Monday and Tuesday at The Star saw a welcome wave of excitement and relief from Dallas Cowboys fans and the organization, as the team announced the signing of 2023 All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to a four-year, $136 million extension. The agreement finally put an end to Lamb's holdout, securing one of the NFL’s top offensive talents for the foreseeable future.
With Lamb’s deal now squared away, the focus shifts to another pivotal component of the Cowboys' offensive scheme—quarterback Dak Prescott. The star quarterback is entering the final year of his contract in 2024, making his future a dominant narrative for the upcoming season. Prescott led the NFL in 2023 with an impressive 36 passing touchdowns, underscoring his significant role in the Cowboys' plans.
Contract Implications and Financial Strategy
Prescott's current contract includes both a no-franchise tag and a no-trade clause, a clear indicator of his value to the team. Should an extension not be reached, Prescott would become a free agent by March 2025, potentially signaling a seismic shift for the Cowboys' roster. None of the other quarterbacks on the team's roster, including Cooper Rush and Trey Lance, are signed beyond the 2024 season.
Financial considerations hover over these negotiations. The market for elite quarterbacks has been set by contracts belonging to Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, and Jordan Love, each boasting an average annual salary of $55 million. This figure presents a challenging benchmark for the Cowboys as they navigate roster management under salary cap constraints. The team has $39.6 million in effective cap space available in 2025 and a more comfortable $160.1 million projected for 2026.
Managing an NFL roster under such financial restrictions requires careful strategy and often involves significant risk. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who purchased the team in 1989, understands this all too well. “Any dollar one player gets is a dollar another one doesn’t get,” Jones remarked. “If you can get the most and the best players out there for the least amount of the cap, you’re doing your very best job. Sometimes it’s worked out really well. Sometimes taking those risks will bite you.”
Voices from the Franchise
Both the organization and key players are vocal about their desire to secure Prescott’s future in Dallas. “You look at our numbers together, they're at the top of the charts. I have no doubt that they’re going to get a deal done. We all know that I want Dak here. Jerry [Jones] wants Dak here, too, so let's just get this under control and kill the speculation and let's go win,” CeeDee Lamb stated, emphasizing the synergy between him and Prescott.
The timing of these contract discussions is also crucial. With the season opener just around the corner, Jones stressed the importance of focus. “We’re continuing to, first of all, put all of our focus on what’s coming up here in the next 10 days, two weeks. That game [Week 1 at the Cleveland Browns] takes priority over anything,” Jones said, underlining the immediate goals of the team.
Prescott himself has chosen to delegate contract discussions to his agent, Todd France, allowing him to concentrate on the game. “There’ve been conversations back and forth, but for the most part, as y’all know, I let my agent handle that, especially as we get right here into training camp,” Prescott explained. He remains optimistic about the financial aspects, stating, “The money and all that will take care of itself as it always has.”
As the Cowboys steer through these negotiations, the stakes are high. Ensuring Prescott remains the linchpin of the offense while judiciously managing the salary cap will be pivotal to their success. For now, the immediate focus remains on the dawn of the new NFL season and the challenges that come with it.