Dallas Cowboys: Comparing Carson Wentz’s deal to Dak Prescott

Despite the Eagles giving Carson Wentz a massive extension this week, here’s why it should have no affect on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

The Dallas Cowboys will, at some point, give quarterback Dak Prescott a new contract. That deal will be massive. These are facts and they are indisputable. What that deal will look like and when it will happen is anyone’s best guess.

Will it be bigger and better than the extension that Philadelphia gave their young signal caller this week? Should it be? That’s what we are here to discuss.

Carson Wentz inked a four-year, $128M extension last Thursday. The deal provides $66M in guaranteed money at signing and almost $108M in total guaranteed money. Wentz will average $32M per year from 2021 through 2024.

The word “deserve” will not appear in this article or any other story I write beyond this short disclaimer. Frankly, it does not matter if you, I or anyone else, including those tasked with deciding what to pay NFL quarterbacks whether or not the player deserves the deal they are signing.

Carson Wentz is being paid what the market is dictating what someone who plays his position should get. He will be 26-years old when the season starts. He was drafted second overall in 2016, has been named to the Pro Bowl and likely would have been the MVP in 2017 if he did not tear his ACL late in that season.

Wentz has a career completion percentage of almost 64%. He’s over 10,000 yards in three seasons, with almost a 2.5 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio (70 TD’s/28 INT’s). Given that information, the deal seems to within what you expect. For the Dallas Cowboys, quarterback Dak Prescott should be offered more.

Prescott has a better completion percentage (66%), more yards, and almost identical touchdowns to interceptions (67/25). He’s been to more Pro Bowl’s (two to Wentz’s one) and has won a playoff game where Wentz has yet to play in one. That, in fact, leads us to the first major reason Prescott should get a better deal. Availability.

Dak Prescott has not missed a game in his entire career. Wentz has already missed eight. There is also the fact that Wentz has had knee and back injuries while Prescott has been injury-free.

The other huge factor in comparing the two quarterbacks is the threat Prescott brings in the running game. Prescott has almost 1,000 career rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Wentz just eclipsed 500 yards rushing last season and only has two touchdowns.

Health and the aspect of a dual threat are huge components in Prescott’s favor and cannot be dismissed or overshadowed.

If the Dallas Cowboys front office is smart, they will do a deal with Dak before the season starts. The likelihood is that he will improve this season as he builds more comradery with receivers Amari Coopers and Michael Gallup as well as the return of tight end Jason Witten. He will likely also receive better coaching from new quarterbacks coach Jon Kitna and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

If they don’t do a deal prior to training camp, the numbers will just go up further. Huge names like Philip Rivers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Jared Goff and Cam Newton are all getting new deals in the next year. Intriguing names like Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Andy Dalton are also soon-to-be free agents.

Dallas should offer Prescott a five-year deal worth $130M and $110M in guaranteed money. To protect themselves as well as to get other needed deals done, they should back load the final two years of the deal. The Cowboys could even include an out going into the fourth year in case something drastically changes in his performance.

Either way, Dak Prescott should get more than Carson Wentz based on his numbers, health and ability to provide additional problems for opposing teams in the running game. The only question now is when it will happen.