We learned yesterday that the Cowboys and Dak Prescott are still far apart in their extension talks, and the relationship between player and team could become strained if this situation drags out into the regular season. Prescott’s base pay jumps from $630K in 2018 to just over $2MM in 2019, which is a tidy raise, but still far below market value for a three-year starter, two-time Pro Bowler, and former Rookie of the Year who has quarterbacked his team to two playoff berths.
But while the resume that Prescott has put together during his brief time in the league is quite impressive, there is still plenty of skepticism as to whether he will continue on an upward trajectory or if he will settle in as a decidedly above-average quarterback that needs a strong supporting cast to succeed. It is telling that both of Prescott’s Pro Bowl nods (2016, 2018) came when star running back Ezekiel Elliott led the league in rushing, and even with a productive Zeke, Prescott wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire in 2018 before the arrival of Amari Cooper helped to spark the offense.
At the same time, it’s unfair to expect any quarterback to thrive without surrounding him with talent at the skill positions and on the offensive line. The adage that suggests a good QB should make his teammates better is often overused and only true to a certain extent. You can’t, after all, get blood out of a stone, and asking your signal-caller to consistently elevate a collection of mediocre players is not a workable strategy.
Prescott is undoubtedly eyeing the massive extension that Carson Wentz just landed from the division rival Eagles and wondering why Dallas can’t offer him that kind of cash. Prescott may never be the type of player to throw for over 30 TDs a season, but he has been nothing but durable during his first three years in the league, which Wentz certainly cannot say. For what it’s worth, Spotrac pegs Prescott’s market value at $29.4MM per year, not too far south of Wentz’ new pact, which carries an AAV of $32MM.
Yesterday’s report indicated that negotiations could last until at least training camp, and obviously both sides are motivated to get something done. Unlike Wentz, Prescott’s earnings potential would likely take a major hit if he were to sustain some sort of significant injury, and the Cowboys have several other contracts to address (including those of Cooper and Elliott).
There is a lot of work to do, especially for a team that knows all too well the constraints of a roster that offers little salary cap flexibility. It would still come as a shock if Prescott plays for anyone other than the Cowboys for the foreseeable future, but until a new deal is signed, there will be room for doubt.
The summary is now the NFL is paying decent to ok QB’s premium coin so it has to be spun that they are great. In terms of talent, 20 starting QB’s are average. That’s where ‘parity’ comes from. 2/3 of the league have OK QB’s so you never know who will rise or fall each season.
You cannot pay him! He is a average QB who is never going to be able to win Dallas a SB on a rookie deal let alone if they pay him top money
Might this turn into another cousins situation?
Prescott not worth what he is asking. No reason to extend early. He is very average in every facet of playing QB.
I would say that Dak is a top 15 QB; however he wants top 5 money which he shouldn’t get. The Wentz contract really screwed up the market for QB’s.
How did the Wentz contract screw up the QB market? He signed for about what the market projected him to get. He didn’t reset the market, nor did he take a below value deal.
jerry jones is jerry jones – taking things to the 11th hour that’s how he does deals. eventually a player/coach will burn him and split town w/I notice
Stephen takes care of negotiating now.
I agree with everyone’s sentiment. He’s a decent quarterback, but has no business being top 15 in AAV. He can’t carry a team and needs an effective run game, o-line and above average WRs to be a slightly above average QB. Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, etc can make average player look like an all pro. Prescott does the opposite, his teammates elevate his game. Not what you want in a QB that is commanding $30MM AAV(or more).
Well said
Sorry but I have to disagree. All Dak does is win. He’s easily a top 15 QB, who should only get better. He has the respect of his teammates, commands the huddle, and elevates his game in pressure situations (ex: that throw to Beasley last yr at the back of the end zone).
I’m not interested in going back to the Clint Stoerner, Ryan Leaf, Chad Hutchison era. Pay the man 30 MM/yr and wrap him up long term. 30/yr will be a bargain in a few years.
Let’s see how he plays with adversity…like not having the best offensive line in the NFL blocking for him, and one of the top 3 running backs to hand the ball off to and take away the attention of the defense.
He might be a top-tier QB, and he might be very average and living in the circumstances. As far as I know, though, he’s never won anything…a few games here and there, but he hasn’t won when it matters (January).
Dude, quit it. If Carson Wentz can get paid, why can’t Dak? Can someone please put up ANY stat that shows Wentz has any significant advantage over Dak? Which of the Two has playoff win? Which of the two has played every game? Which one has a higher QBR?
Did I bring up Wentz? Nope. Just stated the facts that Prescott has played his entire career in an ideal situation for a young QB. The Cowboys, and the NFL, don’t truly know what type of QB he is yet. Why are you so desperate for the Cowboys to to devote a significant portion of their salary cap to him? Personally, I could not care less how much (or little) any player makes, and can understand how a team (business) wants to be absolutely sure and not pay any more than necessary.
