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Latest On Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs

June 6th, 2024 at 1:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

Trevon Diggs‘ 2023 campaign came to an unexpected end. The Cowboys’ highest-paid corner suffered an ACL tear during a September practice, sidelining him and leaving the team shorthanded in the secondary.

The 25-year-old is making progress in his recovery. To little surprise, though, Dallas will take a cautious approach with him in terms of usage during this offseason. It remains to be seen if Diggs will be available once training camp begins in July.

“Maybe,” the former second-rounder said when asked about his training camp readiness (via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News). “Maybe not. But I’m feeling comfortable. I feel good.”

Diggs’ injury left the Cowboys notably thin at the cornerback spot even with Stephon Gilmore playing at a high level and DaRon Bland enjoying an historic season in terms of pick-sixes. The latter is still on the books for two more years, but the former is among the most high-profile players still on the open market. Gilmore has expressed a willingness to re-sign in Dallas, but little movement has been seen in his case this offseason.

Even if the former Defensive Player of the Year lands elsewhere in free agency, expectations will be high for the Cowboys after they ranked fifth in the NFL in passing yards against last season. A healthy Diggs would certainly help the team given his status as one of the league’s top ballhawks. The Alabama product has racked up 18 interceptions and 52 pass breakups in 47 games, figures which helped him secure a five-year, $97MM extension last summer.

Three other Cowboys – linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, tight end John Stevens and receiver David Durden – also suffered ACL tears last year. Like Diggs, their respective rehabs are progressing with an eye on a patient approach from the team’s perspective. Diggs is nevertheless currently in a good place with respect to his recovery.

“We’ll respect the timeline, but Trevon looks great,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “He’s in a good spot…. As far as when he gets back, let’s be honest, we’re going to be very cautious with those guys. We’re not going to put them out there too soon. Better later than too fast.”

If Diggs is not fully recovered by the beginning of training camp, he will be a candidate for the active/PUP list. Players can be activated from that list at any time during the summer, and the point at which the Cowboys do so with Diggs (if necessary) will be a key storyline to follow.

Cowboys’ Micah Parsons Expects To Become NFL’s Highest-Paid Non-QB

June 5th, 2024 at 10:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Micah Parsons is probably the Cowboys’ best player, but he appears to sit third in the team’s latest extension queue due to contract timelines. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb‘s contract-year statuses make their situations front-burner matters. Parsons appears fine waiting.

Rather than push the issue ahead of his fourth seasons, Parsons is prepared to see where the market will go once his time to see market-changing money comes. During the fifth-year option era (2011-present), the Cowboys have paid three first-rounders (Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Ezekiel Elliott) before their fourth seasons. Dallas exercised Parsons’ fifth-year option, but it does not seem like an early deal — given the Prescott and Lamb matters — is coming.

[RELATED: CeeDee Lamb Not Present At Cowboys’ Minicamp]

“I’m patient. Patience is a virtue,” Parsons said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill. “I’m waiting my turn. Let CeeDee go get whatever. Let Dak get whatever. I kind of know where the money is. It’s not like I see the Cowboys with $90MM in cap space.

“This market is going to just jump up and the cap goes up again next year. They’re talking about these contracts might for a high-caliber player might be up to $40MM by then.”

When asked if he expected to become the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback on his second contract, the All-Pro Dallas defender replied, “I mean, yeah.” Parsons, 25, will have a clear-cut case to surpass Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-per-year deal and Justin Jefferson‘s new $35MM-AAV accord. While the cap might not take another $30MM jump in 2025, it will check in higher than its $255.4MM place next year. This bodes well for Parsons, who has displayed transformative abilities during his rookie contract.

Frequently battling double-teams, the 2021 first-round pick is 3-for-3 in All-Pro nods (two first-team selections) and is one of just five players in the sack era (1982-present) to record 40 sacks over his first three seasons. The Cowboys did well by nabbing Parsons following a trade down to No. 12, which helped the Eagles outflank the Giants for DeVonta Smith; they will need to reward their impact defender in the not-too-distant future.

The 49ers’ Bosa extension talks came down to the wire last September, with the former Defensive Player of the Year inking a deal that placed him nearly $6MM north of previous top edge earner T.J. Watt. Although Brian Burns and Josh Allen have signed extensions this offseason, their deals barely outpace Watt’s for AAV. No one is within $20MM of Bosa’s guarantee number ($122MM); the San Francisco dynamo’s $88MM full guarantee checks in $8MM higher than Watt’s. The Bosa deal should set the floor for the Cowboys, who should have more financial clarity by the time they enter serious extension talks with Parsons (likely in 2025).

