Attempting to again indicate his recent walking boot storyline was overblown, Dak Prescott also confirmed contract talks between he and the Cowboys have transpired this offseason. As it stands, the second-team All-Pro passer remains tied to the four-year, $160MM extension he signed in March 2021.
Prescott joins CeeDee Lamb in a contract year, but while the first-team All-Pro wide receiver has been connected to a holdout, the Cowboys are unlikely to see their first set of workouts commence without their starting quarterback. Prescott alluded (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) to Day 1 attendance at training camp.
[RELATED: Cowboys Prepared To Make Prescott Strong Extension Offer]
It would cost Prescott approximately $50K per day to hold out, though that would seem doable for a player who has banked more than $162MM despite playing four seasons on a fourth-round rookie contract. Zack Martin succeeded with a holdout last year, seeing the Cowboys agree to guarantee the final two years of his deal, while Lamb has only seen rookie-deal money to date. Prescott still holds tremendous leverage against the Cowboys, but talks may commence from camp.
The Cowboys are believed to want the Dak matter sorted out before revving up negotiations with Lamb. Considering Prescott’s first extension took three offseasons to finalize, that could be a dicey matter for a team that may well have three market-setting extensions to complete. Micah Parsons expects to become the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB, and while the star edge rusher appears OK with playing a fourth season on his rookie deal and then inking a monster extension in 2025, the Cowboys will obviously need to factor in that payday during their Prescott and Lamb talks.
Prescott, 30, holds a no trade clause and cannot be franchise-tagged in 2025. Prescott ($55.13MM), Deshaun Watson ($63.77MM) and Daniel Jones ($47.86MM) are on track to break the single-player cap number record this season. The Cowboys can lower Dak’s number significantly with an extension, which would also prevent a $40.14MM void years bill from becoming 2025 dead money. It is difficult for a player to secure more leverage than Prescott has, which would make it surprising if he did not become the NFL’s highest-paid player on his third contract.
As for Prescott’s walking boot, the QB said he wore the boot for precautionary purposes. Post-minicamp workouts produced ankle soreness, with the former Offensive Rookie of the Year again connecting his ankle pain to the surgery he underwent in 2020. Prescott suffered an ankle fracture and dislocation in October 2020 but still managed to secure a big-ticket extension months later.
“Honestly, I’m getting older. It’s the same ankle that I snapped, and I had a nasty surgery on four years ago so a couple of hard days of training and you know, you get a little sore and you’re going on a fishing trip, and you want to protect it and make sure things don’t get worse,” Prescott said.