Dejected Jerry Jones Unhappily ‘Settled’ for $160 Million QB as He Wanted a Star, Now Benched in NFL, XFL, and USFL

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has a unique reputation in the NFL for getting what he wants. Well, not the Vince Lombardi trophy for the last 27 years. However, personnel-wise, Jerry gets the players he wants and the coaches he needs. And the one time he didn’t, also turned out to be to his advantage. What did he have to say back when he didn’t get the player he wanted?

Back in 2016, the billionaire owner, and GM, was visibly upset when the Cowboys couldn’t trade up to draft Paxton Lynch as their quarterback. However, looking back at it, Jones can’t help but breathe an enormous sigh of relief.

Jerry Jones had the last laugh in the Paxton Lynch situation

Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch was the dream prospect for Jerry. Moreover, Jones slated Lynch to lead the Dallas offense and take the baton from Tony Romo after 2017. However, the Cowboys already picked running back Ezekiel Elliott for their 1st round fourth pick. And sadly, Jones couldn’t trade back into the first round. The Denver Broncos swooped in and got Paxton with the 26th overall pick.

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And back in 2016, Jerry was not happy with how things went down. “When I tried to get a bargain, get it a little cheaper or get a better deal on it, I ended up usually either getting it and not happy I got it. Or missing it. And I probably should have overpaid here,” he said, according to NFL.com and Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

However, Jerry Jones landed Dak Prescott instead. And things worked out quite well for Dallas. More so because of the trajectory of Paxton Lynch’s career.

Paxton Lynch didn’t have a good time in the NFL

After spending two seasons with the Broncos, Paxton bounced around the Seahawks and the Steelers in 2019 before leaving the NFL in 2021, for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The QB also had a stint with the USFL’s Michigan Panthers in 2022, before entering the XFL this year. However, his debut did not turn any heads.

Paxton was benched in his XFL debut for the Orlando Guardians after throwing an avoidable interception. Backup Quinten Dormandy replaced Lynch, who finished the night with 136 passing yards with 15 of 21 completed attempts and a touchdown.

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Dak Prescott, on the other hand, won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the Cowboys to the divisional crown in his first year as a starter. And he hasn’t left the pocket ever since. Jerry Jones can only look back and wonder about what could have been the situation.