Dak Prescott Signing New Cowboys 'Highest-Paid Ever' Contract Impacted by Packers & Playoffs?
ARLINGTON - The Dallas Cowboys have long coyly suggested that we all might "wake up one morning'' and learn that a new contract extension has been agreed upon with QB Dak Prescott.
That "one morning'' isn't going to be Monday, following this Sunday NFL playoff opener here at AT&T Stadium today against Green Bay. In fact, the "one morning'' doesn't have to arrive until early March at the start of the new NFL business year, at which point Dak's untenable $59 million cap hit must be massaged.
But what might come Monday morning, following this game's result? An argument over Prescott's value, financially and otherwise.
In addition to the Jones family's faith in Dak as a player and leader, the Cowboys have essentially made their bed in terms of Prescott being this team's centerpiece for the long term. The already-large commitment will, for cap reasons, almost surely lead to another large commitment in order to not only retain the player but also to spread out his money cap-wise so other roster business - new deals for Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb included - can be done.
Prescott is presently a "$40 million APY'' player ... who is likely to soon be a "$50 or $60 million APY'' player - which could make him the NFL's highest-paid player. ... ever.
The debate about "whether he is worth it'' will be part of this, and it is understandable; is Prescott really a "top QB''? What's he done to justify a $50 or $60 million salary? Maybe he should accept a discount that is more team-friendly? What's he done to set in stone the next big move?
The Cowboys' commitment will feel more justified to critics if Dak and the Cowboys today dispatch with the 7-point underdogs, and if they do it again the following week, and if they ... Well, you know.
Team owner Jerry Jones' position is that Dak as an MVP candidate and a Super Bowl contender makes it all worth it - at whatever the going rate will be.
"I just want him to be a part of having the team to be a Super Bowl quarterback," Jones said. "The idea of him not being our quarterback hasn't crossed my mind. I'm here like everybody else wanting him to be the Most Valuable Player in the NFL. We're trying to win the Super Bowl, and we have a better chance at winning it with him at quarterback playing at that level."