Parsons is tied to a $2.99MM 2024 salary and a fully guaranteed $21.32MM fifth-year option number. The Cowboys are in the rare position of needing to consider record-setting QB, WR and defender payments on one cap sheet. The team is expected to make a strong Prescott extension offer — one that would reduce his 2024 cap hit from its eye-popping $55.13MM place — this summer and has viewed 2024 as the Lamb extension window. Jefferson’s guarantees will complicate Lamb talks, which will occur as Prescott carries considerable leverage against his team.

Despite their past early extension efforts, the Cowboys have taken some heat for creating this situation. While this can be dubbed a good problem due to the talents of Prescott, Lamb and Parsons, the team will certainly see its depth tested if it opts to pay all three players. No trade rumors have emerged regarding the trio; Prescott holds a no-trade clause.

For now, Parsons appears set to play a fourth season on his rookie contract. Bosa and Aaron Donald did so in the past. But the Cowboys waiting with the Penn State product runs the risk of upping his asking price when negotiations commence.

Zack Martin To Consider Retirement After 2024 Season

June 5th, 2024 at 1:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Micah Parsons might be the Cowboys’ most talented player, Zack Martin is easily the most accomplished performer on Dallas’ roster. A surefire future Hall of Famer, Martin has been one of the NFL’s top guards since being a 2014 first-round pick.

Year 10 brought an interesting chapter for Martin. The decorated blocker held out and saw his tactic produce a solid reward, with the Cowboys greenlighting a raise and a substantial guarantee bump. Martin rewarded the club with a seventh first-team All-Pro season. One year remains on Martin’s deal, and the Canton-bound guard is unsure he will follow Tyron Smith in pursuing another contract. Martin said he will consider retirement following the 2024 campaign.

[RELATED: Cowboys Expected To Make Dak Prescott Strong Offer]

“I’m not saying 100%, but I think it’s definitely in the realm of possibilities,” Martin said, via the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken, of the possibility 2024 is his last season. “And that’s one thing I don’t want to do. For myself, I don’t want to be thinking, ‘Oh, this is it. This is it.’ I want to stay in the moment, and I want to play the best that I can play at this point and be the best right guard this team needs on a weekly basis. And then after the season, we’ll figure out what’s going on.”

Despite coming into the NFL two years after Smith, the acclaimed right guard is a month older than his longtime teammate. Drafted at 23, Martin will turn 34 in November. Martin signed a six-year, $84MM extension before the 2018 season. The extension ties the cornerstone lineman to the Cowboys for seven years. While the team revised Martin’s deal to end his holdout last year, the parameters of the 2018 agreement still shape his path to free agency.

Martin remaining at or close to his All-Pro form would, even at 34, make him an attractive free agent — particularly for contending teams — in 2025. Guards rarely receive the franchise tag, due to all O-linemen being under one umbrella on the tag, and the Cowboys’ contract situation has produced complications to the point a 2025 tag for anyone might not be in the cards. The team has Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb deals to complete, with a monster Parsons payday likely coming next year.

Restructures also stand to make matters difficult for the Cowboys regarding Martin, as a $26.5MM dead money hit would come to pass if he is not re-signed before the start of the 2025 league year. As the Tom Brady Buccaneers contract showed, a retirement would also stick the Cowboys with that void years-driven bill.

ESPN’s run block win rate metric slotted Martin fifth last season, though his 18th-place Pro Football Focus finish marked a career-low ranking. The 2014 first-round pick said his holdout, along with nagging injuries, hindered him — to a degree, as an All-Pro nod still commenced — in 2023. That said, Martin is in rare territory among guards. Even counting pre-merger players, Martin’s seventh first-team All-Pro selection tied him for first all-time at the position — with Hall of Famers John Hannah and Randall McDaniel.

The Cowboys did not re-sign Tyron Smith and, after the Tyler Guyton first-round choice, are expected to keep All-Pro Tyler Smith at left guard. As the team breaks in a new center post-Tyler Biadasz, Martin remains the team’s anchor piece up front. The Cowboys will count on the Notre Dame product again in 2024, but with his contract expiring and retirement under consideration, the All-Decade-teamer’s future is uncertain beyond the upcoming season.

