Dak Prescott is the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Nevertheless, the Dallas Cowboys have let his new backup cost comparatively more. It is an anticipation of Prescott’s injury-prone history – at least.

It sounds like a trade of no particular relevance.

The Dallas Cowboys are giving up a fifth-round pick in the upcoming draft to acquire quarterback Joe Milton from the New England Patriots. The Patriots are also throwing in a seventh-round pick.

This is at least not a good sign for a backup quarterback, who are actually a dime a dozen. This inevitably raises the question: How long will he even remain a backup quarterback?

Dallas Cowboys: Can Dak Prescott be the big hit?

On paper, this question shouldn’t even arise. Just last offseason, the Cowboys signed starting quarterback Dak Prescott to a four-year, $240 million contract. That makes him the highest-paid quarterback in the league in terms of annual salary.

Nevertheless, you can’t help feeling that something is missing. Prescott is way too good to get rid of him. But – or so it seems – not good enough to win the Super Bowl with him. That is the stated goal of owner and general manager Jerry Jones almost every year.

The record of the now 31-year-old doesn’t look so bad, at least in the regular season. In the postseason, it’s been a disaster from the Cowboys’ point of view.

Dallas has only made it past the Wild Card Round twice with Prescott, and the Texans have failed three times. Overall, his playoff record is two wins and five losses.

After the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions made it to the NFC Championship Game in each of the past two years, one thing is clear: no NFC team has been waiting as long as the Cowboys to make it to the conference final. A horror record for “America’s Team”.

Dallas Cowboys: injuries repeatedly set Prescott back

Prescott’s health is always in question. He seriously injured his ankle in 2020 and missed 11 games. In 2022, he missed five games.

Last season, he was unable to play from week ten onwards. It is difficult for him to get into a rhythm and, more importantly, to trust his body in the long term.

“Availability is the best ability” is often said in the NFL. What do Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts have in common? With a few brief exceptions, they are almost never injured. Lamar Jackson also had these problems – and got them under control. So it is possible.

The question is: Do the Cowboys trust him?

In any case, it is a fact that a new rough diamond has been signed in Dallas. Milton was still a rookie last season and only played in Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills, which they won 23-16.

And his stats were impressive: he completed 22 of 29 passes for a total of 257 yards and two touchdowns. It was a wow effect, albeit against the Bills’ B-defense. That wow effect cost the Patriots their number one pick in the draft at the time, but now gets Milton a promotion.

And maybe a starting job soon? The Cowboys are known for holding on to their own draft picks for as long as possible. Especially when they are expensive own draft picks.

Dallas Cowboys: Joe Milton on the trail of Tom Brady?

But what if Prescott is injured again for weeks? What if Milton then comes in and the Cowboys offense looks better? What if he shows the same performance against star players and not just backups from the Bills? Then questions have to be asked in the Cowboys’ front office.

Besides, that wouldn’t be a precedent. In 2001, for example, the highest-paid quarterback at the time, Drew Bledsoe, was also benched after an injury.

Who came in at the time? A certain Tom Brady. And the rest is NFL history.