Dak Prescott

Latest On Cowboys-Texans COVID-19 Results

June 16th, 2020 at 7:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Several players from the Cowboys and Texans tested positive for COVID-19. All-Pro running back Ezekiel Elliott was among this contingent. Here is the latest fallout from the Texas teams’ coronavirus exposure:

Monday’s report indicated the players who contracted the virus were not at team facilities. Elliott and the other players who tested positive did so after being informed they had come in contact with a person with COVID-19, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Fewer than five players comprise the group that tested positive, and Moore adds that none of these players have been at team facilities this offseason. Players who are not rehabbing injuries remain barred from teams’ headquarters.
Dak Prescott did not test positive, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link, via Twitter). The Cowboys quarterback came under some scrutiny earlier this offseason for hosting a birthday party with several guests during the lockdown period. But the 26-year-old passer is healthy.
Many Texans players are undergoing COVID-19 tests for precautionary reasons, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Texas has recorded its highest number of coronavirus cases four days running. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced in May sporting events could feature fans in stadiums — at 25% capacity. Less than two weeks ago, Abbott declared stadiums could operate at 50% capacity. It remains to be seen if the recent spike will alter the state’s plans. Both the Cowboys and Texans are slated to hold training camp in Texas.
The scare that hit the NFL’s Texas teams has caught the attention of coaches. One NFL head coach said the NFL needs to delay the start of the season, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets, adding that another coach questioned the logic of playing games during the pandemic altogether. The NFL has nixed minicamps but, as of now, has training camps slated to open less than six weeks from today. The Cowboys and Steelers are scheduled to be the guinea pigs for NFL operation during the pandemic, being set to begin their respective training camps July 22.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, McCoy, Cowboys, Prescott

June 1st, 2020 at 12:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles have yet to make an offer to LeSean McCoy, but some of his teammates would like to see progress on that front.Wide receiver DeSean Jackson and offensive lineman Lane Johnson have both expressed support for a Shady signing, as Mike Kaye of NJ.com writes.

“I want to see it,” Johnson said about the notion of the Birds bringing back McCoy. “You already know how I feel.”

McCoy, 32 in July, could provide veteran support behind Miles Sanders and Boston Scott. Then again, he’s not the only notable running back available to the Eagles. After rejecting a one-year, $3MM offer from the Seahawks, Devonta Freeman remains a free agent, though his asking price may have to drop before the Birds get involved.

Here’s more from the NFC East:

Some have argued that Dak Prescott isn’t worth the market-resetting contract he’s seeking, but Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com says the Cowboys would have a hard time replacing the quarterback. His argument, in part, centers on the Cowboys’ difficulty in identifying good young QB talent. Before Prescott fell into their laps in 2016, the Cowboys were aggressively targeting Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook, two players who have done little as pros. In 2014, Cowboys brass had to talk Jerry Jones out of chasing Johnny Manziel. Of course, they struck gold with undrafted free agent Tony Romo in 2013, but he was really the discovery of then-quarterbacks coach Sean Payton. Some have gone so far as to say that Andy Dalton could match Prescott’s production, but Barnwell isn’t buying it.
New Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith bulked up in advance of his NFL return (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer). The former Pro Bowler says he “feels great” at 285 pounds, which is roughly 15 pounds heavier than his previous playing weight. In May, the NFL reinstated Smith, clearing the way for him to start fresh in Dallas.
The Giants could use an edge rusher, but they won’t make a late run at Jadeveon Clowney.
New 49ers tackle Trent Williams says he was legitimately ready and eager to play for the Redskins last season.

Latest On Cowboys, Dak Prescott

May 23rd, 2020 at 12:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys and Dak Prescott might not be as far apart as previously believed. For months, we’ve been hearing that Prescott is aiming for a two or three-year deal while the Cowboys wanted something more traditional – likely five or six years. Instead, the quarterback is seeking a four-year deal while the Cowboys are pitching five years, according to one source who spoke with Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News (on Twitter).

That doesn’t necessarily mean that the previous talk of Prescott wanting a two or three year deal was inaccurate. It’s possible that the current climate has changed Prescott’s views on potential open market upside versus long-term security. With a longer contract, Prescott can secure more in effective guarantees as well as guaranteed dollars at signing. Either way, it now seems like the Cowboys and their franchise QB are inching closer to a deal as the July 15th deadline approaches. They might not be on the same page, but they’re at least on the same chapter.

Prescott reportedly (and, naturally) wants to top Russell Wilson‘s league-leading $35MM average annual value. The Cowboys are hoping to hold the line and retain him at a lower rate, but any multi-year deal will have to wind up in that ballpark. If they can’t come to terms before the mid-June deadline, Prescott will earn $31.4MM in 2020 while remaining on course for free agency in ’21.

