The Dallas Cowboys are moving in a risky direction. There are fewer and fewer reasons to be optimistic about Dallas’ quarterback situation. The slope towards quarterback purgatory is steeper than people who take quarterback Dak Prescott for granted would like to acknowledge.
It makes sense that until Prescott is seen in a different uniform, people might not think he’s gone. Eleven months remain before his upcoming free agency, so a lot can happen, people can get back together, and pen meets paper. Until then, though, it’s interesting to consider potential successors.
Justin Fields, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is a possibility for the Dallas Cowboys, as Christopher Kline points out.
Throughout his time with the Chicago Bears, Fields—a former first-round pick—showed signs of promise more and more, but the real consistency proved to be difficult to come by. Although he will start the season on the bench behind seasoned quarterback Russell Wilson, he will receive a fresh start with a reputable organization.
According to Kline, “it’s likely that the Pittsburgh Steelers will reject Justin Fields’ $25.7 million contract option for the upcoming campaign, allowing the former first-round pick to enter free agency.” In theory, Fields is Russell Wilson’s obvious successor in Pittsburgh. However, Fields might be inclined to look for a better place to live if he rides the pine all season as anticipated.
2023 was Fields’ finest year ever as a quarterback, with 2,562 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. In terms of completion percentage, passer rating, and interception rate, he reached career highs, but overall he was below average.
To put it simply, he would drastically change Prescott’s style of play. Fields is tremendously physically gifted, maybe even more so than Prescott, but he lacks the post-snap skills of his possible predecessor, and given his difficulties controlling sacks and playing the quick game, a schematic change would need to occur.
Fields’ three seasons as the Bears’ starting quarterback are clearly not given much weight by the league, according to Kline. “Even though he never produced much, it’s surprising that no one had any faith in such a dynamic athlete. It
This theory, of course, implies that Dallas would be “not putting much stock” in Trey Lance, its own youthful backup who is also unrestricted come March. However, this notion? Selecting Fields to be the next quarterback for America’s Team would, if nothing else, provide them with a special upside that more reliable passers couldn’t match.
