The Cowboys trade for Trey Lance creates a road without Dak Prescott

Lance is skilled, even if he has yet to have the opportunity to prove it fully at the NFL level. But is he a threat to Prescott or merely an insurance plan for the Cowboys? 

Possibly both. 

At 23, Lance is already familiar with the NFL life and its ups and downs. Now, with a change of scenery, he can potentially bloom. How much depends on Prescott and how the Cowboys feel about him. 

Barring a Super Bowl-winning season, nothing will keep Prescott in Dallas if the Cowboys choose to move on. And, after 2023, they can. Freely.

There's a potential out in Prescott's contract after the 2023 season and one the Cowboys might ponder. Prescott's contract will account for $59.4 million against the cap in 2024, up from $26.8 million in 2023, per Spotrac.

Entering his eighth season as the starter in Dallas, it might be time for Prescott to let it all hang out. Prescott has been brilliant in stretches, baffling in others, but more so mediocre or what you'd expect. Last season, Prescott's numbers slipped, throwing for only 23 touchdowns and a career-high 15 interceptions. He led the Cowboys to an 8-4 record as a starter and won a wild-card playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, in Prescott's time as Cowboys quarterback, that's as far as the Cowboys have gone, the second round. And, for Jerry Jones and company, it might not be enough anymore. 

Lance's mere presence won't be enough to dispatch Prescott from the top spot. However, he does have intriguing skills, which he flashed in a small sample size. 

Going 2-2 as a starter over two seasons, Lance completed 54.9 of his passes, throwing for 797 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. Like Prescott, he can use his legs, perhaps even better, rushing for 235 yards (4.4 yards per carry) with a touchdown in 54 attempts on the ground. 

Though, he's not without his question marks. Lance began last season as the starter before a season-ending ankle injury ruined things in Week 2. He needed a second surgery in December but returned for camp, where Sam Darnold overtook him for the backup role behind Brock Purdy. 

Ultimately, it'll be up to Prescott to prove he's worthy of keeping the job in 2023 and beyond. If not, the same discussion might come back around this time next year, only with Prescott as the one changing zip codes.