Cowboys Prepared To Make Strong Dak Prescott Offer

June 4th, 2024 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Plenty of extension candidates and recipients have come through Cowboys headquarters in recent years, as the team has strung together three straight 12-win seasons. But this profiles as a unique offseason for the oft-discussed franchise, as three cornerstone players — Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons — are each extension-eligible.

Both Prescott and Lamb are in contract years; the latter has not shown for minicamp this week. Two seasons remain on Parsons’ deal, via the fifth-year option. Prescott resides in the most interesting situation — due to the terms of his current contract.

Dallas’ QB cannot be franchise-tagged, and a no-trade clause gives the MVP runner-up security on that front as well. As of now, Prescott’s cap number ($55.13MM) trails Deshaun Watson‘s ($63.77MM). Both numbers would shatter an NFL record for a cap figure in-season.

Absent another restructure, the Browns could be ready to take some medicine on their Watson contract. The Cowboys, however, have a clear motivation to complete an extension. Although a report in the spring suggested Dallas was open to having Prescott reach free agency, pushback emerged soon after pointing to the team — as should be expected — having no desire to move to the free agency cliff with their QB. The team is “all in” on a Prescott extension, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noted during a recent Get Up appearance.

The “all in” phrase has become a bit tiresome when connected to this Cowboys offseason, but the team has made clear it wants to do a third deal with Prescott. Thus far, however, Fowler notes the team has taken a passive approach here. The Cowboys waiting with Lamb has likely cost some money, especially considering the monster guarantees the Vikings gave Justin Jefferson. As more quarterback deals are completed, that will certainly affect Dallas-Dak talks. The sides have been in discussions since March, though it is clear these talks have not reached the serious stage.

As the offseason winds down, the Cowboys will need to operate in a more urgent fashion with their ninth-year QB. They are planning to make a strong offer at some point this summer, Fowler adds. Considering the way Prescott operated during his first negotiation, the numbers associated with these discussions remain a central 2024 NFL storyline. Prescott bounced back from a down 2022, throwing an NFL-most 36 TD passes (compared to just nine INTs) and ranking second in QBR, to boost his market. Though, it would have been strong regardless.

While the 30-year-old passer downplayed his desire for a market-setting contract, the shrewd negotiations that led to his four-year, $160MM extension in March 2021 point have the Cowboys battling uphill. The team’s inability to tag Prescott and a recent restructure inflating the void years-driven penalty to $40.1MM in 2025 dead money leave the former fourth-round pick in the driver’s seat.

How the Cowboys handle this Prescott-Lamb-Parsons situation will be one of the more interesting contract chapters in recent league history. A quarterback on a deal at or near $60MM per year and a wideout on track for a near-Jefferson-level payment would be difficult enough, but Parsons having a clear case — thanks to his accomplishments and the cap increase — to top Nick Bosa‘s defender-record contract by a notable margin creates quite the crunch for the Cowboys, whose depth will be tested should the team indeed go through with extensions for all three.

WR CeeDee Lamb Absent From Cowboys’ Minicamp

June 4th, 2024 at 9:47am CST by Adam La Rose

CeeDee Lamb, like many other extension-eligible players, skipped organized team activities. In the case of the Cowboys, their offseason program has now shifted to mandatory minicamp but the standout receiver is still not present.

Lamb has not been seen at the first day of minicamp, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes. His absence is expected to last throughout the three-day period, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. Remaining away from the team will generate roughly $100K in fines for Lamb; unlike the case of training camp holdouts, though, those penalties can be waived.

The three-time Pro Bowler entered the 2024 offseason as one of the wideouts capable of resetting the position’s market. The top of the pecking order has since moved three times, with Justin Jefferson unsurprisingly moving ahead on his Vikings extension. That pact carries an annual average value of $35MM, the top figure in the league for non-quarterbacks.

Lamb and Bengals Pro Bowler Ja’Marr Chase now have a benchmark for their own negotiations as a result. The former is not believed to have been the subject of serious extension talks this offseason, with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones electing to wait for other mega-deals around the league to be signed. That has provided Lamb with a high target on his asking price. As things stand, the 25-year-old is set to receive $17.99MM in 2024 on his fifth-year option.