The Cowboys could franchise tag Prescott all over again next year, but that would leave them perilously thin everywhere else. Next year’s tag would call for a 20% raise over this year’s tag, which comes out to about $37.7MM. A third tag? That’d be a 44% jump – more than $54MM.

If the Cowboys want to stay in business with Prescott for the long haul, they’ll have to get something done sooner rather than later. And, if they can’t come to terms in the next few weeks, they’ll risk Prescott’s price jumping astronomically.

The latest news indicates that the Cowboys will hash things out by 6/15. History also suggests that a deal will get done. As Ed Werder of ESPN.com notes (on Twitter), seven of the league’s last ten franchise-tagged quarterbacks have agreed to multi-year deals before the deadline.

Latest On Dak Prescott, Cowboys

May 21st, 2020 at 1:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys have until July 15th to hammer out a new deal with Dak Prescott. Apparently, they’re not all that close to an agreement. So far, the talks have consisted of the Cowboys pushing for a longer deal and the quarterback gunning for a shorter contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

There’s little doubt that Prescott’s next deal will make him a very, very rich man. However, Schefter’s report indicates that there’s no truth to a recent rumor that made the rounds on Wednesday. The internet was buzzing with talk of a five-year, $175MM offer for the quarterback, but there was apparently no truth to those rumors. According to Todd Archer of ESPN.com, the Cowboys have an offer on the table that would make Prescott the league’s second-highest player in terms of average annual value (behind Seahawks star Russell Wilson and his $35MM AAV). That jibes with what we heard several months ago, when it was reported that Dallas had offered a contract with an AAV of about $33.5MM during the scouting combine (though that proposal didn’t gain much traction).

Currently, Prescott is slated to earn ~$31.4MM in 2020, per the terms of the franchise tag. If they can’t come to terms on an extension by July 15th, they’ll have to wait until after the season to restart talks. There’s clear mutual interest in a multi-year arrangement, but Prescott wants a shorter deal so that he can cash in all over again with youth on his side. The Cowboys, meanwhile, want a longer deal that won’t completely break the bank.

“There’s all sorts of analytics out there that show if your quarterback takes up too big a percentage of your salary cap, it decreases your chances to win,” COO Stephen Jones said recently. “We’re just trying to figure out the right fit. No one wants to sign Dak to a longer term deal more than Jerry and myself. We’re on the record time and time again on what we think of him as a leader. He has the ‘it’ factor. He’s a fierce competitor. He wants to win as well, and it’s just gotta be right for him and right for us.”

Prescott, a two-time Pro Bowler, threw for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2019. He’s seeking a deal that would make him the league’s highest-paid quarterback, vaulting him ahead of Wilson. But as a source tells ESPN’s Ed Werder, the two sides are close enough on dollars that a long-term deal by July 15 is in reach (Twitter link). If they can agree on the length of the contract, this matter could come together quickly.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

NFC East Notes: Redskins, Smith, Cowboys, Prescott

May 11th, 2020 at 5:52pm CST by Zachary Links

With graphic details and graphic images, ESPN.com’s Elizabeth Smith and Stephania Bell bring us the story of Alex Smith‘s gruesome injury and his road to recovery.

“Our first priority is we’re going to save his life,” a hospital worker said to Alex’s wife, Elizabeth, just days after the injury. “And then we’re going to do our best to save his leg. And anything beyond that is a miracle.”

Smith said that he feels “very much lucky to be alive” after the horrific injury and ensuing sepsis infection. And, after celebrating his 36th birthday in May, the Redskins quarterback is working towards an NFL return. Mrs. Smith, meanwhile, is conflicted.

“When I think about Alex returning to football, there’s part of me that wants him to do whatever he has the inner drive to do. If that means stepping back on the football field and throwing on those pads, then I want him to prove that to himself. But obviously there’s part of me asking, “‘Is it worth ever doing that again? Do you know what we just went through?'”

Here’s more on the Redskins, the Redskins’ quarterback situation, and the rest of the NFC East:

