The Cowboys hope to get an extension with quarterback Dak Prescott hammered out before the March 9 deadline for applying the franchise tag, as Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com report. That suggests that there are no concerns over Prescott’s health, which is in keeping with the periodic updates that the team has provided over the past few months.
Of course, stories about negotiations between Dallas and Prescott are not unfamiliar to NFL fans. The two sides were said to be close to signing a long-term deal on multiple occasions in recent history, but they have not been able to strike an accord just yet. The most recent reports suggested that Prescott was prepared to accept a five-year contract worth $35MM per year before the July deadline for extending franchised players, but that the Cowboys would not agree to include a provision saying he could not be tagged at the expiration of that contract.
If that’s true, that would be an odd hill for Jerry Jones & Co. to die on, as it’s unlikely Prescott would have made it to the end of that contract without another renegotiation. Rival execs posit that Jones’ refusal to give in on that issue might have cost him roughly $40MM, as the quarterback market has only continued to boom, even in the midst of the pandemic. Prescott could now fetch a deal worth $42MM-$43MM per year, and the guarantee he gets now might be higher than it would have been in July.
But the Cowboys are in a bind, as they cannot let their 27-year-old franchise quarterback just walk away. Obviously, Prescott knows that, so it’s unclear if he will be willing to accept an early extension or if he would rather take negotiations down to the wire again this summer and to really force Dallas’ hand.
An extension before March 9 would certainly be in the Cowboys’ best interests, as they would otherwise have to tag Prescott again for a price of roughly $37.7MM and perhaps carry that full cap hit through free agency. A multi-year pact, on the other hand, would give them considerably more payroll flexibility in the coming months, which will be especially important given the expected salary cap decrease.
Pelissero and Rapoport also write that, in addition to the surgery that Prescott underwent in the immediate aftermath of the brutal ankle injury he suffered in October, the two-time Pro Bowler went under the knife again several months later. The second surgery was not directly related to the October procedure, but it did help to improve the structure and integrity of the ankle and further accelerated Prescott’s recovery. He is expected to be ready to return to the field well in advance of the 2021 regular season.
Jones is a billionaire and cowboys are most valuable franchise wether Prescott or dalton is quarterback. To say Cowboys can’t afford to just let him walk is absurd . They have the 20th pick qb will be out there. His salary cap hit will kill the cowboys with terrible defense . They messes up signing everyone but him now in a bad position
you think you’re just going to slot whoever into Dak’s place? I’m not the world’s biggets Dak fan, but he’s well better then a mid 1st rookie.
Or send Dak and the number 10 pick to Houston for Watson when they realize he is serious about wanting out. I have always liked Dak but I don’t like one guy making $35-40m especially with all our other big contracts. Can’t build a team that way and salary cap is going to drop
20th… more like the 10th bro. 20th lolol…
If they spend their first rounder on a QB, then they don’t get to spend it on defense. They had one of the worst defenses in football. Their offense is great with Dak. They need to spend every pick this draft on defense.
Totally agree. Dak could get a nice contract and the Cowboys could have some Cap room. But if Dak wants to break the bank the franchise him and let’s line up the next QB.
Some players don’t get over devastating injuries, regardless of their actual medical recovery. I would franchise him again until I see him perform up to his pre-injury level.
There’s no way the Cowboys win anything if they give Dak 35 to 45 million dollars a year.
Purely based on cost, and the glaring OL and Secondary holes that need to be addressed… I’d pass on reupping or tagging Dak (except tag and trade).
I’d take Bridgewater, Winston, Carr, Trubisky, or Alex Smith. Worst case, Dalton, Cam, Firzmagic or Foles.
I’m just asking a QB to win more games than Daniel Jones, Jalen Hurts and Heinicke (TBD).
All those guys could be had for palatable #s. And to win a SB we need low turn overs, 200-250 passing yards, 2 TDs complimented by a stout defense and offensive line. Spend the cap space fixing the D. Draft OL.