The Dallas Cowboys reach a new deal with Dak Prescott

After a long wait, the Dallas Cowboys agreed to a new contract with Dak Prescott

Since the 2019 offseason, there have been rumors surrounding an extension for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The 2016 offensive player of the year was franchise tagged to play the 2020 season. Now in his third offseason waiting for a contract, the deal has finally been made.

In the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys drafted a quarterback out of Mississipi State. That was Dak Prescott. With then-quarterback Tony Romo as the starter, Dak was supposed to be a long-term replacement for the aging and oft-injured Romo.

In Week 3 of the 2016 preseason, Dak’s career took a turn for the best. An unfortunate injury to Romo forced Prescott to be the starting quarterback of America’s Team.

Even after an impressive preseason, fans were nervous about a fourth-round rookie quarterback starting in Week 1. He lost his first game against the New York Giants but went on to win 11 straight.

With Romo recovered from his back injury, head coach Jason Garrett decided to continue with Prescott as the team’s starter. Dak finished the season with a 13-3 record, 3,667 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, and only four interceptions.

It was one of the most efficient seasons by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. One that saw him win the offensive rookie of the year and a Pro Bowl nod. Since then, he emerged as a top quarterback in the NFL, leading a top offense in the league.

His 2019 campaign was very successful, throwing for 4,902 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Rather than giving the quarterback a long-term deal, owner Jerry Jones franchise tagged him.

An ankle injury in Week 5 put a stop to Dak’s historic pace in 2020. He was in line to demolish Hall of Famer Peyton Manning’s record for passing yards in one season. Manning’s threw for 5,477 yards, and Dak was on pace to throw for 5,939 yards.

The biggest fish to hit the free-agent market was the hottest topic for every sports show covering football. The speculation was put to rest on March 8, 2021, when a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN that the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott agreed to a new deal.

That has been a long-awaited deal. It comes as no surprise after the Jones family had repeatedly claimed Dak Prescott was the team’s quarterback.

Adam Schefter later announced that the deal would be a six-year deal that voids to four years. ESPN’s Todd Archer wrote about the then-possible contract back in mid-February. Dak’s $66 million signing bonus is the largest in NFL history. That was likely a sticking point for the quarterback.

The team will officially announce the signing at a press conference on Wednesday. That is when the official details surrounding the contract will be released. For the next four seasons, quarterback Dak Prescott will be the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.