'Cowboys Need Dak Prescott!' Ex NFL Star Reveals QB's Leverage in Contract Talks

As the Dallas Cowboys enter contract talks with quarterback Dak Prescott, the football world waits for the market to be reset. One former star is confident in Prescott's leverage.

There may not be a topic as ever-present in the NFL’s discourse as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Through the good times and bad, Prescott will be talked about. It’s the curse that comes with playing quarterback for the Cowboys and it isn’t going away anytime soon.

In fact, as talks between Dak and Dallas about a new extension continue, the conversation is only going to grow louder.

Oct 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (center right) embrace after the game at Levi's Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Prescott’s contract doesn’t expire this offseason, but the Cowboys’ Super Bowl hopes will if his $59 million cap hit kicks in for next season. With several key contributors out the door and Dallas’ propensity for sitting on its hands in free agency, the team’s “all in” mentality is relying on trust that hasn’t been earned.

A deal would almost certainly make Prescott the highest-paid player in the sport, hit the $60 million average annual value benchmark, and ensure the Cowboys stay relevant for years to come. Critics can point to a lack of postseason success, but the truth of the matter is he’s better than any viable replacement, and owner Jerry Jones isn’t looking to rebuild anytime soon.

Thus, Prescott has all the leverage one could ask for, and the football world is taking notice.

On “Paper Route,” former NFL star receiver Brandon Marshall sounded off on the Dallas drama.

“The Cowboys need Dak Prescott more than Dak Prescott needs the Cowboys,” Marshall said. “From a business standpoint, they have to play nice with Dak because Dak has all the leverage. You can’t franchise tag him, he has a no-trade clause, he’s hitting the cap for a crazy amount of money.

“Dak Prescott not only has the leverage from a business perspective but also from a production standpoint. The only thing Dak Prescott hasn’t done is win a Super Bowl.”

He would go on to compare Prescott to Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Ben Roethlisberger through their first eight years. While it’s true that certain statistical benchmarks favor Prescott, that can be difficult to disentangle from the league-wide developments since those future Hall of Famers began their careers.

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That doesn’t diminish what Prescott has done.

Prescott has long established himself as a top-10 quarterback in the sport, despite what your favorite pundit says. He’s incredible on third downs, is one of the smartest pre-snap quarterbacks in the league, and is the biggest reason Dallas has made as many playoff appearances (five) as it has since he took over.

Simply put, both sides know that Prescott has the leverage. Leaving for greener pastures may even benefit Prescott. But the Cowboys, in all likelihood, aren’t going to let that happen – even if it cost them a pretty penny.