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Dak Prescott has a lot on the line this season. Another Pro Bowl campaign will set the Dallas Cowboys quarterback up for a monster payday. However, the two-time Pro Bowler ultimately will get judged on how his team performs in the postseason. Dallas boasts plenty of star power on both sides of the ball to make a legitimate Super Bowl run. And on Thursday, Prescott sent a scary message about a player who will be the Cowboys’ biggest x-factor this season.

Dallas boasts star power on both sides of the ball

Jerry Jones deserves credit for putting together one of the most complete rosters in the NFL. The Cowboys boast a boatload of talent on both sides of the ball. The offense should have no trouble scoring, especially in the first year under Mike McCarthy.

Prescott headlines a star-studded group that could see three 1,000-yard receivers. Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb offer terrorizing potential and will force defensive coordinators to make some difficult decisions. Ezekiel Elliott may have had a rough offseason, but he still ranks as one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFL.

On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys have assembled a front seven with dominant potential. Even after losing Gerald McCoy for the year, Dallas still has an embarrassment of riches along its front seven. DeMarcus Lawrence and Everson Griffen have racked up a combined 113.5 sacks and 259 quarterback hits in their careers. Dontari Poe adds another pass-rushing force from the interior.

Overall, the Cowboys do not have many discernible holes on their roster. However, Dak Prescott’s road to a Super Bowl title may depend on a player who has not suited up in an NFL game since 2015.

Dak Prescott sends scary message about Aldon Smith

When Aldon Smith signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Cowboys in April, it represented a massive step forward for the former All-Pro. After all, Smith has not played in an NFL game in five years. At one point, though, the long-limbed defensive end looked like a future Hall of Famer. However, off-field issues led Smith to spend a half-decade away from football.

But after reshaping his body and getting his mind focused, Smith seems ready to make an impact. And on Thursday, Dak Prescott sent a scary message about his new teammate during a press conference.

“He’s a monster. Damn sure doesn’t look like he hasn’t played in five years,” Prescott said. “Very fortunate to have him on my team and not rushing me. He’s going to make all of us better; he’s a great player.”

Clearly Aldon Smith has already caught the attention of his quarterback. And if the Cowboys plan on playing deep into the postseason, they will need Smith to make life a living hell for opposing QBs.

Smith will be the Cowboys’ biggest x-factor in 2020

The Cowboys already have established offensive stars in Prescott, Elliott, Cooper, and Zack Martin. On defense, Lawrence, Jaylon Smith, and Sean Lee have been in the system for multiple years. But the Cowboys’ success this season hinges on Aldon Smith becoming an x-factor.

What initially began as a low-risk signing could turn into a Super Bowl-winning gamble. Sure, Smith has been away from the game for quite some time. But in San Francisco, he possessed game-changing ability as an edge rusher who could also move around the defensive front.

The Cowboys have two Pro Bowl defensive ends in Lawrence and Griffen. However, neither measure up to what Smith did in his prime. In peak physical shape and with the right mentality, he has a chance to not only resurrect his career but totally transform the Dallas defense.

Imagine quarterbacks looking up on third down Smith, Lawrence, Griffen, and Poe flying upfield. Offensive lines will have to pick their battles as to who to devote more attention to. Whether Smith defeats single blocks or commands double-teams, his presence could transform the Cowboys’ defense from good to great.

Assuming Dallas lives up to its potential on offense, the biggest x-factor will be Smith’s impact. If he looks like his former self, the Cowboys stand a great chance of capturing their first Super Bowl since 1996. And that will lead to a big payday for Dak Prescott, and perhaps a life-changing contract for Aldon Smith.

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Stephen Sheehan

Stephen Sheehan began his sportswriting career as a high school student covering sports for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel through a student outreach program. He wrote for Bleacher Report and Fan Rag Sports and worked full-time for Sportscasting in 2020 and 2021. Stephen specializes in covering the NFL, particularly the New England Patriots.

Stephen is inspired by the stories sports can tell, from money to tragedies to breaking news; there are so many different ways to cover the industry. He monitors Twitter and various websites every day to find stories to tell in unique ways.

Stephen was a 2008 Culpepper Journalism Foundation Fellowship winner, received a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2013 and a master’s in sports management in 2015 from the University of Florida, and is an active rugby player and former rugby and football coach.