Dallas Cowboys predictions for both contracts and Week 1

Last month, as I projected the Cowboys 53-man roster, I listed the players in order of their ranking on the team.

Look at the top 13 and what their long-term deals look like for the future of this franchise.

G – Zack Martin signed through 2024.
RB – Ezekiel Elliott signed through 2026.
LT – Tyron Smith signed through 2023.
DE – DeMarcus Lawrence signed through 2023.
QB – Dak Prescott – free agent after this season.
LB – Leighton Vander Esch signed through 2022.
LB – Jaylon Smith signed through 2024.
WR – Amari Cooper – free agent after this season.
C – Travis Frederick signed through 2023.
CB – Byron Jones – free agent after this season.
CB – Chidobe Awuzie signed through 2020.
WR – Michael Gallup signed through 2021.
S – Xavier Woods – signed through 2021.

Five of their six best players are locked in for the next three seasons or more. All but three of these 13 are signed for this year and next.

Obviously there are three big free agents on this list. In a moment of serendipity for the Cowboys, a few other deals were made around the league this week that will help give them structure moving forward.

Receiver Amari Cooper has been quiet about any contract negotiations as he was likely waiting out what would happen with Julio Jones in Atlanta.

Jones signed a three-year extension yesterday, with $64M of the $66M guaranteed. Earlier in the week, Chiefs star receiver Tyreek Hill also agreed to a three-year extension for $54M with approximately $35M guaranteed.

Can the Cowboys meet Amari in the middle with a three-year extension worth $60M and $45M guaranteed?

On Tuesday the Rams and quarterback Jared Goff agreed to a four-year extension worth $134M of which $110M is guaranteed. With fellow 2016 alum Carson Wentz getting four-years and $128M with $107M guaranteed, the framework for Prescott looks set.

Would Dak accept five years and $150M with $115M guaranteed? You can certainly argue he is better than both even though their team’s successes have eclipsed the Cowboys to date.

As for Jones, I think his future is largely tied to his 2019 performance. Of the three, he is the strongest possibility to see a franchise tag next year, especially if the other two deals get done.

You can bank on Prescott getting a deal done before he ever sniffs the free agent market. Cooper is more of a wild card but either way, the next four years need to be fruitful for this franchise with the talent they have signed in that span.