With the 2020 NFL Schedule released, predictions of the Dallas Cowboys having a successful first season under head coach Mike McCarthy continue to swirl. There’s still one piece missing from this pie, and that’s a long term deal with franchise quarterback Dak Prescott.
Executive vice president Stephen Jones sat down with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio on the PFT PM Podcast to discuss some of the questions that still remain about their commitment to Prescott, along with plenty of other topics Cowboys fans could sink their teeth into.
Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton
Jones did not hesitate to say they want to pay him, and they’ve made numerous offers but the deal has to work for the team along with working for Prescott. However he is forever negotiating in public.
He referred back to Jerry’s pie analogy in efforts to build this team with pieces around Prescott to be successful. He warns that because the salary cap is a “zero sum game”, the club has to be cautious not to sink too much into one particular position.
“There’s all sorts of analytics out there that show if your quarterback takes up too big a percentage of your salary cap, that it decreases your chances to win.”
[Editor’s Note: There’s actually analytics out there that say the opposite. Teams which pay their QBs are just as likely to win as teams with QBs on rookie deals. (The Athletic)]
Florio asked Jones about the exclusive franchise tag as July 15 is the deadline for Prescott to sign his tender.. “We’re only focussed on getting a long term deal with Dak,” Jones went on to say. Jones emphasized there was no chance of rescinding the tag.
The signing of Andy Dalton was not intended to put pressure on Prescott to sign but if July 15 comes and goes, and Prescott does not show, it will be Dalton’s job to get the 2020 Dallas Cowboys ready for this season.
2020 NFL Schedule
Jones said the Cowboys received the schedule 24 hours in advance to dissect it with the front office. He looks for the road games first to insure that there’s not too many in a row. He then looks to see when the divisional games, singling out Thanksgiving Day as Dallas will once again battle the Washington Redskins. It’s “preferred” to be a division game on this holiday for the rivalry to be polarized on the big stage for the fans.
Continued relevancy despite not winning
Florio brought up the New England Patriots, who are entering a new era and questions if they will remain relevant post-Tom Brady. Florio said Cowboys, regardless of their up and down ways over the last 25 years, are still the center of the football world.
Jones thanked the historic figures of the Cowboys for making the team as intriguing as they’ve been despite some of their unsuccessful years. He thanked his father owner Jerry Jones, who he called “nothing short of Barnum and Bailey,” for keeping the team relevant via free agency, specifically referencing the signing of Deion Sanders for national exposure.
Moving on from Jason Garrett
Jones addressed the shift away from Garrett, whose contract expired without renewal, stating it was time for a change. The 25-year draught was enough for them to bring in McCarthy and Jones feels they now have the opportunity to change the narrative around the Cowboys.
The younger Jones reiterated a remark from his father that Jerry would trade his Hall-of-Fame bust for another Super Bowl trophy.
FA approach, the draft and taking a WR
Jones attributed the recent years of having strong teams on paper to the coaching and scouting. He dates this back to the Jimmy Johnson days of old. Jones addressed that they prefer to pay their own players rather than make that big splash in free agency.
The draft has been a focal point of the Cowboys in recent years to build the foundation and Jones went on to say this years draft class eases the burden of not being big spenders.
Florio went on to ask Jones’ thoughts on new wide receiver Cee Dee Lamb and the feeling he got when he saw him still available when the Cowboys went on the clock.
Jones went on to say Lamb was never in the mix of their mock drafts because they truly did not feel he would get out of the top 10. Lamb had too big of grade to not take him despite the needs in other positions. Lamb’s addition will play a big role in helping Prescott develop.
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