Ought to the Dallas Cowboys already take into account giving Dak Prescott one other extension?

OXNARD, Calif. — Is it time for the Dallas Cowboys to take a look at an extension of Dak Prescott‘s contract already?

Wait, didn’t we simply undergo this train with the quarterback?

The trail to Prescott signing a four-year, $160 million deal in 2021 was an extended and winding one. To recap: He performed the 2019 season on the ultimate yr of his rookie contract even because the Cowboys supplied a cope with $90M assured. He performed the 2020 season on the franchise tag, incomes $31M even because the Cowboys supplied a contract with $100M assured.

Lastly on March 10, 2021, simply 5 months after struggling a compound fracture and dislocation of his proper ankle, he signed an extension that included $126M in assured cash and a record-setting $66M signing bonus.

So why would the Cowboys need to get an extension accomplished with Prescott now?

• Cap administration beginning in 2023

• The rising price of quarterback contracts

• The concern of going right into a season with no franchise quarterback

And why would Prescott be open to a possible extension after ready labored so nicely for him the primary time? That could be the trickiest half.

“I wouldn’t do it with the place the cash goes with the quarterbacks and the place the wage cap goes with the brand new TV deal,” one long-time agent stated. “He’s already set for all times. Why not wait? If Dak did it, it could be to assist the crew construct round him.”

Technically, Prescott signed a six-year contract, which allowed the Cowboys to restructure his contract in 2020 and ‘21 to unfold out the proration of the signing bonus. That’s why Prescott’s cap determine in 2022 is $19.73M. It’s additionally why in 2025, the Cowboys may have a minimum of a lifeless cash cost of $21.8M due to these restructures.

The largest sticking level within the talks main as much as the $160M deal was the size of the contract. The Cowboys needed a longer-term deal to assist handle their wage cap in future years. Prescott and his agent, Todd France, needed a shorter-term deal so he might probably hit free company faster.

In 2023, Prescott’s cap determine is $49.13M. In 2024, it rises to $52.13M. At current, these would be the second-highest cap figures within the NFL in these years behind Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Whereas the wage cap will rise annually, it’s anticipated to be a gradual course of and never balloon in a single season because the NFL works again economically from the coronavirus pandemic.

“As you recognize one in all our largest challenges [in the negotiations] was size and clearly it’s going to be popping up once more actual fast,” Cowboys government vp Stephen Jones stated. “We went together with the shorter size. You take note of these on a regular basis and definitely we’ll all the time be excited about Dak and the way he impacts us in a salary-cap standpoint. However, sure, he is all the time at the back of our minds while you’re managing the wage cap with this soccer crew.”

On the time he signed his final deal, Prescott was one in all two quarterbacks to common $40M a season. Now he is tied at No. 7.

Because the Cowboys and Prescott reached their settlement, younger quarterbacks have cashed in. The Buffalo Bills have signed Josh Allen ($43M per yr), the Browns have signed Watson ($46M per yr) and the Arizona Cardinals signed Kyler Murray ($46.1M per yr).

Veterans like Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr and Matthew Stafford have additionally signed massive extensions to stay with their golf equipment.

“I believe anytime you will have a franchise quarterback — we’re blessed to have one in Dak Prescott — that is simply the life you reside,” Jones stated. “We lived it with Troy [Aikman]. We lived it with Tony [Romo]. We’re dwelling it with Dak and that is a superb factor. It is a blessing we’ve a man like Dak Prescott, who is just not solely an excellent, nice soccer participant however he is a greater man off the sector.”

As a part of Prescott’s deal, the Cowboys can not use the franchise tag on him in 2025. With out that negotiating instrument, the Cowboys will seemingly need to a minimum of take into account life with out Prescott within the upcoming drafts by significantly contemplating taking a quarterback within the early rounds.

Rodgers is at the moment the highest-paid quarterback on an annual foundation ($50.2M per yr). Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers can signal extensions after this season, which might seemingly push the quarterback wage figures nearer to $50M per season because the norm.

Prescott stated he has not paid consideration to the latest quarterback offers.

“I informed you guys I wasn’t paying consideration a lot when mine was occurring, so rattling positive not taking note of the opposite guys,” he stated. “Joyful for all of them. Good for the league. I am positive it is going to simply proceed to go that manner.”

What if the Cowboys approached him about an extension now?

“I assume these talks should occur in a non-public dialog,” he smiled.

Prescott is in a great place. He is aware of it. The Cowboys do, too.

“I do know on the finish of the day, he is a typical theme in why we’re so optimistic about this crew being very profitable this yr,” Jones stated. “It begins with No. 4. He is all the time a giant a part of our planning and what we’re excited about with him.”