Monday and Tuesday at The Star were a whirlwind of emotion for Dallas Cowboys fans and organization members. The long-anticipated signing of the 2023 All-Pro wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb, to a four-year, $136 million extension brought a mixture of excitement and relief. This agreement not only ended Lamb's holdout but also secured one of the NFL's premier pass-catchers for the foreseeable future.
With Lamb's situation resolved, the focus now shifts to another pivotal figure in the Cowboys' offense: quarterback Dak Prescott. As Prescott approaches the final year of his contract in 2024, the stakes are high. The talented quarterback led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns in 2023, showcasing his importance to the team's offensive scheme. Jerry Jones, the Cowboys' owner, emphasized the significance of the upcoming season opener, underscoring the immediate priorities of the franchise. However, looming contract negotiations cannot be ignored.
Prescott's current contract is airtight, featuring both a no-franchise tag and a no-trade clause, which means he could enter the open market by March 2025 if an extension isn't reached. None of the Cowboys' current quarterbacks, including Cooper Rush and Trey Lance, are under contract for 2025, making Prescott's future even more crucial to the team's plans.
Financial Considerations
The financial aspects of Prescott's potential new deal are at the forefront of discussions. With Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, and Jordan Love holding contracts with the highest average annual salary in the NFL at $55 million per year, Prescott's value on the market is clear. The Cowboys have limited financial wiggle room, with $39.6 million in effective cap space for 2025 and a projected $160.1 million in 2026. Managing an NFL roster under these salary cap restrictions is a complex endeavor laden with inherent risks.
Jerry Jones, who purchased the Cowboys in 1989, is well aware of these challenges. “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,” Jones noted. This statement underscores the delicate balancing act the Cowboys must perform to maintain a competitive roster while addressing their star quarterback's demands.
Quotes from Key Figures
CeeDee Lamb, freshly inked to his lucrative extension, expressed confidence in the team's ability to secure Prescott's future. “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.
Jerry Jones echoed similar sentiments but stressed the importance of immediate priorities. “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.
For his part, Prescott remains focused on the season, leaving contract negotiations to his agent, Todd France. “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,” Prescott explained. He also expressed a relaxed attitude towards the financial aspects, saying, “The money and all that will take care of itself as it always has.”
The Road Ahead
As the Cowboys navigate these negotiations, the uncertain landscape of NFL contracts looms large. Jerry Jones summed up the intricacies of the process aptly: “If you can get the most and the best players out there for the least amount of the cap, you’re doing your very best job,” he said. But he also acknowledged the occasional downfalls, adding, “Sometimes it’s worked out really well. Sometimes taking those risks will bite you.”
In the coming months, the Cowboys' ability to manage their financial resources while retaining their key players will be put to the test. As fans eagerly await the season opener and the resolution of Prescott's contract situation, one thing is clear: the management of this storied franchise remains one of the NFL’s most intricate balancing acts.