Any Cowboys fan that has been following Dak Prescott’s contract negotiations on social media lately, knows that it has been impossible to figure out what reports are false and which ones are true.
To help people get a better understanding of what is really going on, here are some of the facts you need to know and the rumors that you can ignore.
First off, disregard the question “Are the Cowboys committed to Dak?” Yes, of course they are. Jerry Jones and his son Stephen have confirmed their commitment to Prescott in press conferences multiple times over the last three years.
Jerry Jones has even gone as far to say that Prescott is as important to him as family, comparing him to his son Stephen. “There’s no going forward without Stephen or one of your family members. You got to figure it out.”
Not only is ownership committed to Prescott, but so is newly hired head coach Mike McCarthy. Part of the reason McCarthy took the job in Dallas was because of the talent he saw in Prescott.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to work with Dak. I’ve always been impressed with him. You’re going to be able to run a whole offense and then some. He has an incredible foundation to build off of.”
With ownership cementing their faith and a coach who is excited to work with Prescott, Dallas does not look like they have a lack of faith in their starting quarterback.
The Cowboys did sign free-agent quarterback, Andy Dalton, leading some to believe he could be a replacement for Prescott. However, if that was the case and the Cowboys were looking for a replacement, why not try and get Tom Brady or some more successful quarterback that is in free agency?
Dalton is a terrific backup to have with his experience, but even he has also stated that Prescott will remain the starter, and that he is more than willing to help him improve in any way he can.
The issue causing the most confusion and conflict is not whether the Cowboys are committed to Prescott or if they are trying to replace him, but rather what they are going to pay him.
Unable to reach a long-term deal last season, or before the tag deadline on March 16th, Dallas used their franchise tag on Prescott.
The franchise tag is used by NFL teams to avoid letting a player hit free agency at the end of their contract, which guarantees one more year of play. The tag gives the player a salary that is worth the average of the top five highest-paid players at their position.
Under the franchise tag, Prescott would be guaranteed $31.4 million in 2020, but the Cowboys seem to be determined to get a contract done before the tag signing deadline on July 15th.
This is where the situation gets confusing. First, the story that Prescott was asking for $45 million on the last year of a five-year contract, and the other rumor that he was asking for $45 million per year, are both false. According to CBS sports, the current offer on the table is a five-year deal with an average of $35 million a year and $106 million guaranteed.
Despite rumors, Prescott has not turned down this offer, but he also has not accepted it. The problem in the negotiations is not the money, it is the amount of years on the contract.
Originally the Cowboys came to Prescott with a monster contract that would have tied down the quarterback for seven years. Prescott and his agent countered that with a three-year contract. Now, the two sides are negotiating something in the middle around four to five years.
Prescott is not turning down a longer contract because he does not want to wear a star for the rest of his career, but because doing so would mean missing out on another payday in his prime. The salary cap continues to increase every year, which means a seven-year deal done right now would make his salary look insufficient in 2027.
With the Chiefs announcing the start of contract negotiations with their super bowl MVP quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and a new contract looming on the horizon for the Texan’s Deshaun Watson, the Cowboys are more than motivated to get a deal done.
Not only is Dallas ready to lock down Prescott, but he is also ready to get a deal done. Try to ignore all the false reports and click bait. The issue is not if a deal will get done, but when.
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