Aikman On Dak & Cowboys: Reloading Or ‘Rebuilding’?

FRISCO - In the eyes of many, a football team is either “reloading” (because its roster is good) or “rebuilding” (because its roster is lacking).

And in analysis of the 2021 Dallas Cowboys? Troy Aikman leans toward the former.

“I know that in Jerry’s mind, they’ve never been in rebuilding mode,” Aikman said of owner Jones as. “That’s the optimist that he is. But I would agree him with right now.”

The Hall-of-Fame Cowboys QB’s reasoning is largely based on the healthy return of Dak Prescott.

“I’ve not been around anyone who’s spent time with Dak or watched him that didn’t feel this guy is a franchise quarterback,” said Aikman in a USA Today visit. “And they’re hard to find.”

Prescott, of course, was lost for the season last year in Week 5. Fellow offensive stalwarts Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, La’el Collins and Blake Jarwin all missed ample time and did not finish the year.

Obviously, signing Prescott is also key; Aikman’s believes the Cowboys should and will re-sign the quarterback, who can also come back via another franchise tag.

“I think he’s really talented,” Aikman said. “When he came into the league, (he) was regarded as somewhat of a project. Was not expected to have to play right away and had never taken snaps from underneath center, play-action passing game, some of those types of things that they were doing at the time. And yet, he took to it really quickly, and it’s because he worked so hard at it.

“The Cowboys have been real fortunate.”

Can the Cowboys combine good fortune, effort and health into a 2021 “reload”?

“You get Dak back, you get the offensive line back – and with the skill players they have on offense?

“Find a few pieces on defense, and they should be right in the thick of things next year,” Aikman said.