Talk of Tua Tagovailoa going to the Redskins didn’t bother starter Dwayne Haskins.“Throughout the whole process Ron [Rivera] was just telling me to trust him,” Haskins said (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports). “I did so it worked out.” The Redskins were long expected to take Chase Young with the No. 2 pick, but there were Tua rumblings on draft week. Ultimately, they took the Ohio State edge rusher and passed on the Alabama star.
If the Cowboys can’t work out an extension with Dak Prescott by July 15th, they’ll have to wait until after the 2020 season to resume negotiations. That deadline puts some serious pressure on the team to get something done with their beloved QB, but COO Stephen Jones says he won’t break the budget. “There’s all sorts of analytics out there that show if your quarterback takes up too big a percentage of your salary cap, it decreases your chances to win,” Jones said (via PFT). “We’re just trying to figure out the right fit. No one wants to sign Dak to a longer term deal more than Jerry and myself. We’re on the record time and time again on what we think of him as a leader. He has the ‘it’ factor. He’s a fierce competitor. He wants to win as well, and it’s just gotta be right for him and right for us.”
The Cowboys are feeling really, really good about their Day 2 and Day 3 haul in the draft, Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. Before the draft, they had a “high-second-round” grade on cornerback Trevon Diggs – they landed him at No. 51 overall. They assigned a second-round grade to defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, and snagged him in the third. In the fourth round, they see yet another steal – the scouting department gave center Tyler Biadasz a high-third-round score and snagged him with the last pick of the fourth round. Time will tell, but the Cowboys are doing cartwheels over their 2020 middle-round choices.
Carlos Hyde, who racked up 1,000+ yards rushing in Houston last year, is still available. The Eagles are interested, but they only want him at the right price.
Recently, the Giants reworked Cooper Rush‘s contract to dial down his base pay but also give him a chunk of guaranteed money. That may bode well for his odds of making the roster, but he’s got lots of competition.

Andy Dalton To Sign With Cowboys

May 3rd, 2020 at 9:00am CST by Rory Parks

Just a couple of days after the Bengals released QB Andy Dalton, the Cowboys are bringing him back home. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Dallas is signing the Texas native to a one-year, $3MM deal that can reach $7MM with incentives (Twitter link).

One immediate response to the signing is that it could be a leverage play for the Cowboys in their continuing negotiations with Dak Prescott. But according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, that is not the case (Twitter link). Rather, Dallas believes it has a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl this year, and it’s not often that a team can add a quality, highly-experienced backup this late in the offseason.

And while Jelani Scott of NFL.com writes that Dalton is happy to be returning to his home state, the fact that he is signing with the Cowboys knowing that he will be the backup is telling. We heard immediately after Dalton’s release that the Patriots and Jaguars were interested in his services, and the three-time Pro Bowler would have theoretically had an opportunity to compete for the starting job with those clubs. So as Albert Breer of SI.com observes, perhaps New England’s and Jacksonville’s reported interest amounted to little more than due diligence (Twitter link).

On the other hand, Todd Archer of ESPN.com says Dalton’s decision to sign with the Cowboys was at least partially motivated by the coronavirus. Given the uncertainty created by the pandemic, Dalton — who lives in Dallas — was eager to stay at home even if that meant eschewing a better opportunity elsewhere (though since teams’ offseason programs look like they will remain virtual for the foreseeable future, it seems as if a better opportunity simply wasn’t presenting itself).

The last report concerning Prescott and the Cowboys suggested that negotiations between the two sides were going very well. Prescott has his detractors — just like Dalton — but he has not missed a game in his four-year career, and Dallas certainly hopes that trend will continue in 2020. But if Prescott does miss time, Dallas will have the luxury of inserting a capable signal-caller who has guided his team to the playoffs and who has a winning record over 133 games as a starting QB.

And Dalton, who expressed disappointment that the Bengals did not release him early enough for him to have a chance to catch on with a team that had not already addressed its quarterback position, will have the opportunity to truly explore unrestricted free agency in 2021, when the market will presumably be much less robust than it was this year.

The Cowboys are also rostering Cooper Rush, who has served as Prescott’s backup in each of the past three seasons. Rush is set to earn a non-guaranteed $2.1MM in 2020, but while the team doesn’t have a ton of cap space, it probably has enough to sign its draft class and get through the season (especially if Prescott signs a multi-year deal, which should lower his 2020 number). So even though Rush will be demoted to QB3, he still has a good chance of making the team.

Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Set To Earn $31.4MM In 2020

April 21st, 2020 at 1:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott doesn’t know whether he’ll get a long-term deal this offseason. But, at least he knows how much he’ll make if an extension doesn’t come together. Upon recalculation, the league has set the exclusive franchise tender salary for quarterbacks at $31.4019MM (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).

The franchise tag amounts are based off of the NFL’s top five salaries at the position. Last year, that figure was $26.824MM. When Prescott was tagged in mid-March, Jared Goff ($36MM/year), Ben Roethlisberger ($33MM), Kirk Cousins ($31MM), Russell Wilson ($31MM), and Jimmy Garoppolo ($26.6MM) topped the list. Afterwards, Cousins and Big Ben agreed to restructure their contracts, lowering their cap hits for 2020 and bringing Philip Rivers ($25MM), and Tom Brady ($25MM) into the top five.

With that change, Prescott’s projected tag amount wasn’t clear and some wondered if he’d wind up at odds with the league office over it. Ultimately, Prescott’s salary was calculated based on the previous Top 5. That’ll cost the Cowboys a few extra million this year and, potentially, many millions over the course of future seasons. Prescott now has extra leverage in talks thanks to the higher data point, and that will serve him well as he looks to reset the market.

