The Dallas Cowboys are entering what could turn out to be one of the most important seasons in recent franchise history. Head coach Mike McCarthy is entering the final year of his contract and owner Jerry Jones has declined to give him an extension. In other words, McCarthy needs to lead Dallas on a prolonged run in the NFL Playoffs or he will be looking for another job in 2025. His 1-3 postseason record since becoming the Cowboys’ head coach simply is not good enough.
Dallas also needs to figure out contract extensions for three of their star players: quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and linebacker Micah Parsons. Of the three potential big contracts, the Cowboys have made it known that they are prioritizing Prescott’s due to the ever-increasing importance of quarterbacks in the NFL.
One NFL insider, though, has issued a dire warning to fans who are anticipating a deal getting done.
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport Is Not Hopeful for an Extension Between the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott
The fact of the matter is that if the Cowboys and Prescott cannot agree to a contract extension this offseason, he will hit free agency and likely be wearing a different uniform in 2025.
This sentiment was shared by NFL insider Ian Rapoport, who recently said:
“The contract is a big deal. As it stands right now, Dak Prescott heading into the final year of his contract with the kind of leverage that we have rarely seen a quarterback have. the Cowboys cannot trade him, they cannot franchise him. If they don’t do a deal with him, he’s going to be a free agent.
“Will he sign with the Cowboys after they let him be a free agent? I guess anything’s possible but certainly hard to imagine there.”
The implications of not signing Prescott to an extension are not great for the immediate future of the franchise. One does not easily replace a perennial Pro Bowl quarterback and NFL MVP candidate (unless one is the Green Bay Packers, who prepare the successor for years).
At some point, very soon, Dallas is going to have to make a decision on whether they should pay Prescott what he wants or start planning for a future without him. This could mean agreeing to terms with Lamb, who is holding out until his new deal gets done.
At least having Lamb would give whoever is the new quarterback a top-tier wide receiver to throw to.
Dak Prescott Will Get Paid, by the Dallas Cowboys or Someone Else
For weeks, talk around the NFL has been the Prescott is one of the few quarterbacks that could make upwards of $60 million per year on his next contract. This, of course, is an historic amount of money. However, it could look like a bargain in two or three years as the quarterback market continues to explode.
That being said, if Dallas will not pay Prescott, someone else certainly will. The New York Jets could sign him and move on from soon-to-be-41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. The Pittsburgh Steelers have Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but they are both on one-year deals. The Las Vegas Raiders do not really have what one would consider an elite quarterback on their roster, and the idea of pairing Prescott with Davante Adams would be enticing.
In other words, Prescott is going to get a hefty amount of money. The reality of the situation is that it is the Cowboys who must decide if they will be the ones to give it to him.
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