A long-term deal will be much more expensive given Lamb’s production last year in particular. With Jefferson’s deal now on the books, though, an expectation exists that talks between Dallas and the Oklahoma alum will heat up in the near future. That could allow the parties to hammer out an agreement sometime this summer and finish off one of the Cowboys’ major financial goals.

The team has quarterback Dak Prescott and edge rusher Micah Parsons in line for extensions. The former is, like Lamb, on track for free agency in 2025 while the latter is under team control for the next two years. Keeping each member of the Prescott-Lamb-Parsons trio in the fold will be a challenge for Dallas, but plenty of incentive exists for Lamb negotiations to take place before training camp opens next month.

Talks Between Cowboys, WR CeeDee Lamb Expected To Pick Up

June 3rd, 2024 at 10:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

2024 has marked another offseason during which many high-profile receivers have received sizable extensions. The trio of Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase has been seen as the top group of players in line for new deals, though, leaving each to wait out the other on the contract front.

Jefferson has moved first in that regard, inking a Vikings extension which makes him the league’s top earner for non-quarterbacks. Lamb will be hard-pressed to secure an AAV higher than Jefferson’s $35MM on his new deal, but movement in his case could be coming soon. Talks between Dallas and the three-time Pro Bowler could “jumpstart” in the wake of the Jefferson accord, ESPN’s Todd Archer notes.

Likewise, veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson reports the Lamb negotiations are expected to accelerate now that a new benchmark has been set. The Cowboys have been patient on a number of fronts this offseason, including the addition of outside free agents and efforts to retain the likes of Lamb, Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons. Owner Jerry Jones made it clear in April he intended to let the quarterback and receiver markets come into focus before making a commitment at those positions.

That entailed letting Jefferson ink his deal, and it will be interesting to see if Chase’s negotiations with the Bengals similarly heat up given today’s news. The latter was waiting for Jefferson to agree to his extension before proceeding with serious negotiations on his own. The Cowboys and Bengals could take varying approaches over the coming weeks with respect to hammering out the league’s next WR mega-pacts.

Lamb, 25, set a new franchise record with his 2023 production (135 catches, 1,749 yards, 12 touchdowns). That helped his market value, especially with a number of non-Jefferson receiver deals being worked out recently. Lamb is due $17.99MM in 2024 on his fifth-year option, but a long-term accord will be worth much more. Dallas has to also consider potential multi-year investments in Prescott (also a pending 2025 free agent) and Parsons (who is on the books for the next two years).

To little surprise, Lamb has not taken part in the Cowboys’ OTAs. Those workouts are voluntary, but participation in the team’s upcoming minicamp is not. Dallas’ minicamp runs from June 4-6, and an unexcused absence for all three days would create over $100K fines (although those could be waived at the team’s discretion). The situation between Lamb and the Cowboys will remain worth watching closely during the final days of the team’s offseason program.

Hall Of Fame OL Larry Allen Dies At 52

June 3rd, 2024 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Larry Allen, one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history, died suddenly while on vacation with his family Sunday in Mexico. He was 52.

Quickly establishing himself as a cornerstone blocker for the Cowboys out of Division II Sonoma State, Allen played 14 NFL seasons. The powerful guard spent 12 years in Dallas before finishing his career with two seasons in San Francisco. The All-Decade guard soared to first-ballot Hall of Fame induction in 2013. No cause of death has been revealed.

“Larry, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength, was one of the most respected, accomplished offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL,” the Cowboys said in a statement. “His versatility and dependability were also signature parts of his career. Through that, he continued to serve as inspiration for many other players, defining what it meant to be a great teammate, competitor and winner.”

Allen’s dominance extended to the point he joined an exclusive club of players selected for two All-Decade teams, being included on both the 1990s and 2000s’ rosters. Working at both left and right guard, along with stints at tackle, Allen gave the Cowboys an unmatched anchor during his prime and kept up his quality play well into his 30s. Allen finished as a seven-time All-Pro (six first teams) and 11-time Pro Bowler.

Already forming one of the great offensive line nuclei in NFL history, the Cowboys added Allen to that mix in the 1994 second round. They chose the former junior college signee and two-time Division II All-American 46th overall, adding him to an O-line mix that included Pro Bowlers Nate Newton, Mark Tuinei, Mark Stepnoski and Erik Williams.

