The Dallas Cowboys have always been one of the most popular teams in the NFL. However, the last 30 years have seen the franchise, dubbed “America’s Team,” fall short in the NFL Playoffs time after time after time. This past season was no different, with the second-seeded Cowboys finding themselves blown out at home by the Green Bay Packers.
The constant postseasons failures by Dallas over the past few seasons have led the organization to the brink of a massive turning point. Success in 2024 is mandatory, or else several key figures could find themselves on different teams next season.
The Dallas Cowboys Are Negotiating Contract Extensions for 3 Key Players
As fans know by now, the Cowboys are negotiation contracts with three of their best players: quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and linebacker Micah Parsons. Lamb is the only one of the three who is not present for training camp as his representative and Dallas’ front office negotiate a new contract.
Both Lamb and Parsons have made it known to the Cowboys that they each want to be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. Currently, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings holds that title after signing a four-year $140 million extension earlier this offseason.
This means that both Lamb and Parsons want $35 million a season or more. Obviously, this creates a difficult situation for Dallas because they also need/want to extend Prescott.
Dallas Cowboys Star Dak Prescott Has Watched the Quarterback Market Explode This Offseason
There have been four NFL quarterbacks who have signed massive extensions so far this offseason. The first was Detroit Lions Pro Bowler Jared Goff, who got a four-year extension worth $212 million. At the time of his signing, his $53 million annual salary was the second highest in the NFL.
Then the Jacksonville Jaguars gave their star quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, a five-year $275 million extension. His $55 million average annual salary tied Joe Burrow for the highest in the league.
Tua Tagovailoa signed a contract extension with the Miami Dolphins after training camp began. His deal was a four-year contract worth $212.4 million, or $53.1 million a year. This made him the third-highest paid quarterback in the NFL behind Lawrence and Burrow.
Hours later, though, the Packers announced their agreement with Jordan Love on a four-year contract worth $220 million. His $55 million annual salary joined him with the aforementioned Lawrence and Burrow as the highest paid players in the NFL. His $75 million signing bonus was also an NFL record.
Dak Prescott Will Continue to Say “No” to Every Offer the Dallas Cowboys Make
There is one thing that everyone should notice about the contracts described above (other than the large amounts of money): they are all four or five-year contracts. In other words, the players have a chance to cash in on a larger payday later on when they are still young enough to do so. Because the NFL salary cap will continue to go up each year, they most certainly will.
In a recent episode of the Spotrac Podcast, NFL salary cap expert Mike Ginnitti said of Prescott:
“What Dallas is doing, they’re trying to give him a career contract and he’s trying to take a three- or four-year deal. He’s trying to do right by the players, and take the short deal, because the cap is going to be $350 by the time that contract is done and he knows it. That’s what’s happening.”
Fans may recall that the Kansas City Chiefs signed Patrick Mahomes to a 10-year $450 million deal a few years ago. At the time, the contract made Mahomes the highest-paid player in the NFL. Now he is not even among the top 10 highest-paid players.
Prescott wants a shorter deal, not only for himself, but because he knows that another quarterback, whether it be in 2025, 2026, or 2027, will be able to make more than him because of the standard that he will set.
Of course, he himself will have the chance to cash in on a more lucrative deal if he signs a shorter contract. However, one must remember that NFL players are not only concerned about their teammates, but for players around the league as well.
Prescott is going to continue to say “no” to any contract offers the Cowboys make until he is certain that other quarterbacks around the NFL will be able to benefit from it as well.
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