The Dallas Cowboys may be entering their final season with Dak Prescott as the team’s franchise QB.
So far, Jerry Jones has made it clear he plans to let Prescott play out the final year of his current contract which leaves the team strapped when it comes to paying other talent as so much of this year’s salary cap money is going to the Dallas signal caller.
Many believed it would be a no-brainer decision to extend Prescott this offseason so the Cowboys would be able to free up room and fill voids on the roster that will help them make a legitimate Super Bowl run.
Jerry Jones has never parted ways with a franchise-level quarterback in his prime during his near-40-year run as the owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Troy Aikman stayed here until he retired, and Tony Romo was only released because Prescott emerged as the new franchise sta QB during his injury absence.
Dak Prescott knows he can easily receive $50 million-plus on his next NFL contract. If the Dallas Cowboys aren’t willing to pay it, another QB-needy team (Las Vegas Raiders, anyone?) will happily pay it.
Prescott has lacked postseason success (a 2-5 record) up to this point of his career, but teams will be more than happy to pay top dollar for a QB who puts up top-10 stats annually.
While the recent narrative has been that both Jones and Prescott are prepared to let the final year of the deal play out and go from there, ESPN Insider Jeremy Fowler says the Cowboys do in fact want to extend their franchise QB but have been hesitant because of a very specific reason.
Speaking on “SportsCenter”, Fowler reported that contracts negotiations are “complicated because” Prescott carries a $61 million cap for the 2024 season
Well, the Dallas Cowboys want to re-sign Dak Prescott. I continue to hear that talks and negotiations have been a little passive but they have told Dak directly that they want him there long term. It’s just complicated because he’s got a $61 million cap hit on the final year of his deal, a new contract is gonna have to be a huge number. So they want to tread carefully a little bit, as my understanding. If you jump out, you make an offer, if it’s not where it needs to be initially then things get complicated.
“They’ve already negotiated with him three or four years ago and that took a year and a half. So it’s a long process. And they know it’s gonna take a while so it’s something they’re probably slow playing. It’s a little bit of a stare off. But I think sometime this summer, this will heat up because it has to and you know he wants to stay a Cowboy but he is prepared for the notion that he could be a free agent next year. Like he’s open to that reality because things haven’t really launched off yet.”
Dallas Cowboys Predicted To Replace Dak Prescott With Colorado Superstar Shedeur Sanders
Despite coming off a season where he was in the MVP conversation for most of the year, there’s a real possibility Prescott and the Cowboys part ways after the 2025 season.
Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings’ latest 2025 NFL mock draft has Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback Shedeur Sanders falling to the Cowboys at No. 24.
“There’s a reasonable outcome where Dak Prescott isn’t the Dallas Cowboys’ QB in 2025,” Cummings wrote in a May 25, 2024 story, “Ian Cummings’ 2025 NFL Mock Draft:
“Shedeur Sanders Joins the Dallas Cowboys, Luther Burden III Bands Together With Bryce Young.” “Dallas could opt to roll with Trey Lance, but there could also be an opportunity to reset with a quarterback from the 2025 class. Shedeur Sanders — son of franchise star Deion Sanders — is an option.
“Heading into the year, Sanders grades out as a fringe top-100 prospect on my board, but he has the arm talent and accuracy to rise. Pocket management must be a major point of emphasis moving forward, but if he can clean that up, he can be a capable distributor.”
Sanders threw for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and 3 interceptions while completing 69.3% of his passes in 11 appearances during the 2023 season. The quarterback also added 4 rushing touchdowns last season. ESPN’s Field Yates believes Sanders is the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in 2025.
Barring a complete collapse by the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, it may take a significant trade to move up to land Sanders, but it’s still possible considering Jones’ admiration for the Colorado star QB.
