Dallas Cowboys Roster 2020 Dallas Cowboys Roster

Top 3 Cowboys Roster Questions of 2019-2020

Will the Cowboys Give Ezekiel Elliott the Deal He Wants?

Possibly the biggest storyline in the entire NFL right now is Ezekiel Elliott’s standoff with the Cowboys. Elliott has been one of the most productive players in the league since his rookie year and appears to want to get paid ASAP. Elliott is certainly deserving of a big contract, but if he truly is asking for a record deal that surpasses Todd Gurley’s, the Cowboys may be right not to give him that much. For one, Todd Gurley’s deal looks like a mistake in retrospect, with his potentially arthritic knees putting a damper on things. Secondly, Elliott has had some off the field issues, the most notable of which got him a six game suspension that killed the Cowboys chances of making the playoffs in 2017. The Cowboys appear to be stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. Elliott is undoubtedly incredibly valuable to the team and not someone they can afford to let go, but overpaying him is a big risk, considering how many other mouths they need to feed.

Is Dak Prescott Really Getting a 30 Million Deal?

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, Elliott isn’t the only one looking to secure the bag. The team’s franchise quarterback is asking for a deal that exceeds 30 million annually, a deal that would make him the highest paid quarterback in the league. While Dak is certainly an above average quarterback and is arguably the only player on the team who’s more deserving of an extension than Zeke, he isn’t the best of the best. When stacked up against the other 30 million-dollar quarterbacks in the league, he doesn’t seem to fare that well. Dak is solid but hasn’t shown the ability to uplift a team the way Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, or even Carson Wentz have. In a vacuum, Dak isn’t worth the money he’s requesting, but the Cowboys may have no choice in the end. While this deal would certainly be an overpay, the Cowboys don’t really have any options to replace Dak, and when it comes to overpaying Dak or losing him, they’d probably decide to overpay him first.

Which Player will the Cowboys Decide to Let Go?

While Dak and Zeke are currently getting the most attention, the Cowboys have a host of other key players that are in line for contract extensions soon. While there have been issues with Elliott and Dak, their resigning does feel more like a matter of when not if. The same can’t be said about the other players on the Cowboys. Off the top of the list, three key players that are up for contract extensions this year are wide receiver Amari Cooper, cornerback Byron Jones, and linebacker Jaylon Smith. Although some of them may decide to wait until next offseason to sign, the point remains clear. It’s going to be extremely difficult for the Cowboys to keep all of them. This holds especially true if the Cowboys cave and give Prescott and Elliott record deals. Although they may be able to keep them all this season, having them wait until next offseason for a contract could hurt more than help. If they all have even better seasons, their price tag will likely increase. They’ll also have several other players they may need to pay in 2020 as well. The Cowboys seem to be facing a crossroads with their cap situation, and letting some key players go seems inevitable. The only question now is who will be the odd men out.