A number of NFL execs are questioning Jerry Jones‘ strategy with Dak Prescott, and the quarterback coming off his first All-Pro season resides in an excellent position ahead of a contract year. But the Cowboys still hold exclusive negotiating rights with their ninth-year starter, giving them some time — even as criticism has come the team’s way for waiting this long.
Prescott also appears open to holding extension talks in-season. The longtime Dallas QB1 will not set an artificial deadline here, seemingly open to going up to free agency next year in negotiations with his team.
[RELATED: Cowboys Yet To Reach $33MM Per Year For CeeDee Lamb]
“I’m not putting that much thought into hoping it gets done now, hoping it gets done in a couple of weeks, during the season or whenever it happens,” Prescott said, via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. “I just know conversations are on the right way.
“I enjoy being a Cowboy 1,000 percent, enjoy living in Dallas, enjoy everything about it. But this is a business. Conversations are going well, but I’m thankful to be where I am right now and that’s here.”
This is not the first time Prescott has publicly alluded to the business component here. As the Cowboys are unable to trade their starter or apply the franchise tag — with a $55.13MM 2024 cap number and a looming $40.13MM dead money hit factoring into this equation as well — Dak is believed to have asked for a deal that would break the current NFL AAV record of $55MM. A $60MM-per-year deal has been floated during this lengthy process as well, as the Cowboys would face the prospect of losing their starter for merely a 2026 compensatory pick next year.
Prescott, 31, has continued to insist he wants to stay in Dallas. Though, he did reference other standout passers leaving their initial teams. COO Stephen Jones also recently said the ball was in Dak’s court, suggesting the Cowboys have made an offer. Players have set negotiating deadlines in the past, and it is interesting Prescott is open to talking with the team during the season. He could further boost his leverage by refusing to do so, creating two deadlines — Week 1 and the start of free agency — during a process that would stand to see other teams enter the mix if this drags on long enough.
The Cowboys finally hammered out their initial Prescott extension early in a third offseason of negotiations. Though, the sides were unable to talk during his 2020 franchise tag season. After being unable to extend their QB in 2019 and tagging him in 2020, the team agreed to a player-friendly accord just before a second Prescott tag would have hit the cap sheet in March 2021. Prescott’s past of shrewd negotiating is certainly relevant again, even as he continues to say the right things about his latest round of Dallas talks.