Proposed Patriots Trade Could Lead to $160 Million Quarterback, Analyst Says.
Since the New England Patriots need a franchise quarterback and have major salary cap space to boot, FS1’s Nick Wright theorizes a big signing ahead.
Wright suggested that the Patriots could sign Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in 2025 after the final year of his four-year, $160 million contract. The Cowboys and Prescott have no plans to renew his deal with the team in 2025 per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Since the Patriots own the No. 3 pick in the draft next month, Wright can see the team going with a trade and a “Plan B” approach to sign Prescott in 2025. Wright broke down how much money that Patriots have for next year and how a trade could lead to inking Prescott next.
“So the Patriots are on the books for $200 million in cap space next year,” Wright said during the “First Things First” show on Thursday. “So what if the Patriots … traded the pick a three particularly if Drake Maye‘s there because people want it even more because people seem to love him.”
“Say he’s traded to Minnesota for [pick] 11 and 23 and something [else],” Wright continued. “Draft a tackle there whether it’s [Joe] Alt [Tallese] Fuaga [and] draft one of the mini stud wide receivers in this class at 23 and have the ‘Plan B’ — ‘we’re going to sign Dak Prescott.’”
“He’s an unrestricted free agent,” Wright added. “What the Cowboys’ problem is and a lot of teams’ problem is, ‘wow, you’re going to have to pay him $60 million a year and it’s gotta be back-loaded because we don’t have the room.’”
“So it’s going to be like $30 million and then $65 [million] and $70 [million],” Wright continued. “We wouldn’t have to do that if we’re the Patriots. We could do the rare front-loaded deal where his first year, the cap hit is $75 million bucks if we want … and then, it goes down.”