There’s never a shortage of surprises in any given NFL draft. For some, Colorado Buffalo QB Shedeur Sanders was seen as a lock for the first round. Even for many that did not rank him among the top 12-15 prospects in the draft, there was a general belief that the nature of the quarterback position would lead to him being selected some time in the top 32 selections on Thursday night.

But that didn’t happen. The TV networks were invited into the draft party home of Sanders, who wisely turned down an invitation from the NFL to attend the draft in Green Bay, WI in person. Instead he got to go through the evening surrounded by family and friends and at minimum maintained his composure each time the broadcasts cut to a scene from inside the event.

It’s expected that Sanders will have his name called rather early on Friday night when the draft resumes, but we all know what is said about assumptions. One would have to think there’s at least some possibility Sanders lasts on the board until Dallas is on the clock at No. 44. Would the club, at that point, consider drafting Sanders?

Everything the Cowboys have said, including the prevailing theme of their post-draft press conference on Thursday night, was about configuring a roster that better takes care of their huge investment in quarterback Dak Prescott. Over a year after inking his new deal, Prescott is still the highest-paid player in the NFL, and by a wide margin of $5 million per season.

Any trip through the comment section of social media outlets will reveal a vocal minority of fans who wish the Cowboys would move on from Prescott, whose injuries combined with the club’s lack of postseason success have soured them. And although the team traded a Day 3 pick for young QB Joe Milton earlier this offseason, they would love to get a young arm in the fold.

That sentiment isn’t counter-intuitive, even for those who support Prescott. Milton has impressive arm strength and showed well in his single start last season for the New England Patriots. The reality is, though, that the Patriots could’ve held on to him if they saw future starter potential, even if that was to drive his price up for a trade come training camp or next offseason.

If the Cowboys’ evaluation of Sanders is one of a future superstar quarterback, they should consider investing the No. 44 pick in him… if it weren’t for the circus that would cause around the most visible franchise in all of sports. The controversy of spending that level of asset on the position would engulf the organization, despite the sanity of what kind of asset he could be.

Dallas is locked in on Prescott through the 2028 season, but the club could see cap relief from his contract as early as 2027. And although Prescott was able to secure a second consecutive no-trade clause, that’s more of a right of refusal than an elimination of the possibility he could be moved.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Would Cowboys draft Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders if he fell to No. 44?