Dallas Cowboys management wants Dak Prescott under center for the long-term, and that starts with a contract extension this offseason.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones spoke to the media yesterday at the NFL Combine. He covered a variety of topics, including Dallas’ plan with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner.
Jones said the plan is “to ultimately extend Dak.” Prescott is entering year three of a four-year, $160 million deal signed ahead of the 2021 season.
Why Extend Dak Now?
On the surface, it doesn’t seem logical to give Prescott a new deal when the Cowboys have him under contract for two more years. But an extension could actually free up cap space.
A new contract would spread the money owed to Dak over a longer period of time, which would lessen his cap hit this season. As it currently stands, Prescott will occupy $49 million of cap space in 2022, and $52 million in 2023, per Spotrac.
The Cowboys desperately need to create cap room this offseason. Dallas’ list of free agents is headlined by: Tony Pollard, Terence Steele, Leighton Vander Esch, Dalton Schultz and Donovan Wilson.
Plus, this is the first offseason that CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs are eligible for new contracts. The Cowboys need to free up cap space by any means necessary, and a Dak extension does just that.
Stephen Jones Puts Vote Of Confidence In Prescott
Aside from the financial benefits, Jones and the Cowboys brass have faith that Prescott can end the franchise’s Super Bowl drought. Jones told the media:
“I think Dak is the ultimate team leader. He’s got an insatiable appetite to be great, and clean up whatever he needs to clean up. I think it all starts with the quarterback and I think we’ve got ours.”
Jones went on to say Prescott and the Cowboys have been phenomenal in the regular season, but haven’t put it together in the postseason. Dallas defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round last season. That was the team’s first road playoff victory in 30 years.
The season ultimately ended in disappointment when the San Francisco 49ers knocked out Big D in the Divisional Round. Dallas’ last NFC Championship appearance came in 1996.
Other Notable Comments From Stephen Jones
Stephen also shed some light on other pressing offseason topics. Here are some of the highlights:
- Cowboys will meet with Pollard’s agent this week and applying the franchise tag is a possibility
- Tyron Smith will likely return next season and his contract may be restructured
- Vander Esch’s 2022 campaign warrants a new deal
- Resigning Wilson will be a top priority
- Pollard and Steele are expected to be back and healthy for the start of training camp
- There’s optimism that Michael Gallup will return to form in 2023
