As recently as a few weeks ago, it seemed obvious that a contract extension for Dak Prescott was the top priority for the Cowboys front office, with a gargantuan salary cap hit basically forcing the club to do a new deal that would lock in their quarterback beyond next season and lessen the financial impact for the organization in 2024.
A quick restructure in mid-March added two void years, converted a $5 million roster bonus to a signing bonus, and shaved off $4 million from the cap hit to bring it to $55.445 million. It also looked to be the just first bookkeeping step in the process of a larger extension this offseason.
Now it appears that may be the only step the two sides take.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Prescott and the Cowboys “have a mutual understanding of his contract situation,” with no further offer coming from the team.
“We are where we are,” Rapoport quoted owner Jerry Jones as saying. “We have our contract. We’re locked and loaded for this year.”
The #Cowboys and QB Dak Prescott have a mutual understanding of his contract situation, sources say, with no offers from Dallas despite him being in a contract year. Owner Jerry Jones said, “We are where we are, locked and loaded for this year.”
No indication a deal is coming. pic.twitter.com/JtW5lqHzSG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2024
Prescott’s current deal binds last season’s MVP runner-up to the Cowboys for 2024 but not beyond.
[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
The Cowboys have already chosen to let several other big names depart in free agency this month, including longtime offensive tackle Tyron Smith, running back Tony Pollard and center Tyler Biadasz. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch retired because of medical reasons. And defensive coordinator Dan Quinn took the head coaching job in Washington and took several assistants with him.
Previously, it had been revealed that Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and the rest of his coaching staff would be working 2024 in the final year of their contracts, essentially making the coming season a prove-it campaign for the staff.
That may end up being the case for their franchise quarterback as well, with 2025 potentially shaping up to be a massive rebuild in Dallas.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]
[mm-video type=video id=01hsvk90v992f8t42efj playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01hsvk90v992f8t42efj/01hsvk90v992f8t42efj-379302fa39b23dc361f9b156b0e4d589.jpg]
[lawrence-newsletter]