Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott continues to recover from an ankle injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. The former Mississippi State star sustained the nasty injury on Oct. 11 against the New York Giants, the Cowboys’ longtime NFC East rival.

The timing couldn’t have been worse for Prescott as he was hoping for a long-term contract beyond the 2020 season. With him being franchise-tagged in a deal worth over $31.4 million, he faces the possibility of a similar situation in 2021 if the Cowboys don’t ink him to the lengthy and lucrative deal he feels he deserves.

Not lost in that discussion is the fact that Dallas is 2-7 and would have the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft if the season ended on Friday. The possibility of the team moving on from Prescott and selecting a quarterback, whether it is Justin Fields or Trevor Lawrence, is certainly in the realm of possibilities.

But for ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., the choice is clear: Trade the pick and improve the team in other areas while retaining Prescott.

“You’re not talking about a young quarterback who is unproven, who is still going through those rough starts and inconsistency,” he recently said on ESPN’s “Get Up”, according to 247Sports.com. “Dak is a heck of a quarterback and you can get an awful lot — you can get a tremendous amount in return for a pick that represents Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. That’s got to be under consideration here.”

The discussion of whether Dallas should retain its pick if it continues to be a high one and pick a quarterback, or keep Prescott in the fold for years to come, will continue to be a hot topic for weeks to come.