Frisco, TX – The Dallas Cowboys face a seismic question as the 2025 NFL offseason looms: could Russell Wilson, the veteran quarterback recently released by the Denver Broncos, step in as the perfect replacement for Dak Prescott if the Cowboys’ star signal-caller bolts in free agency? The speculation erupted on March 23, 2025, after reports surfaced that Prescott, entering the final year of his contract with no extension in sight, might test the open market—prompting analysts and fans to eye Wilson as a potential successor.
Prescott, 31, has been the Cowboys’ cornerstone since 2016, boasting a 73-41 regular-season record, two NFC East titles, and a 2024 campaign where he threw for 4,021 yards and 32 touchdowns despite a playoff flameout against the Green Bay Packers. Yet, with his cap hit ballooning to $55.1 million in 2025 and owner Jerry Jones noncommittal on a new deal—“We’re evaluating all options,” Jones said last week—Prescott’s future in Dallas hangs in the balance. A departure would leave a gaping hole at QB, and Wilson’s name has quickly risen to the top of replacement talks.
Wilson, 36, became a free agent on March 13 when the Broncos cut him, absorbing a record $85 million in dead money after a tumultuous two-year stint. Despite a rocky 11-19 record in Denver, he showed flashes of his old Seattle Seahawks magic in 2024, posting 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just eight picks while leading the league with nine fourth-quarter comebacks. His March 18 release—coinciding with the Broncos’ pivot to Bo Nix—frees him to sign anywhere, and Dallas, with its win-now roster, looms as a tantalizing fit.
“Russell Wilson in Dallas makes sense,” ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky argued on First Take. “He’s a proven winner—nine Pro Bowls, a Super Bowl ring—and he’d thrive with CeeDee Lamb and that O-line. Dak’s great, but Russ brings playoff pedigree.” Wilson’s 115-72-1 career record, including a 12-4 postseason mark with Seattle, contrasts sharply with Prescott’s 2-5 playoff ledger, a sore spot for Cowboys fans hungry for a deep run.
The fit isn’t flawless. Wilson’s $1.21 million veteran minimum salary for 2025 is a bargain, but his age and recent struggles—sacked 100 times in Denver—raise durability concerns. His improvisational style, honed under Pete Carroll, clashes with Mike McCarthy’s structured offense, though McCarthy’s adaptability with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay offers hope. Salary cap gymnastics would also be needed; cutting players like Michael Gallup could free up $10 million, but a Prescott exit might force a broader rebuild.
Fans on X are split. “Wilson over Dak? Hell yes—Russ knows how to win big games,” one user posted, while another countered, “Dak’s our guy—Wilson’s washed, look at Denver.” Wilson, meanwhile, has stayed mum, though his cryptic March 20 tweet—“New chapter, same hunger”—fueled the rumor mill. Sources say he’s drawn interest from the Steelers and Falcons, but Dallas’s star power and NFC contender status could sway him.
For now, it’s hypothetical. Prescott hasn’t signaled an exit, and Jones could still lock him up before free agency hits in 2026. But if Dak walks, Wilson’s experience, arm talent, and redemption arc could make him the ideal bridge—or more. As the Cowboys weigh their QB future, one thing’s clear: the Russell Wilson debate is just heating up in Big D.
