The Dallas Cowboys are entering one of the most pivotal seasons in recent franchise history.
After three-straight regular seasons where Dallas finished with 12 wins, Dak Prescott and company have continued to choke in the playoffs despite having one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.
After the Cowboys fell to the Packers in a surprise upset in the Wildcard Round last year, there was a general sentiment amongst NFL insiders that Jerry Jones might blow the whole thing up. Instead, he decided to ride with Mike McCarthy — who is entering the final year of his contract — and keep Prescott at QB.
Instead of inking Prescott to a new extension following one of his best NFL seasons where he was leading the MVP conversation for most of the year, Jerry Jones has opted to sit on his hands and even stated publicly the plan is to let the Dallas Cowboys franchise QB play out the final year of his current deal.
Prescott is responsible for a massive salary cap hit in 2024 and it was nearly impossible to add new talent this offseason.
So instead, the Cowboys lost several starters, including OL Tyron Smith, RB Tony Pollard and other key pieces on both sides of the ball.
While Prescott’s postseason struggles have been well-documented, he enters 2024 as the No. 6 QB in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus and if he hits the open market following this season, there will be a minimum of five teams, likely more, lining up to make him the highest paid QB in the NFL.
Jones and the Dallas Cowboys brass is taking a major risk, and while some insiders believe the organization still plans to reach a long-term deal with Prescott, the QB now holds all the power and shouldn’t have any urgency to sign.
Prescott lead the NFL in several key categories in 2023 with 4,516 passing yards (third), 36 touchdowns (1st), nine interceptions and a QBR of 72.7 (second in the NFL).
His 89.8 passing grade in the regular season ranked second only to Tua Tagovailoa. His 73.5 passing grade under pressure was No. 1. His 37 big-time throws in the regular season were the most in the NFL, and his 2.0% turnover-worthy play rate was the lowest among quarterbacks with at least 400 dropbacks.
Prescott was efficient, aggressive and accurate, albeit with a poor showing to end the year.
So now, Jerry Jones and the Dallas decision makers have a massive decision on their hands but Prescott holds all the power. Now that Trevor Lawrence just inked a deal that is paying him the same kind of money Joe Burrow is getting, Prescott’s price tag only got higher and reports have surfaced that he’s now demanding $60 million per year.
At this point, there’s a very real possibility Prescott can hand pick the team that will be more than happy to pay him what he’s asking after 2024.
While both Jerry Jones and Prescott have expressed a desire to reach a long-term deal to keep the Cowboys’ franchise QB in place beyond 2024, it feels like it may be tough for Dallas to pay their QB according to the current market, with CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons also up for record-breaking extensions.
The Dallas Cowboys Are ‘Closer’ To Contract Extension With CeeDee Lamb Than Dak Prescott According To Insider
The Cowboys are still without top wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in training camp but appear to be making some movement on a new deal.
Lamb is holding out for a new contract that would land him alongside some of the elite receivers in the league. The Cowboys recently made a new offer to Lamb and are “closer” to reaching an agreement with their star pass-catcher than quarterback Dak Prescott, per Clarence Hill Jr of
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“Was told no deals for CeeDee Lamb or Dak Prescott yet. But source said Lamb was closer than Prescott,” Hill wrote on X. “Remember a deal is not done until its done. Randy Gregory is exhibit A.”
That’s not a major surprise, considering Lamb is not at camp and Prescott is. But it’s a good sign that there’s been some movement on the negotiation front between the Dallas Cowboys and their star WR.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones has called the talks “cordial” despite Lamb’s holdout.
“We keep having multiple exchanges with CeeDee,” Jones said on 94.1 San Antonio Sports Star. “He actually sent us something late [Sunday]. We continue to grind away on it. I would characterize both negotiations as very cordial and upbeat. We’re optimistic we’ll continue to work toward getting something done.”
Lamb finished last season with a league-high 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. With Justin Jefferson recently becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, it’s safe to assume the Dallas Cowboys wideout wants to make at least as much or more than the Vikings star.
