Monday and Tuesday at The Star were filled with excitement and relief for Dallas Cowboys fans and the organization alike, following the signing of the 2023 All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to a four-year, $136 million extension. This move put an end to Lamb's holdout and ensured that one of the NFL's premier pass-catchers remains with the team for the foreseeable future. The focus now shifts to another crucial piece of the Cowboys' offensive puzzle—quarterback Dak Prescott.
Prescott is entering the final year of his contract in 2024, and the clock is ticking for the Cowboys to secure their franchise quarterback for the long term. The stakes are high. Prescott led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns in 2023, cementing his status as one of the league's top quarterbacks. His performance in the upcoming season will likely play a pivotal role in the negotiations, which must be settled before he potentially hits the open market by March 2025.
Focus on Prescott
Jerry Jones, the Cowboys' owner, emphasized the importance of the upcoming season opener, making it clear where the team's immediate priorities lie. "We’re continuing to, first of all, put all of our focus on what’s coming up here in the next 10 days, two weeks. That game [Week 1 at the Cleveland Browns] takes priority over anything,” Jones stated. With the season just around the corner, it’s clear that both sides are taking a strategic approach to the timing of any contract extension discussions.
Prescott’s current contract includes both a no-franchise tag and a no-trade clause, adding layers of complexity to the negotiations. “There’ve been conversations back and forth, but for the most part, as y’all know, I let my agent (Todd France) handle that, especially as we get right here into training camp,” said Prescott. Clearly, both Prescott and the Cowboys are playing the long game, ensuring that any new deal aligns with their respective long-term strategies.
Financial Implications
Financial considerations are central to the negotiation process. While Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, and Jordan Love hold contracts with the highest average annual salary in the NFL, amounting to $55 million per year, the Cowboys have $39.6 million in effective cap space to work with in 2025 and a projected $160.1 million in cap space in 2026. This offers some leeway but also necessitates careful planning.
Jerry Jones, renowned for his business acumen, articulated the broader financial strategy: “You’ve always got to remind everybody that this is a zero-sum game. Any dollar one player gets is a dollar another one doesn’t get.” Managing an NFL roster under salary cap restrictions is complex and involves inherent risks. Jones acknowledged this, noting, “Sometimes it’s worked out really well. Sometimes taking those risks will bite you.”
Team Dynamics and Future Outlook
The urgency of re-signing Prescott is heightened by the fact that none of the Cowboys' current quarterbacks, including Cooper Rush and Trey Lance, are under contract for 2025. This underscores Prescott's significance to the team’s immediate and future plans. CeeDee Lamb, freshly locked into his new deal, voiced his support for Prescott's retention, highlighting the synergy between them. “You look at our numbers together, they're at the top of the charts. I have no doubt that they're going to get a deal done. We all know that I want Dak here. Jerry [Jones] wants Dak here, too, so let's just get this under control and kill the speculation and let's go win,” Lamb remarked.
Prescott himself seems unfazed by the ongoing negotiations, expressing confidence in the process. “The money and all that will take care of itself as it always has,” he noted, allowing him to focus on the urgent tasks at hand as the Cowboys prepare for their season opener.
As the Cowboys navigate this crucial period, Jerry Jones remains a key figure, as he has been since purchasing the team in 1989. His experience and strategic planning will be crucial in balancing the immediate need to perform on the field with the long-term financial health of the franchise.
The coming months will be decisive for the Cowboys, with the resolution of Prescott’s contract situation poised to shape the team’s future for years to come. As negotiations unfold, one thing is certain: the Cowboys are laser-focused on both immediate success and long-term stability, striving to keep their top talent while managing the inherent risks of the NFL landscape.