OXNARD CA — Is it time to the Dallas Cowboys To look at an extension Dak PrescottAre you a party to a contract?
Wait, didn’t we just go through this exercise with the quarterback?
The long and difficult path to Prescott signing the $160 million, four-year contract in 2021 was winding. The Cowboys offered $90M guaranteed contracts, and he played the 2019 season as a rookie. He was on the franchise tag for the 2020 season and earned $31M, even though the Cowboys offered him a contract with $100M guaranteed.
He signed an extension, which included $126M in guaranteed funds and a record-setting bonus of $66M, on March 10, 2021. This was just five months after sustaining a compound fracture, dislocation, and dislocation to his right ankle.
Why would the Cowboys not want to extend Prescott’s contract now?
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Cap Management to Start in 2023
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The rising cost for quarterback contracts
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Fear of being without a franchise quarterback for a season
Prescott would be open to the possibility of a second extension, after waiting so well for his first attempt. This is the most difficult part.
“I wouldn’t do it with where the money is going with the quarterbacks and where the salary cap is going with the new TV deal,” one long-time agent said. “He is already set for life. Wait. If Dak did it, it would be to help the team build around him.”
Technically, Prescott signed a six-year contract, which allowed the Cowboys to restructure his contract in 2020 and ‘21 to spread out the proration of the signing bonus. That’s why Prescott’s cap figure in 2022 is $19.73M. It’s also why in 2025, the Cowboys will have at least a dead money charge of $21.8M because of those restructures.
The contract’s length was the most contentious issue during negotiations that led to the $160M deal. The Cowboys wanted to be able to manage their salary cap in the future and so they sought a longer-term agreement. Todd France, Prescott’s agent, requested a shorter-term contract so that Prescott could possibly reach free agency sooner.
In 2023, Prescott’s cap figure is $49.13M. It rises to $52.13M by 2024. These will be the second highest cap figures in the NFL for the next five years. Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. As the NFL recovers from the coronavirus epidemic, the salary cap will go up each year. However, it will not increase in one season.
“As you know one of our biggest challenges [in the negotiations] was length and obviously it’s going to be popping up again real quick,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “We went along with the shorter length. These are things you pay attention to all the time. We’ll never forget about Dak or how he affects our salary-cap perspective. But, yes, he’s always in the back of our minds when you’re managing the salary cap with this football team.”
Prescott was one two quarterbacks that averaged $40M per year when he signed his final deal. He’s now tied for No. 7.
The Cowboys and Prescott have reached an agreement that has seen young quarterbacks cash in. The Buffalo Bills You have signed Josh Allen Watson ($46M/year) has been signed by the Browns ($43M/year). Arizona Cardinals Signed Kyler Murray ($46.1M/year).
Veterans like Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr Matthew Stafford Also, they signed huge extensions to their clubs.
“I think anytime you have a franchise quarterback — we’re blessed to have one in Dak Prescott — that’s just the life you live,” Jones said. “We lived it with Troy [Aikman]. It was a great experience with Tony [Romo]. We are living it together with Dak, and that is a great thing. It’s a blessing we have a guy like Dak Prescott, who is not only a great, great football player but he’s a better man off the field.”
As part of Prescott’s deal, the Cowboys cannot use the franchise tag on him in 2025. The Cowboys may have to consider the possibility of Prescott being drafted in the first round without that negotiating tool.
Rodgers currently earns $50.2M per annum, making him the highest-paid Quarterback. Joe Burrow You can find the Cincinnati Bengals Justin Herbert You can find the Los Angeles Chargers You can sign an extension after the season. This would likely push the average quarterback salary figure closer to $50M per year.
Prescott stated that he had not been paying attention to recent quarterback deals.
“I told you guys I wasn’t paying attention much when mine was going on, so damn sure not paying attention to the other guys,” he said. “Happy for all of them. It’s a great league. It’s going to continue that way, I’m certain.”
What if the Cowboys approached him to extend his contract now?
“I guess those talks will have to happen in a private conversation,” he smiled.
Prescott is in a good place. It is something he knows. It is also known by the Cowboys.
“I know at the end of the day, he’s a common theme in why we’re so optimistic about this team being very successful this year,” Jones said. “It starts with No. 4. He’s always a big part of our planning and what we’re thinking about with him.”