Dak Prescott Projected As NFL's Highest-Paid Quarterback Next Season; Good Dallas Cowboys Investment?

Dak Prescott Projected As NFL's Highest-Paid Quarterback Next Season; Good Dallas Cowboys Investment?

Big playmakers make the big bucks, and as we've discussed at CowboysSI.com for months, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott seems destined to one of the highest-paid quarterbacks next season with his coming new contract. 

Suddenly, though, given Dak's MVP-level performance in 2023, "one of the highest-paid'' might be selling him short.

Our Mike Fisher has written about Prescott presently being a "$40 million APY player ... who is likely to soon be a $50 million APY player - which could make him the NFL's highest-paid player. ... ever.''

That was in March 2023. But since then, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts have all surpassed the $50 million mark. And now?

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport guesses that when the Cowboys form Prescott's new contract this upcoming season, it will be a long-term extension that would place the quarterback "near the top'' of the pay list in the NFL.

Dak Prescott  / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

But again, "near the top'' might not be "near'' where this actually goes.

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones confirmed in a recent interview that Prescott is confirmed to be Dallas' quarterback next year but that the club wants to focus on finishing out the season strong before discussing his contract situation.

"He's under contract now, but we'd like to do this after the season," Jones told Dianna Russini of The Athletic in October. "Once the season is over, we will focus on that. Dak will be our quarterback."

Before the start of the 2023 season, there was some pushback against Prescott given that he was the interception leader of the NFL last year, accumulating 15, even though he did not play in five games. However, this season he has proved the doubters wrong by completing 70.1 percent of his passes so far, totaling 3,234 yards, 26 touchdowns and only six picks.

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Prescott currently leads the NFL in thrown touchdowns this year and has placed the Cowboys in a prominent spot in the playoff picture with a 9-3 overall season record. 

The Cowboys have yet to claim a Lombardi Trophy since 1995 and are currently on the hunt for Super Bowl title. The Cowboys' 2023 season fate might be in the hands of Prescott ... but almost inevitable and no matter what, a big check is also going to be in those hands.