two-time Pro Bowler DK Metcalf, savvy 10th-year veteran Tyler Lockett and ascending second-year pro Jaxon Smith-Njigba at wide receiver, Seattle's passing offense should be top 10 (or close to it) in total yards and scoring.
Under a new regime, going into his age-34 term, Smith may not have much margin for error with the collection of talent around him.
Next offseason, the Seahawks can release Smith and save $25 million. They can cut role players like tight end Noah Fant (saves $9 million) and Uchenna Nwosu (saves $8.5 million) and restructure defensive lineman Leonard Williams' contract (saves $9.4 million) to make room for Dak Prescott's deal.
Tennessee Titans
5 of 5
For now, the Tennessee Titans will roll with second-year quarterback Will Levis as their starter, but he's not entrenched in the team's long-term plans.
With only nine career starts, Levis has a lot to prove. Last year, he threw for eight touchdowns and four interceptions with a 58.4 percent completion rate while averaging 200.9 passing yards per game.
This offseason, the Titans turned over their coaching staff, hiring former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to be the lead skipper.
Tennessee also made notable changes to its offensive personnel, adding wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, left tackle JC Latham, center Lloyd Cushenberry III and running back Tony Pollard.
If Levis doesn't show improvement with the Titans' revamped offense under a new coaching staff, general manager Ran Carthon may pivot from him to an established veteran with Dak Prescott in mind.
The Titans will have a projected $27.5 million in cap space next offseason, and they can restructure multiple contracts (Ridley, L'Jarius Sneed and/or Jeffery Simmons) to save additional money to offer Prescott a competitive deal.
NFL player contracts and team cap space information provided by Over the Cap.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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