A Williams injury in 1994 thrust Allen into the right tackle role that year. After the Cowboys’ threepeat bid could not withstand another 49ers challenge, the team slid the ultra-talented blocker to his natural guard role. Allen spent 10 of the next 11 seasons as a guard starter in Dallas, with the Cowboys kicking him to left tackle to replace Tuinei in 1998. Allen’s Dallas career covered the final seven years of Troy Aikman‘s tenure and lasted through Drew Bledsoe‘s debut with the team. Allen earned first-team All-Pro honors for his LT one-off season as well.

“The National Football League is filled with gifted athletes, but only a rare few have combined the size, brute strength, speed and agility of Larry Allen. What he could do as an offensive lineman often defied logic and comprehension,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in a statement. “He could literally beat the will out of his opponents, with many quitting mid-game or not dressing at all rather than face him, but that was only on the field. Off it, he was a quiet, gentle giant.”

Allen’s first season as a full-time guard helped drive the Cowboys to their third Super Bowl championship of the 1990s. That conquest finished off a season that saw four Cowboys O-linemen earn Pro Bowl invites; free agent center Ray Donaldson joined Allen, Newton and Tuinei on a front that helped Emmitt Smith set the then-single-season touchdown record (with 25). As the Dallas dynasty core pieces splintered, Allen remained with the team long enough to help Smith break Walter Payton‘s all-time rushing mark during the 2002 season.

The Cowboys signed Allen to two extensions — in 1998 and 2002; the latter deal was worth $37.3MM over six years. Allen played four seasons on that contract, being released in March 2006. The 49ers stepped in with a two-year deal, and while San Francisco was going through a down period, Allen earned his final Pro Bowl nod during his debut season with the team. Frank Gore‘s lone All-Pro showing — a season that featured the No. 3 all-time leading rusher amass a career-high 1,695 rushing yards — came during Allen’s first 49ers season.

In addition to Allen’s on-field accomplishments, he displayed the strength that gave defensive linemen fits by bench-pressing 700 pounds during an offseason Cowboys workout. During his final appearance as a Cowboy — the 2006 Pro Bowl — Allen repped 225 pounds 43 times. The NFL’s 2019 100th Anniversary team included Allen as one of the guards. In the post-merger era, only three O-linemen surpassed Allen’s 11 Pro Bowls.

11 Teams Gain Cap Space From Post-June 1 Cuts

June 2nd, 2024 at 9:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Early June no longer means a mid-offseason update to the free agent market, as teams can designate players as post-June 1 cuts months in advance of that date. But June 2 does bring an annually important date in terms of finances. This year, 11 teams will see their cap-space figures expand thanks to post-June 1 release designations. One other club — the Broncos — used a post-June 1 designation, but they will not save any money from the historic Russell Wilson release.

Teams are permitted to designate two players as post-June 1 cuts ahead of that date. This designation spreads a player’s dead money hit over two years as opposed to a 2024-only blow. Courtesy of Spotrac, here are the savings this year’s teams to make post-June 1 designations will receive:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Broncos’ overall Wilson cap hit, even with the quarterback’s $1.21MM Steelers salary factoring into the equation, will more than double any other single-player dead money number in NFL history. The now-Sean Payton-led Broncos, after a failed effort to move Wilson’s guarantee vesting date beyond 2024, will take their medicine for bailing 18 months after authorizing a five-year, $245MM extension. Denver will absorb the lion’s share of the dead money this year, taking on $53MM. The team will not receive the cap credit from Wilson’s Steelers deal until 2025, per Spotrac.

Annually making exhaustive efforts to move under the cap, the Saints will be hit with more than $30MM in total dead cap from the Thomas and Winston contracts. Redesigning both in 2023, the Saints will take on $8.9MM in 2024 dead money on Thomas and $3.4MM on the Winston pact. Mickey Loomis‘ operation is once again at the bottom of the NFL in future cap space, being projected to come in more than $84MM over the 2025 cap.

Baltimore structured Beckham’s one-year, $15MM contract to void, and the team will take on more than $10MM in total dead money on it. The bulk of that will come in 2025; the post-June 1 cut will produce $2.8MM in 2024 dead cap this year.

