What Would Trading up for Tua Cost the Cowboys?

In a recent interview, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said that if he had his pick of teams to play for, he would choose the Dallas Cowboys.

The star, when asked if he could choose a team to join next season, answered by saying he’d want to play under Mike McCarthy in Dallas.

“‘If you’re saying to me if I could choose what team I want to play on growing up, then I’d probably tell you the Cowboys. But they’re so far down [on the board],” Tua said to NFL Network. If the Cowboys intend to trade up for Tua, (which would most likely need to be a pick in the top 10), they would have to pay a hefty price. First, they’d need to actually convince a team to trade their draft pick, and second, they’d need to part ways with Dak Prescott, their current quarterback.

Some teams that might be willing to give away their pick for the right offer, in my eyes, are the Miami Dolphins (#5 overall), the Los Angeles Chargers (#6), the Jacksonville Jaguars (#9) and the Cleveland Browns (#10). Conveniently, these teams are all in need of a reliable quarterback, something the Cowboys would have a surplus of after snagging Tua.

Los Angeles’ need for a new offensive captain is the most dire of all the aforementioned teams, after having parted ways with long-time QB Philip Rivers earlier in the off-season. Adding Dak Prescott to an offense that already has solid options like running back Melvin Gordon, and wide receiver Kennan Allen, as well as younger talent like tight-end Hunter Henry. Prescott would no doubt receive a warm welcome in Los Angeles.

Another team in need of a better option at quarterback is the Cleveland Browns. While the question of whether or not Baker Mayfield is the franchise option for Cleveland has divided Browns fans over the last two years, I still have faith that he will prove himself within the next couple of seasons. However, if Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam doesn’t believe in #6, adding Dak Prescott would be a sure-fire way to maintain your position as one of the most talented squads in the NFL, and keep the fans happy. While half of the Dawg Pound would be disappointed for a short period of time, all would be forgiven if Prescott, Beckham, Landry, Chubb, Garrett and the rest of the immense talent on the Browns’ roster delivered a Super Bowl title to the city.

The other two teams’ needs for a quarterback are minute compared to the Chargers and the Browns. The Jaguars, while he might take a couple of seasons to develop, have a rising star in Gardner Minshew II. Likewise, the Miami Dolphins were mildly successful (if that’s what you want to call the couple of wins they mustered up at the end of the year), and should be satisfied with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm.

It will be an interesting draft this year, but how can the Cowboys choose a rookie who was injured late last year and is coming off of ankle surgery, over the man who’s been commanding the troops on
offense for the last few years? Let’s face it, Prescott will more than likely stay in Dallas; however, crazier things have happened in previous drafts.