The Dallas Cowboys have spent years searching for the formula to end their championship drought, but six games into the 2026 season, familiar questions about Dak Prescott have returned.
Dallas sits at 2-4 under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, with an inconsistent offense struggling to deliver the performances expected from a team hoping to compete for the NFC East title.
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That frustration has prompted Skip Bayless to revisit one of his longest-standing criticisms of the franchise: its continued reliance on Prescott despite repeated postseason disappointments.
The veteran commentator believes Jayden Daniels, who helped the Washington Commanders reach the NFC Championship Game during his rookie season, represents the kind of quarterback Dallas should be targeting.
Speaking alongside former NFL cornerback Aqib Talib on their Gridiron podcast, Bayless made it clear which quarterback he would prefer leading the Cowboys.
"If they want to trade me Jayden Daniels for Dak Prescott, it's done. Straight up. Player for player. Let me have him. I'll take it," Bayless said.
His reasoning focused on the contrasting playoff records of the two quarterbacks, particularly Daniels' immediate success in Washington.
"He was available all last year, and we went 7-9-1. He's been available this year; we're 2-4. Give me Jayden Daniels. Did he get to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie? Yes, he did," Bayless continued.
"I'm living off 11 years of Dak Prescott. We ain't sniffed an NFC Championship Game."
Prescott has guided Dallas to multiple playoff appearances since replacing Tony Romo in 2016, but the Cowboys have never advanced beyond the divisional round during his tenure.
Kurt Warner questions Brian Schottenheimer
While Bayless wants a different quarterback, Kurt Warner believes Prescott is operating within an offense that makes consistent success difficult.
The former Super Bowl-winning quarterback highlighted Dallas' struggles in the running game during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show.
"I think the tough thing about this offense is that they're not dominating up front, and so, they're not really running the football very well," Warner explained.
"And so now, you're just forced to have to drop back and throw it. I think it's really put a lot of pressure on this offense."
Warner also questioned whether Schottenheimer's system offers enough variety to consistently challenge opposing defenses.
"They don't do a lot of formations and motions," Warner added. "At times, it can get stagnant. It can be hard on your offense and make it easier on the defense."
Prescott faces another important Cowboys test
Dallas now turns its attention to a crucial divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, scheduled for Monday at 7:15 p.m. CT.
Another defeat would leave the Cowboys facing an increasingly difficult challenge in the NFC East and place further pressure on Schottenheimer's offensive decisions.
However, Bayless' comments underline the frustration surrounding a franchise that has repeatedly failed to translate regular-season expectations into meaningful playoff success.
The immediate question is whether Prescott and Schottenheimer can find solutions before another promising season slips away.