The Cowboys are currently on their bye week, and their attention understandably remains on the immediate future (something which may or may not include moves in advance of the trade deadline). After the year, though, all eyes will be on the team’s handling of quarterback Dak Prescott‘s contract. 
The two-time Pro Bowler is on the books for one more season and is due $34MM next yea. As a result of a restructure, however, his 2024 cap hit is currently scheduled to reach $59.5MM – which would comfortably set a new record for the largest cap burden a player has carried in NFL history. To no surprise, Dallas will look to get another extension worked out around the new league year.
“He’s under contract now, but we’d like to do this after the season,” Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones told Dianna Russini of The Athletic during last week’s league meetings (subscription required). “Once the season is over, we will focus on that. Dak will be our quarterback.”
Dallas has remained firm in the team’s commitment to Prescott on a number of occasions, but not much in the way of negotiations on a long-term pact took place this past offseason. The former fourth-rounder is currently playing on his four-year, $160MM deal, one which places him in a tie for 10th in terms of AAV at the quarterback position. The market on that front saw four passers (Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow) eclipse the $50MM-per-year mark in recent months, and a number of other signal-callers will be in line to benefit as a result down the road.
Another Prescott extension has long been on the Cowboys’ radar, but a number of other candidates for new pacts are in place as well. The team was busy in that regard this offseason, but wideout CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons headline the list of players who already are eligible for a re-up or will be after the season. The latter in particular figures to command a massive investment from Dallas, and the team’s cap situation for future years could see plenty of changes depending on how their next round of extensions shakes out.
In the meantime, Prescott will as always face considerable scrutiny through the rest of the season. The 4-2 Cowboys currently rank sixth in the league in scoring at 25.7 points per game , but they sit only 18th in terms of passing yards per game. Prescott’s performance in 2023 has been in line with his career averages in many respects, but Dallas’ red zone woes have contributed to him throwing only six touchdowns and posting yards per attempt (7.0) and passer rating (91) figures slightly short of his usual numbers. By season’s end, however, his focus and that of the Cowboys will turn to the negotiating table.
Trade him at the end of the year. Time to move on.
Who is giving up anything for him? Teams would have to look no further than the Denver Broncos to see what their short term future would hold if they wanted to make a trade for him.
As a fan of another NFC East team, I’m fully supportive of a Dak extension.
One thing we can say with almost absolute certainty is, one way or another, Dallas will not be paying Dak nearly 60 million, next year.
I’m not so sure. And the rest of the league sure hopes it happens.
my God, stop extending Dak and get rid of him. Get that smug, arrogant average QB out of Dallas. Send him to a division rival and let them deal with his nonsense.
God hates Dallas.
There’s a rumor circulating that he’s fond of the Saints.
Dallas better resign him, I understand their frustration but a lot of teams eyeing a QB upgrade, who else they gonna get……Trey Lance…..haha, please, that’s a joke
Well you won’t be winning a damn thing with him at QB. Maybe they will fire McCarthy. Jerry is going to tell any HC they must keep Dak, so they won’t get any good HC candidates.
I know me saying this does not matter. But the truth is I’m done if they do this. I have been a fab for 43 years and it’s juts painful now. It’s like Jerry juts wants to make money there is no caring about chasing a title
Here for the comments!
I came for the croissants.
As if we needed any more proof “The Cowboys Braintrust” is a complete clown show….. I would have so much respect for these doofus’s if they would move on from this commercial actor macarade
Not a Dak fan, but some people don’t seem to realize he is better than the QB being put on the field by 16 other teams. Getting rid of him before you’ve got someone better on the roster would be foolhardy – just ask Green Bay.
Absolutely true….there needs to be a plan but Dak at what cost……he’s already making what $34 Million/yr with an enormous cap hit on the team not getting close to winning the big one, and eyeing the top QB’s making $50 Million which he certainly is going to want to get closer to in an extension…..signing him longer term, is costing the team valuable cash resources that may deplete the roster of talent…..if they would actually win, those other players are going to want to be paid….big time……
I agree with this. Part of me wonders if Dak is actually a pretty good quarterback but just has poor coaching and play-calling. He’s definitely able to put up great numbers, as his 2019 and 2021 seasons show. Interesting that as soon as Kellen Moore got dumped and McCarthy took on a bigger role in play-calling, Dak’s numbers tanked.
But that’s the problem with a guy like Dak. Teams who settle for mid-grade QBs end up with mid-grade records. He’s just good enough to get your team 7-9 wins and you end up in limbo every year. The only exception is when the guy is surrounded by outstanding players or an insane defense (See Eli’s NYG teams).
I’m a Raider fan who’s seen it with Carr, and now with freaking Jimmy G. Team’s are better off drafting QBs and seeing what they have. If they suck, they likely give you a terrible record, hence higher draft picks which you keep using on QB until you finally hit on one.