Cowboys To Pay Dak Prescott $40 Million Annually?
Are the Cowboys going to pay Dak Prescott $40 million annually?
Some experts believe that is where negotiations between Prescott and Jerry Jones are ultimately going.
Cowboys personnel head Stephen Jones made it clear this week that re-signing Prescott to a fair deal was the team’s top priority this offseason.
“It’s been urgent for us,” Stephen told the media.
“We certainly want to get that done. That’s our No. 1 priority as we go into the off-season is to, hopefully find some resolution to it and get that done.”
The dilemma facing Dallas right now is that a deal needs to come together before March 10.
That is the deadline for the franchise tag, something the Cowboys are willing to use on Prescott should a new contract not be agreed to by that point.
With the franchise tag, Prescott would be owed $27 million next season.
While some players may react negatively to being franchise tagged, Dallas brass hopes that Prescott realizes that it would simply be a tool for them.
.@DallasCowboys Contracts: Does Dak’s Future Start With Franchise Tag and End at $40 Million APY? https://t.co/OfU12Q2FW1 via @SInow pic.twitter.com/qR72HsgemO
— mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) January 23, 2020
In a recent column, Sports Illustrated noted that sources informed them this was the likely move.
“So, the tag is probably coming,” the report notes.
“Some interpretations of the Cowboys plans here suggest Dallas is ‘reluctant’ to use the tag.
“But sources tell CowboysSI.com that the front office views the franchise tag as a ‘tool’ on the way to an eventual deal.”
All of the league’s top paid players right now are quarterbacks.
Seattle Seahawks passer Russell Wilson makes $35 million per year. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger makes $34 million.
Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams and Carson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles make $33.5 million, $33.5 million and 32 million, respectively.
With each new contract for a quarterback by rule surpassing the previous high, its stands to reason that Prescott will get in excess of what Wilson gets.
“Prescott produced a career year with 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns,” the Sports Illustrated report continued.
“He is of course seen as a centerpiece of new coach Mike McCarthy’s team going forward and that $40 million number becomes more realistic as time has gone on.”
Prescott likely will not get the contract he wants before March.
That said, much as was the case with his teammate Ezekiel Elliot, he will ultimately walk away with the deal he is looking for when it is all said and done.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