The Cowboys have the option to tag Prescott in 2021 and again in 2022, but the numbers would be absolute cap busters. Next year, the tag would cost the Cowboys $37.7MM, a 20% raise over the 2020 salary. A third consecutive tag for 2022 would see a 44% increase, in excess of $54MM. Needless to say, the Cowboys want to get their star QB under contract at a more reasonable sum.

“Very Positive” Talks For Cowboys, Prescott

April 20th, 2020 at 2:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys and Dak Prescott have had “very positive” contract talks within the last two weeks, according to a source who spoke with David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Apparently, things are trending in the right direction for the Cowboys and their franchise quarterback, regardless of whether he joins the Cowboys for the start of their online (and voluntary) OTAs.

[RELATED: Prescott Won’t Do Virtual OTAs This Week Without New Deal]

Prescott was kept out of free agency by way of a one-year, $31MM+ exclusive franchise tag. It’s a handsome sum, no doubt, but the QB is aiming for something in the neighborhood of Russell Wilson‘s contract. That deal, worth $35MM per annum, is the richest in the NFL.

This saga has surpassed the one-year mark. Prescott turned down a $33MM-per-year offer last year and has held firm on that front. It has now affected his offseason participation. While that ordinarily would not be a major issue, the Cowboys figure to have new wrinkles offensively after hiring Mike McCarthy. Kellen Moore remains OC, but Dallas’ offense will surely incorporate some of McCarthy’s concepts next season.

The latest on the Prescott contract front indicated he wanted a shorter-term deal. The Cowboys, as their 2019 extension spree most recently indicated, are proponents of longer contracts. A short-term pact would give the 26-year-old quarterback a chance at another monster payday in his early 30s or possibly before then. Given the events of the Prescott negotiation timeline to this point, his camp holding firm on this preference adds up.

The Cowboys have until July 15 to sign their quarterback to an extension. That would help the team’s cap situation; Prescott’s $31.5MM cap figure is anchoring Dallas’ payroll at the moment.

Latest On Cowboys, Dak Prescott

April 14th, 2020 at 12:24pm CST by Zachary Links

If the Cowboys go forward with a virtual offseason program next week, Dak Prescott won’t log on, unless he has a new deal in place (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). The online OTAs would be voluntary, just like regular OTAs, so the choice is entirely up to him.

The Cowboys cuffed Prescott with the franchise tag earlier this offseason and he has yet to sign his tender. With a one-year, $31MM+ deal on the table, Prescott is pushing for a multi-year pact that would bring him closer to Russell Wilson‘s league-leading $35MM average annual value. While teammates Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott signed long-term contracts (five years and six years, respectively), Prescott is reportedly looking for a shorter agreement that would allow him to cash in all over again in his prime years.

Even though Prescott’s performance dovetailed in the second half of last season, it’s still possible that he could become the NFL’s new cash leader. The two sides have until July 15 to sort all of that out. If they’re not able to come to terms, Prescott will probably take his time before putting pen to paper, but ultimately play on the one-year tender. Then, after the 2020 season, the two sides will be free to resume negotiations.

Prescott, of course, is not the league’s best quarterback, but he’s one of the better QBs in the game and these deals ultimately come down to age and timing. He won’t turn 27 until the end of July and he’s in a great position to get what he wants from the Cowboys.

The two-time Pro Bowler threw for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2019. Many of those throws went to Amari Cooper, who tallied 79 receptions for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns en route to a massive payday.

Dak Prescott Eyeing Short-Term Contract?

March 30th, 2020 at 6:13pm CST by Ben Levine

While much of the discussion surrounding Dak Prescott‘s next contract has been focused on AAV and guaranteed money, the length of the contract is also of particular interest to the quarterback. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports (via Twitter) that the Cowboys quarterback may prefer a short-term deal.

As Fowler explains, there’s an expectation that the salary cap will see a significant jump thanks to an extra week of the regular season plus newfound gambling money. Therefore, Prescott is looking to hit free agency again so he can capitalize on that adjustment to the cap, and that means he might prefer a two- or three-year pact.

This is a bit different than how the Cowboys normally operate, as the front office has traditionally handed out longer contracts to their key players. We saw that last year when they signed Ezekiel Elliott to a six-year agreement, and we also saw it when the inked Amari Cooper to a five-year deal earlier this offseason.

We heard last week that there was a belief that Prescott would emerge from negotiations as the NFL’s highest-paid player. From an average-annual-value standpoint, the 26-year-old could still accomplish that. Russell Wilson‘s $35MM-AAV deal remains the NFL’s high-water mark. If Prescott plays next season under the franchise tag, he’ll be making around $33MM per year.

Load More Posts