Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky floated the idea of the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings making a play for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. He tied the scenario to the 3-5 Cowboys continuing to lose and stopped well short of predicting it would happen.

The suggestion comes while Minnesota sits first in the NFC North despite a 19-15 loss at Detroit last Sunday that left the 5-2 Lions a game back and handed the Vikings their only defeat of the season. Dallas lost that same afternoon, falling 33-30 in overtime to the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium for its fifth loss in eight games.

Dan Orlovsky Frames Minnesota’s Quarterback Question Around Timing

Orlovsky ran through possible quarterback targets for Minnesota in remarks shared Friday, and his list grew more ambitious as it went: “Geno Smith, but I think it’s even bigger than that… Herbert… Dak Prescott, if the Cowboys keep losing.”

Orlovsky built his argument around urgency for a division leader, and he leaned on one phrase to drive it home: “Anything and everything should be on the table for Minnesota. You can’t waste windows.”

Any of the three would be taking over from Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray, who went 17 of 29 for 210 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the loss at Detroit. His 86.6 passer rating this season ranks 20th of 31 qualified quarterbacks, though he sits 10th of 31 in completion percentage over expected.

He has also been sacked 15 times this season. Pro Football Network’s NFL QB Impact Grade has Murray at 69.8 through Week 9, 25th of 35 quarterbacks.

Orlovsky then hedged the whole idea himself: “And that might be an outrageous long shot thought.”

Prescott was the only name on his list that came with a condition, and that condition rests with Dallas, which, despite its 3-5 record, still sits second in the NFC East heading into this Sunday’s game at Indianapolis.

What Dak Prescott’s 2024 Extension Means for Orlovsky’s Idea

Prescott has stayed productive even as the losses have piled up in Dallas, throwing for 2,046 yards this season, fifth in the NFL, with 14 touchdown passes, ninth in the NFL, against five interceptions.

His 93.2 passer rating is tied for 13th of 31 qualified quarterbacks, and in last Sunday’s overtime loss, he completed 19 of 29 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown while running for another score.

Prying him loose would also mean clearing a hurdle Orlovsky raised himself during the segment: “I don’t know if Dak has a no-trade clause. My guess is he does.”

His guess was right. Prescott signed a four-year, $240 million extension with Dallas in 2024 that runs through the 2028 season (according to Spotrac). Like his last deal with Dallas, it gives him a full no-trade clause for every year it runs.

No NFL player had ever averaged more than the $60 million a year in new money Prescott landed when he signed, and no one had received a bigger signing bonus than his $80 million.

That no-trade protection means a move to Minnesota, or anywhere else, would need Prescott’s approval on top of the Cowboys deciding to part with their quarterback.