Keeler: Broncos don’t need to trade for Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. Sean Payton, George Paton need to draft their own

Nicolas Cage, an actor , has more rings than Dak Prescott over the last four years. And only one fewer NFL playoff victory on his resume. It’s not. Look, didn’t we just do this? If Broncos Country is pining for a chaser from , the answer is not jumping right into a love affair with Through three quarters, Dallas got down 48 16 at home to a 9 8 Green Bay team that lost at Empower Field a few months back.

One of those Packers scores came on a pick 6 from Dak to Darnell Savage. True. Also true. But by how much? By all accounts, Prescott is a stand up dude, professional and personable. On one hand, over the last three regular seasons, Dak’s averaged 32 passing scores and just 11 picks, with more than a few MVP worthy moments sprinkled in.

On the other hand, since 2021, Prescott is also 12 12 in all starts, regular season and postseason, against opponents that finished with winning records. The Fortress is 2 5 lifetime as a starting quarterback in the postseason, 1 3 lifetime as a home QB1 in the playoffs. He’s 22 20 lifetime in 42 regular season outdoor starts, 16 15 lifetime vs.

the AFC, 4 5 lifetime vs. the AFC West. We could go on. Sure. But best of luck there. The 30 year old signal caller is due a $29 million salary Again: Keenum. Flacco. Allen. Driskel. Bridgewater. Russ. Stidham. Band Aid after Band Aid at quarterback — a bridge of veteran arms that led to absolutely nowhere.

Four of the teams that won the first five NFL playoff games of the holiday weekend had at least two things in common: 1. They were at home; 2. They started a quarterback they’d drafted and developed from scratch. Houston rookie signal caller C.J. Stroud threw for three scores in his postseason debut.

Green Bay’s Jordan Love buried Dallas with three touchdowns of his own. Before Monday, the three QBs making their playoff debuts prior to the MLK Day double dip went 2 1. The youngest QB1 on the field went 3 1. For every Patrick Mahomes and every John Elway, there are a dozen Paxton Lynches who land in the ditch.

College quarterbacks can be wicked, expensive curveballs. But just because it’s hard to hit a breaking pitch doesn’t mean you stop swinging altogether A young star QB on a rookie deal, outperforming his contract, is probably the Broncos’ best path out of Russ purgatory. The problem with Dak is the same that’s dogged the Broncos for half a decade: Presumption.

General manager George Payton presumed three years ago his wide receiver room was the finished article, among the league’s best. He wound up He presumed his offensive line was as good in person as it looked on paper. He presumed a tight end, any tight end, would emerge from the gloom. None did. He presumed Big Russ, like Peyton Manning before him, had the goods to elevate those around him from decent to good and good to great.

Wilson didn’t. And couldn’t. You want to roll those dice again? Yes, Prescott was a second team AP All Pro choice this fall. He also has a first team All Pro wideout in CeeDee Lamb to throw to. And a first team All Pro guard in front of him (Zack Martin), lined up near a second team guard (Tyler Smith) and a second team left tackle (Tyron Smith).

Dak got pressured on only 17% of his dropbacks, per Pro Football Reference.com. With the Broncos’ line, which remained relatively healthy, Wilson was pressured on 25.5% of his dropbacks this past season — and that was down a few ticks from a 28.6% rate in 2022. It’s awfully hard to fire off those glorious, high arcing deep shots from the comfort of your keister.

When it comes to Dak, the call’s an easy one, and borrowed straight from his arsenal. Hard pass..