The Dallas Cowboys have a full slate on their to-do list this offseason, and the top priority remains signing quarterback Dak Prescott to a long-term deal. The negotiations won’t be easy, as two sides were in a similar position last year yet no deal was reached.
There are a few noticeable differences this time around.
Last season, Prescott was under contract and he showed up in good faith as the sides worked towards an extension. If the parties can’t come to an agreement on a new deal this time, the team could choose to use one of their tag options on Prescott. Dallas can use the transition, non-exclusive franchise or exclusive franchise tag on their emerging quarterback to keep Prescott from hitting the open market.
However, using the first two of those tag options won’t prohibit another team from coming after Prescott. The transition tag comes with no compensation for the Cowboys if another team signed Prescott to an offer sheet, just a right of first refusal. It would pay the average of the top-10 salaries at the QB position from 2019. The non-exclusive tag would pay Prescott the average of the top-5 QB salaries for the last five seasons. If a team signed Prescott to an offer sheet and Dallas didn’t match, the acquiring team would give the Cowboys two first-round picks.
The non-exclusive tag would pay Prescott the average of the top five salaries at the start of the new season and would preclude any other team from making an offer to Prescott.
Prescott can counter getting tagged by electing to not show up for offseason workouts, as he is not under contract until he signs the tag and therefore at no risk of violating any parameters if he does not appear until he does so. According to the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore, that might be what Prescott plans to do.
“You would hope and you would think something is going to get done, right?’’ Prescott said Thursday in his most pointed comments yet. “I mean, you would have thought something would have gotten done before the season.
Prescott inferred in an interview on Thursday he wouldn’t be working out in Dallas, or at The Star, if the team places the tag on him.
“In my brain, it only says that it gets done. Without the tag. …’’
Prescott paused for a second, searching for the right words.
“I don’t think any of that is necessary,’’ he said. “But that’s business. That’s all calculated.
“That’s all on them.’’
“Report that,’’ Prescott said. “Be sure to report that.’
It remains to be seen how this will play out, but both sides have been working towards a deal since last offseason and the expectation is they will get a deal done. Right now, Prescott and the team appear in good standing.
However, if no long-term deal is reached and the Cowboys use one of their tag options, Prescott appears ready to combat that move by staying away from team activities during the offseason.
Things are getting tense with the Cowboys and their stud quarterback. There’s never a dull moment in Dallas.
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