The Dallas Cowboys need to create salary cap space, and they just so happen to have a top-level quarterback. Wouldn’t it make sense to extend Dak Prescott so as to remove any speculation that he’s the long-term answer, and to save money against the cap?
Prescott is currently slated to count $49.13 million against the cap. That’s higher than Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen, and only Deshaun Watson ($54.99 million) and Patrick Mahomes ($49.23 million) have bigger numbers.
While Prescott is fully deserving of a $40 million per year contract, there’s no justifying that crippling of a cap hit. With the NFL salary expected to continue exploding year after year, why not kick the proverbial can down the road by extending him?
Between the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine, both Jerry and Stephen Jones have confirmed the team’s desire to get Prescott extended.
How does Dak feel about the idea? Let him tell you himself.
Dak on potential contract extension: “100% I’m excited to be a Dallas Cowboy. … I don’t expect to play for any other team. Now it’s just about winning. … Looking forward to an extension. When that time comes, it’ll happen. I’m with Stephen on it, it may just happen overnight.” https://t.co/w3kgY8CURu
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 7, 2023
More Cowboys News:
- It’ll be interesting to see the parameters of Prescott’s new deal. Cowboys fans remember all too well how slow-moving negotiations were last time, as Prescott was franchise-tagged twice before reaching an agreement. If nothing else, his annual average value should check in north of $40 million. He’s currently signed for $40 million, and the quarterback market has since been reset.
- Speaking of which, Daniel Jones became the NFL’s new $40 million QB on Tuesday, as he and the Giants beat the franchise tag deadline.
- It’s a team friendly deal in the sense that it only has two years of guaranteed money (four years in total), but the fact the Giants caved and broke the $40 million threshold despite the fact Jones has had one good-ish season in four years saw on the receiving end of criticism after the deal was announced. With this news, Jones became the first QB in league history to sign for $20 million or more per year after throwing for less than 20 touchdowns in 15 or more games. He’s also 1-5 against the Cowboys in his career, for what it’s worth.
Details on the #Giants deal for QB Daniel Jones:
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2023
-- 4 years
-- $160M
-- $35M more in incentives
-- $82M over the first two years
-- $94M virtually guaranteed at signing.
-- First-year cap number around $19M.
NFL News:
- There are theories about potential collusion transpiring in the NFL after multiple teams publicly stated they were out on Lamar Jackson, who is available to be signed for two first-round picks after the Ravens placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on him Tuesday. Those teams include the Falcons, Commanders, Raiders, Dolphins, and Panthers.
- Saquon Barkley received the franchise tag before the deadline, though the Giants hope they can reach a long-term deal with the running back. Barkley finished fourth in the NFL last season with 1,312 rushing yards.
- Jets owner Woody Johnson, GM Joe Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh, and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett flew out to California on Tuesday to meet in person with Aaron Rodgers, according to ESPN.

3 easy cuts Cowboys can make to save $18 million in cap space
The Dallas Cowboys need to create significant cap room before free agency. These three easy cuts would save them close to $20 million against the cap.