The Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott found themselves at the center of unexpected trade rumors this week, just a month before the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. On Wednesday, March 26, longtime Cleveland sports broadcaster Bruce Drennan claimed on his show that the Cleveland Browns were actively negotiating a blockbuster trade to acquire Prescott, with the deal involving cornerback Greg Newsome II and draft picks. Drennan suggested the trade was part of the Browns’ pitch to convince star defensive end Myles Garrett to sign a record-breaking extension earlier this month, saying, “I got a pretty darn good source within the Browns’ organization… The Browns are negotiating as we speak with the Dallas Cowboys for a trade for Dak Prescott.”
The rumor sent social media into a frenzy, with fans speculating about a potential shakeup in the NFL landscape. The Browns, holding the No. 2 overall pick and desperate to rebuild their quarterback room after a 5-12 season in 2024, have been linked to top draft prospects like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. However, Prescott, a proven veteran coming off a career-best 2023 season with 36 touchdowns and a second-place MVP finish, would be a significant upgrade over their current option, Deshaun Watson, who is recovering from a re-ruptured Achilles and carries a $37 million cap hit in 2025. The proposed trade package—Newsome, a 2021 first-round pick with a fifth-year option for 2025, and draft picks—would have given Dallas assets to either draft a new quarterback or bolster their roster after a disappointing 7-10 campaign last year.
But the rumor was quickly debunked. NFL Network’s Jane Slater, a trusted Cowboys beat reporter, checked with her sources and shut down the speculation, stating, “I run it all down when working this beat, and the Dallas Cowboys are NOT working on trading Dak to the Browns. In fact, texts with two sources tell me ‘fake news’ and ‘absolutely not’ before this gets any sort of wheels.” Financially, the trade never made sense. Prescott’s four-year, $240 million extension, signed before the 2024 season, carries a $52.9 million cap hit in 2025, per Spotrac, and the Cowboys would incur a $95.3 million dead cap hit if they traded him before June 1, according to Over The Cap. The Browns, with just $18 million in cap space, couldn’t absorb Prescott’s contract without significant restructuring, and Dallas would struggle to sign their draft picks with only $29 million in current cap space. Moreover, Prescott’s full no-trade clause gives him the power to veto any deal, and at 31, he’s unlikely to waive it for a rebuilding Browns team when the Cowboys are closer to contending.
Prescott’s health adds another layer. After a torn hamstring ended his 2024 season in November, requiring surgery, he played just eight games, throwing for 1,978 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s on track to be ready for the 2025 season, and the Cowboys have doubled down on their commitment to him. Earlier this offseason, they restructured his contract, freeing up $36.6 million in 2025 cap space, and also restructured CeeDee Lamb’s deal, creating a total of $56.6 million in cap relief. These moves signal Dallas’ intent to build around Prescott and Lamb, not trade them away, especially under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who replaced Mike McCarthy after last season.
The Browns’ interest in Prescott, while logical given their quarterback woes, seems more like wishful thinking than reality. Cleveland’s pursuit of a new signal-caller is well-documented—they’ve worked out Cam Ward recently, and with the No. 2 pick, they’re more likely to draft a rookie than trade for a veteran with a massive contract.
Meanwhile, Cowboys insiders like Nick Harris called the rumor “ridiculous,” pointing to the financial and logistical barriers.
For now, Prescott remains the Cowboys’ cornerstone, and the Browns will likely turn to the draft to solve their quarterback crisis. The rumor, while exciting, was a financial and contractual non-starter—but it’s a reminder of how quickly speculation can ignite in the NFL offseason, especially with a draft as pivotal as 2025 looming.
