Cowboys need a tough quarterback like Trey Lance, according to former All-Pro Cornerback

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Until he wins a Super Bowl or at least gets past the Divisional Round, Dak Prescott will hear the criticisms from pundits.

The latest one to question his ability to win the big one is a man who played with arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time.

Asante Samuel won two Super Bowls under head coach Bill Belichick during the early days of dominance of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in 2003 and 04.

Samuel’s assessment of Dak Prescott

On a podcast with another former NFL player, Elton Patterson, Samuel echoed similar sentiments about Prescott that others have said.

“He throws for 4,500 yards, 4,300 yards. He’s doing this thing, but it’s not about the yards when you play quarterback. It’s about a winner,” says Samuel.

Samuel knows a thing or two about reading a quarterback, being named to the Pro Bowl four times during his NFL career while leading the league in interceptions twice (2006 and 2009).

He also knows what it takes to perform in the postseason, holding the NFL record for most pick-sixes in the playoffs (four).

Since Prescott became the Cowboys’ starting quarterback, this team has made the playoffs in five of his eight seasons behind centre.

One could make the case that his 2020 season should be a write-off, seeing as he only played five games because of an injury.

Who does Samuel think the Cowboys need

Samuel is correct when indirectly saying stats are meaningless if you can’t win the big one, but who does he think can get Dallas over the hump?

He believes the man they acquired from the San Francisco 49ers at the start of 2023 could be that guy.

“I think this comes in the picture right now, why Trey Lance is a Dallas Cowboy.

“Dak Prescott is like Tua Tagovailoa to me. The nice guy. Donovan McNabb, the nice guy.

“In Dallas, in Miami…these are not …go get you a C.J. Stroud, go get you a Brock Purdy.

“Somebody that knows how to win. Somebody that’s going to lead the win.”

Can Lance lead the Cowboys to glory

While Samuel may have a point about Prescott getting overwhelmed in a playoff spotlight, it’s a bold statement to suggest that Lance could help them lift the Lombardi trophy once again.

It’s fair to say Lance hasn’t gotten an opportunity yet to show his stuff, but he was healthy throughout the 2023 season.

During his time in Dallas, he’s been mostly a healthy scratch, so clearly, Mike McCarthy, for now, doesn’t believe in him as much as Prescott or Cooper Rush.

In his four games as a starter for the Niners, Lance has a completion percentage of only 54.9, with five touchdown passes and three interceptions.

Yes, he has two NCAA Division I Championships to his name, but being a college star and an NFL one rarely happens overnight, and Jerry Jones needs someone who can win now.

That said, Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers have been in that mindset over the past few seasons, and Lance was their starter before his injury.

All reports indicate Prescott will sign an extension, but if things go south, knowing it’s an all-in season, it wouldn’t shock me to see Mike McCarthy roll the dice on Lance.