LB Eric Kendricks Addresses Cowboys Deal

May 27th, 2024 at 4:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Eric Kendricks had a deal in place to sign with the 49ers this offseason, but he ended up backing out of that agreement to join the Cowboys. The veteran linebacker reunited with Mike Zimmer in the process, and that was a factor in his decision to sign with Dallas.

“Yeah absolutely, I always appreciated Zim,” Kendricks said (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News). “Just the amount of defense I learned when I was underneath him. The way I watch film, the way we break things down, the install, a lot of things I learned from Zim and we had some good years and I can’t wait to continue that.”

Zimmer’s head coaching tenure of the Vikings came to an end when he was fired following the 2021 season. His dismissal (along with that of general manager Rick Spielman) came amidst reports of a rift between that pairing and the players. Kendricks himself publicly lamented the “culture of fear” which was in place under Zimmer. The latter was out of coaching for two seasons before taking the Cowboys’ DC gig.

Zimmer will be charged with replicating the success Dallas saw with Dan Quinn at the helm on defense; the unit ranked no worse than seventh in points allowed over the past three years. Linebacker is a spot filled with question marks going into 2024, though, and Kendricks figures to serve in a starting role. The 32-year-old took less money to join the Cowboys, eschewing what would have been a short-term gig as a first-teamer in San Francisco.

Kendricks had an eight-year run in Minnesota, starting 127 games along the way. He earned first-team All-Pro honors along with a Pro Bowl nod in 2019, and he has recorded at least 107 tackles every season since. The UCLA alum will see plenty of playing time in a linebacker unit which no longer includes the retired Leighton Vander Esch. Dallas will depend on Kendricks as an experienced producer alongside the likes of Damone Clark, DeMarvion Overshown and Marist Liufau. Any potential tension with Zimmer has been dealt with by now.

“I respect him fully,” Kendricks added. “We’re going to get this thing going. I had a talk with him this past weekend. We’re excited to have this opportunity to work together again and play off each other.”

Latest On Cowboys, Dak Prescott

May 23rd, 2024 at 10:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Wideout CeeDee Lamb is absent from the Cowboys’ OTAs as he seeks a new contract. Quarterback Dak Prescott is likewise a pending free agent, but he is in attendance amidst questions regarding his future in Dallas.

The 2023 MVP-runner up has no-trade and no-tag clauses, giving him considerable leverage in talks with the Cowboys. Prescott is not close to a new agreement being worked out, and owner Jerry Jones is remaining patient with respect to the top of the quarterback and receiver markets shaking out. Prescott appears to be open to reaching free agency next offseason, and his most recent comments confirm he is not focused on his contract at the moment.

“I don’t play for money. Never have never cared for it, to be honest with you,” the 30-year-old said, via ESPN’s Todd Archer. “Would give it up just to play this game. So, I allow that to the business people to say what it’s worth, what they’re supposed to give a quarterback of my play, a person of my play, a leader of my play. For me, it’s about, as I said, control what I can control and handle that part and the rest will take care of itself.”

Four quarterbacks reached the $50MM-per-year mark last offseason on extensions representing their second NFL contracts. Veteran Jared Goff recently joined that group; his new Lions pact (the third of his career) carries an annual average value of $53MM. That contract, coupled with the continued growth of the salary cap, offers reason for Prescott to anticipate a major raise compared to the four-year, $160MM deal he signed in 2021.

Both team and player will be hoping for a smoother negotiating process this time around, but Archer confirms there have still yet to be “meaningful discussions” on a Prescott accord. The Cowboys envision the three-time Pro Bowler remaining as their signal-caller beyond 2024, and ensuring that will require the parties gaining traction later this offseason for this storyline to be resolved before the campaign starts. Dallas’ financial planning, of course, must also take into account deals for Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons, both of which will at least bring them close to the top of their respective markets.

“I think it depends on personal relationships and position and how much that pay can affect others, understanding where I am, what my pay means to a team and to an organization,” Prescott added. “I don’t really take things personal. Maybe in my first deal, maybe things were a little different than they are now. One, it’s my age and who I am, where I am in my life… The understanding that I have a lot of decision in this, too. I have a lot of say-so, too.”

The extent to which Prescott wields his leverage will be a key factor in contract talks. His remarks demonstrate an awareness of the impact his next deal will have on the Cowboys’ cap situation, and with the Goff according providing a measuring stick the parties could have starting point for serious negotiations. When those take place and the progress they provide will be worth monitoring closely.

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