Analyzing all the options for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott
Signing Dak Prescott Long Term
Signing Prescott long term seems to be the way both sides want to go, but his camp is talking very high numbers, close to $40 million per year. Is it worth it? That’s debatable.
We would all have to see the guaranteed money, incentives, and length of the contract as well. Getting him under contract for six or seven years at around $37-$40 million per year may not be so terrible.
It allows Dallas to avoid another contract down the road, which you definitely want to do especially if Dallas wins the Super Bowl in the upcoming years and by that time the quarterback market will be much higher than $40 million.
Most importantly, Prescott would be at all offseason workouts and not holding out. With a new coaching staff and offensive philosophy this is one of the most important reasons for wanting to get a deal done.
If Dallas was rebuilding I would say let him walk, but I don’t see a viable solution at the position outside of Prescott and let’s put the myth away that if the Cowboys sign him they can’t afford anyone else.
The Cowboys could technically afford to pay Prescott, Cooper and Jones even with the current contract of running back Ezekiel Elliott. NFL teams don’t get into a cap hell situation for years to come by signing players for large amounts of money, this is purely a myth.
For example, the Cowboys rival, the Philadelphia Eagles always show interest in big time free agents every year meanwhile they are always under the cap at the time. They understand how to manipulate the numbers.
Teams set the bar at what they think a player is worth financially and if they exceed that value that’s why they aren’t signed or simply because the team doesn’t want that player anymore.
None of us fans truly understand how contracts work. We just see the years and average annual salary, nothing in between. For example, if Prescott is signed for $40 million as the annually average salary it is not literally $40 million per year.
Problem with your math is you’re assuming AAS is the same as guaranteed salary per season.
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) February 18, 2020
It’s not literally $35M per year, and much of how eventual contract is promised money — not gtd money.
Promised money isn’t real until it is. https://t.co/kvwl64F1IQ
So, if Jones, Cooper, or Prescott aren’t signed it’s because they wanted too much money or the Cowboys didn’t want them anymore. Not because they can’t afford these players, as noted by CBS Sports writer Patrik Walker.