Analyst: Cowboys and Seahawks might make an unexpected trade for a quarterback, What Are Your Thoughts?

According to Dallas Cowboys speculations, Dak Prescott seems to be the team’s franchise quarterback. Due to Geno Smith’s erratic play in 2023, the Seattle Seahawks have significantly less certainty.

Prescott has solidified his place as the starting quarterback for the Cowboys and is a contender for NFL MVP. Dallas still needs to make a choice regarding the role’s future. Trey Lance, Cooper Rush, and Prescott have contracts that expire in 2024.

Prescott is slated to have a massive $59.4 million cap hit next season. This puts pressure on the Cowboys front office to sign the signal-caller to an extension.

As part of a four-year, $34 million rookie contract, Lance will have a $5.3 million cap charge in 2024. Rush is more reasonably priced, with a $2.8 million cap cost in the upcoming season as part of a $5 million, two-year contract.

These elements, along with the unpredictability in Seattle, have led 33rd Team’s Connor Livesay to speculate that Lance’s two teams would be potential trade partners. Let’s look at the reasons why a deal might benefit both sides.

Given that the quarterback is less than three years off from being the third overall choice in the 2021 NFL draft, Lance probably still has some clout in the NFL. To get Lance as their third quarterback going into the season, the Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick to the 49ers. The NFL’s quarterback situation is not great because several teams are struggling with injuries and uncertainty.

Lance still has trade value even if he hasn’t taken a snap for Dallas. The Seahawks, Saints, and Vikings are rumored to be interested parties in trading for Lance. Dallas have the luxury of having Rush on the team, who in 2024 might serve as Prescott’s backup.

“While Dallas could slide Lance into the QB2 role next season, Rush is under contract for just $2.87 million against the cap, according to Spotrac,” Livesay wrote in a December 8, 2023 feature titled “Surprising NFL Players Who Could Be Traded This Offseason.” “If the Cowboys stick with Rush at QB2, they could start calling quarterback-needy teams that missed out on Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“Lance might raise the ceiling on Dallas’ QB2 spot, but the Cowboys could get a better return for Lance than what they paid from teams such as the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints or Seattle Seahawks. If those teams miss out on the top passers in the draft, they could see Lance as a viable option.”

Seattle did sign Smith to a three-year, $75 million contract last offseason. Heading into Week 14, the Seahawks are riding a three-game losing streak with Smith already throwing nine interceptions this season. This has prompted plenty of Seahawks rumors about Smith’s future.

A move for Lance could be a compromise for Seattle while still allowing the team to retain Smith. The Seahawks are projected to have the No. 15 pick in the upcoming draft meaning several of the top quarterback prospects will likely be off the board.

Smith may be gone from Seattle as early as 2024, but doing so would come with a substantial $17.4 million dead cap hit. Purchasing Lance would be a rather inexpensive way to give Smith competition.

Even yet, Lance has only appeared in eight NFL games, four of which were starts. Compared to current backup quarterback Drew Lock, the 6-foot-4, 226-pound quarterback has far more upside. Both the Seahawks and the Cowboys must make decisions at the position that could lead to a trade.

Whatever happens, there will inevitably be Cowboys speculations regarding the team’s plans for Lance and Rush.