Dak Prescott contract saga is over; Why he deserves it all

Cowboys fans, it has finally happened! The Dallas Cowboys and star quarterback Dak Prescott have agreed to terms on a four-year contract. This deal comes less than 24 hours from the franchise-tag deadline, which the Cowboys can now avoid thanks to this record-breaking deal.

I’m very glad the Prescott contract saga is over. It was exhausting as a fan wondering if the Cowboys were going to do the right thing and sign Dak. Especially because you can count on one hand the number of quarterbacks better than him.

You simply could not let a player of his caliber walk out the door, and thankfully the Cowboys did not. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the terms of the deal are as follows: four years, $160 million, worth up to $164 million. And with $126 million in guarantees.

This deal is clearly long-overdue for Prescott who has been nothing but awesome since being drafted by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Some of Dak’s accomplishments include winning the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award, receiving two Pro Bowl selections, and posting career highs in passing yards (4,902) and touchdowns (30) in 2019.

Who would have thought a Day Three selection would become the second-highest-paid QB in the NFL? Well, here we are. And Dak deserves it all.

Prescott was on pace for a record-breaking season in 2020 with his 1,657 passing yards through four games being the most in NFL history. But, the Week Five injury against the Giants derailed the season and brought back contract chatter.

The injury led some to question whether or not Dak would get a long-term deal. The Cowboys have been adamant all along that Dak was their guy and they finally proved it.

According to James Palmer of NFL Network, Prescott’s $126 million in guaranteed money is the second-most in the NFL behind only Kansas City Chiefs QB, Patrick Mahomes ($141.5M).

Prescott has been through a lot on and off the football field over the past few years. He was battling depression and anxiety at the beginning of the pandemic, according to The Dallas Morning News.  Along with the passing of his brother, Jace.

Then came his devastating injury on the field in which Prescott was carted off in tears. The compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle sent the Cowboys season into a nosedive. In games, Dak started the Cowboys averaged 32.6 points per game.

But, in games without Prescott, Dallas averaged only 21 points per game. That glaring disparity tells us everything we need to know about the value of Dak.

All of those moments helped to mold Prescott into the great quarterback and person that he is today. This tweet from his brother, Tad, speaks volumes about everything their family has gone through and the joy they must feel after Dak got his deal.

Now that the Cowboys have agreed to a deal with their quarterback, the offense looks prone to be one of the best units in the entire league. All of the main weapons including running back Ezekiel Elliott, and wide receivers Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup will be returning. Along with a healthy offensive line.

As long as the Dallas Cowboys can shore up their defense in free agency and the draft, this team will be the heavy favorites in the NFC East and will have a chance to contend for the Lombardi Trophy.