Dallas Cowboys: Why a three-year deal for Dak Prescott is ideal

The deadline to use the Franchise Tag on Dak Prescott is Monday at 11:59 am. The Dallas Cowboys are expected to use it, but what’s the next step?

It’s very likely that sometime Monday, the Dallas Cowboys will franchise tag their quarterback Dak Prescott. So, what exactly is the next step between the four-year signal-caller and the front office of America’s Team?

The Cowboys can keep Prescott on the franchise tag for this season, which will result in a salary of about $33 million and continue to negotiate a long term deal. Or Dallas can sit another year on this one-year commitment and start conversations with an eye on 2021 and beyond.

The latter would be kind of shocking, knowing the Cowboys’ front office has offered Prescott long term deals already. The most recent was reportedly to be just a week or so ago.

The sticky thing about long term deals is there is no such thing as a guaranteed contract in the NFL, unlike other sports leagues like the NBA and MLB. The amount of guaranteed money is negotiated between the player’s party and the organization. But, for a player like Prescott, who plays the most important position on the NFL’s most popular franchise, why not give him a guaranteed deal?

The best example of a guaranteed deal in recent NFL memory is the three-year, $84 million deal quarterback Kirk Cousins signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018. Every penny was guaranteed. The expectations of this kind of deal are straight forward.

The Cowboys should give Prescott a three-year, $100 million guaranteed deal as soon as possible. A straight forward expectation that he has to be a top-10 quarterback for the next three years. Something he is capable of.

The anti-Prescott fans will say why completely guarantee a contract? Well, it allows the Cowboys to do a three-year deal instead of a five-year deal. It is easier to project a three-year deal, than a five-year. It also is the length that would allow for a trade of Prescott after this season to be a possibility.

It is unlikely the front office is thinking about the medium length contract just yet. But it is something that keeps options open and will also allow the Cowboys to control the salary cap a little better. Fewer years of money on the books at first.

It is no mystery that Prescott will be back as the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys this upcoming fall. But this medium length deal will give them options to be in the most control of the situation. Giving Prescott the chance to prove he is top-10 in the NFL or he can be traded away to another team if it just isn’t happening after a year or two of this deal.

Prescott has one playoff win in his career, that number has to increase or another quarterback will be having a chance to take over the reins.

The three-year fully guaranteed contract and the Cowboys drafting a quarterback in this upcoming draft should be the next step for the organization after the franchise tag. Comment below if you would be in favor of the Cowboys trying a three-year deal for Prescott.