Hours before the Dallas Cowboys destroyed the Cleveland Browns in the regular season opener, the franchise made a historic commitment to quarterback Dak Prescott.
Prescott and the Cowboys officially agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $60 million on Sunday afternoon, making the 31-year-old not only the highest-paid quarterback in the league but also the highest-paid player in the history of the sport.
Following Sunday’s 33-17 win, Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who caught Prescott’s lone touchdown pass of the game, shared his excitement over his quarterback getting paid.
“You talk about a man that deserves every bit of it,” Cooks said during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Sunday postgame show. “Definitely so blessed to see him get al that.”
Cooks pulled down four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown from Prescott in Week 1, on a play where the newly minted $60 million quarterback lofted a perfectly placed pass with pressure in his face from the Browns’ defense and Cooks took to the house for the game’s first score.
“I think you talk about a trust throw, obviously him getting the ball out of his hand before I even get to the top of my route,” Cooks explained. “That’s a testament to the work that we put in together this offseason and all throughout training camp.
“He made a heck of a throw with a lick in the face, I’m fortunate and blessed that he found me and we were able to make a play.”
Biggest Winner from Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott’s Contract
Prescott’s contract extension is the culmination of an offseason that saw the Cowboys largely sit on the sidelines during free agency, despite owner Jerry Jones vowing that Dallas was “all in.”
While the timing may have been suboptimal in terms of building around Prescott this season, the long-term stability for both sides is a tangible benefit of the deal.
According to one prominent agent, Prescott and the Cowboys aren’t the only ones celebrating this new record-setting contract.
“Staying in Dallas and building his legacy by surpassing the market by $5 million, AND essentially having the entire contract practically guaranteed is a big win for Dak,” an agent who represents several starting quarterbacks tells me, on the condition of anonymity to speak freely of a player he doesn’t represent. “But it’s also a big win for his agent and all players across the league.”
Rest assured, Prescott’s contract will be held up as the benchmark in negotiations both for the likes of Brock Purdy’s forthcoming extension with the San Francisco 49ers, a potential Patrick Mahomes restructure with the Kansas City Chiefs in the near future, and perhaps even C.J. Stroud’s eventual deal a couple seasons from now with the Houston Texans, as well.
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