The Cowboys refuse to help Dak Prescott while the Ravens make a no-brainer trade for cheap WR

Perhaps the most troubling part of the Dallas Cowboys' 3-4 start to the season has been the play of Dak Prescott.

Prescott finished second in MVP voting last season and was named first-team All-Pro. It was Prescott's best season to date and helped him secure the richest contract ever for a quarterback, both in annual value ($60 million) and total guaranteed ($231 million).

For whatever reason, Prescott has reverted to being a mediocre quarterback this season. He already has eight interceptions and has posted the lowest passer rating of his career. His 63.7% completion rate and 7.0 yards per attempt are his lowest since 2017 – his second season.

Although Prescott's game cannot be defended, it is obvious that he needs more help. It's hopeless to expect any improvement in the running game at this point, but what's stopping the Cowboys from trading for a wide receiver?

Whatever it is, Jerry Jones and company were caught dozing again on Tuesday when the Ravens acquired Diontae Johnson and a 2025 sixth-round pick from the Panthers in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Johnson is a perfect fit in Baltimore, just as he would have been with the Cowboys. The Ravens needed a more consistent WR2 for Lamar Jackson, who might be able to play around and win his second straight MVP and third overall pick.

2023 first-round pick Zay Flowers has 41 catches for 527 yards this season. No other Ravens pass catcher has more than 24 catches or 422 receiving yards. Flowers also has eight more first downs than any other pass catcher in Baltimore.

While the lack of a true WR2 hasn't impacted Jackson's play, it says a lot about the Ravens (and Cowboys) that Baltimore is actively striving to be even greater. Their status as an elite team is well established. And yet they are not resting on their laurels.

The Ravens fell short to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game last season and signed Derrick Henry to give Jackson the luxury of a premier rushing attack. The Cowboys lost in the Wild Card round and Jerry Jones said Henry was too expensive to sign, even though Henry lives in Dallas in the offseason and is open to playing for the Cowboys.

This isn't about Henry, but Jackson won the MVP last season. Prescott finished second behind Jackson. The Ravens clearly want to play their best while Dallas is operating like a team in the midst of a rebuild.

While Johnson isn't a world-beater like Henry, he's been a serviceable WR2 throughout his career. He would bring much more balance to a passing offense that is currently heavily reliant on CeeDee Lamb, who almost single-handedly led Dallas to a comeback against the 49ers.

After San Francisco tightened its coverage on the Cowboys' final drive, Prescott had to look elsewhere and threw four straight incompletions. That included a drop by 5-foot-7 return specialist (!) KaVontae Turpin on third down, which Prescott dropped into a bucket. Turpin is an entertaining player, but he shouldn't be targeted when games are on the line.

Prescott needs to clean up his game, but no front office in the NFL helps its quarterback less than the Cowboys. The Diontae Johnson trade won't be the final piece of evidence before the Nov. 5 deadline.

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