The three hottest seats for the Dallas Cowboys

The seat’s always warm when you coach or play quarterback for Jerry Jones. But this season, things could get even hotter for Dak Prescott, Mike McCarthy and an underperforming member of the defensive line.

1. Defensive tackle Neville Gallimore

Dallas thought it got a bargain when it grabbed Gallimore in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but that hasn't been the case. In his first three seasons, Gallimore has 74 tackles and three sacks. 

He missed substantial time in 2021 with a dislocated elbow, but even when healthy, the former Oklahoma Sooner has done little. According to Pro Football Focus, Gallimore ranked 107 of 122 interior defenders last year and had the seventh-worst grade for run defense. Gallimore could be cut before the season, but his $2,742,000 base salary should be enough to keep him on a team already $24 million and change over the cap, per Spotrac. But with just $240,991in dead money, he’ll need to play much better in his contract year.

2. QB Dak Prescott

Stephen Jones said he believes Prescott could be Dallas QB for the next 10 years. Prescott signed a four-year, $160 million extension in 2021, and Dallas can add $22 million to the cap by extending Prescott further. That all sounds good, so where does C.J. Stroud fit in? According to Cowboys Country, the team is intrigued by the former Ohio State quarterback. Are the Cowboys interested enough to trade up for him? We'll find out in April. In the meantime, Dallas has met extensively with Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker and scouted TCU’s Max Duggan at the Senior Bowl.

None of these players will take Prescott’s job next year, but the timing is suspicious. Prescott tied for the NFL lead with 15 interceptions in just 12 regular-season starts last season. Keep an eye on any restructured contract. Dallas could be looking to save more than money down the line.

3. Head coach Mike McCarthy

Prescott said rumors of McCarthy’s hot seat are “comical,” via Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post, but Cowboys fans aren't laughing after a 27-year championship drought. McCarthy won a Super Bowl in Green Bay, but that was 12 years ago. 

Building off the team’s first playoff win since 2018 could be difficult. Seven assistant coaches won’t be back in 2023, including offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who left to join the Chargers. That much turnover can’t be good for a team with 21 free agents and a coach about to call offensive plays for the first time in five years.

McCarthy is signed through 2025, and Jones said the team is “all in" on their head coach, via Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. But if the team doesn’t improve in 2023, it’s hard to believe he'll be around much longer.