“Can someone please put up ANY stat that shows Wentz has any significant advantage over Dak? ”
Sure, by the way. You can look at all the yards, completions, touchdowns, etc., that you want to, but until you look at them in context, they don’t really tell the story. Here are some advanced stats that take into consideration game situation and defense faced that measure a quarterback’s true effectiveness…and Wentz blows Prescott away.
DYAR: Prescott (-164); Wentz (+428)
Effective Yards: Prescott (1861); Wentz (2,670)
ALEX: Prescott (-1.3): Wentz (-0.2)
DVOA in 2018
Wentz +8.2%
Prescott -8.1%
Higher QBR? Last year, Wentz
Dak’s QBR has gotten worse in his 3 healthy years
Hope to God Jones are diligent in gathering these facts. I’d trade Dak.
career QBR Wentz 92.5, Dak 96. So, what are you trying to say. You can use all “fancy” analytics you want to use, but getting the ball in the end zone, keeping it away from other teams, Winning game, and being AVAILABLE are what really matters.
So Dak’s career QBR is 3.5 points higher while playing 8 more regular season games…..
And contrary to popular belief, analytics do matter
“Getting the ball in the end zone, keeping it away from other teams, and being AVAILABLE are what really matters.”
Wentz in 2017
The big “if” is his health. But I’ll tell you this, if Wentz shows anything like his 2017 form, Dallas is at best a wild card team
Does Analytics measure “IF’s”? C’mon man! Wentz performs well, he’s great! Dak performs at almost same level, everyone else gets the credit. Wentz has NEVER even played in a playoff atmosphere
I think some of the negativity towards Prescott is a result of him replacing Romo who was a fixture in big D for a long time. Wentz did not have a similar shadow hanging over him as he only had to replace the dreadful and always injured Sam Bradford.
And the pressure is off Wentz with Foles gone. He can go out and play without having to look over his shoulder
Some players respond well when their job security is threatened and others not so much. One thing we can be sure of is Wentz won’t be looking over his shoulder worried about Mark Sanchez making a comeback.
Everyone who is against Prescott signing what is your plan to replace him? Should have drafted a qb if they were letting him walk. He is 2nd to Brady for most wins since he has come to league.
Please. Not the irrelevant “wins” argument. Remember Brad Johnson? Trent Dilfer?
How is it irrelevant?? So osweiler on patriots they have same wins? On cowboys same wins? Trent dilfer won a super bowl. Wins kinda important . You see you win enough games you go to playoffs. Your team sells tickets and beer and make more money . Try and keep up.
This is mainly due to the talent that’s carried him for the past 2 years. His rookie year he was fine. Now for the past two seasons he’s struggled to throw the deep ball and doesn’t really run that much anymore. The defense has carried this team which is why he has that many wins.
I think $25 million aav would be fair
I was sitting in the end zone for Cowboys vs Rams playoff game last season. My seat location gave me a very good perspective of what Dak was seeing, the open lanes, open receivers, oncoming blitzes etc. The Rams sold out to stop the run all game, virtually daring the Cowboys to beat them with the pass. Single covered receivers were consequently wide open all game. Dak repeatedly failed to audible away from blitzes, frantically threw short to his first reads and the receivers consistently had to break stride, dive, contort or leap to haul in his passes. I exited the stadium realizing that Dak, although a great guy, is simply not poised or accurate enough to win a Super Bowl. There’s no way I’d sign him to a long term deal.
A one game evaluation is pretty meaningless although it probably gets you on the Jets radar the next time they search for a GM.
Looks like Goff isn’t poised enough to win one either
I’ve watched every snap Dak has made and it’s simply tough to get a grasp of exactly why he was inept. Analyzing it all in person and being able to see the entire field made it easy to see his weaknesses. I’ve watched and coached the game over 50 so it came a bit easy for me. It’d be great for you, Crosseyedlemon, to be able to watch a game sitting next to me so I could explain what was really going on. You’d be amazed.
Josh Mccown age 40 is best free agent out there . Good luck winning with him . Josh Johnson , Brock osweiler excite you? Maybe Colin kapernick who has been out of the league for ever will just lead you to the promised land. Enjoy.
First of all The Cowboys shouldn’t be in this position. They should’ve realized long before now that Dak is a mid range qb at best and that they’d better acquire a long term replacement. They failed to do it so of course Dak’s the starter in 2019/20. Doesn’t mean they should make a second mistake by getting entangled in a cap busting long term contract. Heck, I believe Rosen will ultimately be much better than Dak and he could’ve been had for a song.
If Dak walks how many teams would jump on him at 25 mil a year? Keep hating and he will keep winning his division .