Monday and Tuesday were days of significant developments at The Star, as Dallas Cowboys fans rejoiced over the signing of 2023 All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to a four-year, $136 million extension. This crucial move brought an end to Lamb's holdout, ensuring that one of the NFL's premier pass-catchers would remain with the team for years to come.
The excitement around Lamb's extension swiftly turned the focus towards another pivotal figure in the Cowboys' offense—quarterback Dak Prescott. Entering the final year of his contract in 2024, Prescott's future with the team is now the subject of intense speculation. The star quarterback led the NFL with a remarkable 36 passing touchdowns in the 2023 season, showcasing his significant value to the team.
Prescott's Contract Situation
Prescott's current contract includes both a no-franchise tag and a no-trade clause, setting the stage for what could become a highly scrutinized negotiation process. If an extension is not secured, Prescott will become an unrestricted free agent by March 2025. With none of the Cowboys' current quarterbacks, including Cooper Rush and Trey Lance, under contract for 2025, it's clear that the upcoming negotiations are pivotal for the team's future.
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, emphasized the priority of the upcoming season opener, stating, “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.”
Financial Considerations and Comparisons
In terms of financial considerations, managing the salary cap is a challenging task for any NFL franchise. “You’ve always got to remind everybody that this is a zero-sum game. Any dollar one player gets is a dollar another one doesn’t get,” Jones pointed out. With top quarterbacks such as Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, and Jordan Love commanding average annual salaries of $55 million, the financial stakes are undeniably high. In comparison, the Cowboys have $39.6 million in effective cap space available for 2025, with a projected $160.1 million in cap space by 2026.
Jones further elaborated on the complexities of roster management, sharing, “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.”
Optimism Amongst Cowboys' Stars
CeeDee Lamb remains optimistic about Prescott’s contract situation, expressing his confidence that a deal will be reached. “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,” Lamb stated.
As for Prescott, he remains focused on the immediate task at hand and trusts his agents to handle the negotiations. “There’ve been conversations back and forth, but for the most part, as y’all know, I let my agent (Todd France) handle that, especially as we get right here into training camp,” Prescott said. He also expressed a belief that the financial elements will eventually resolve themselves. “The money and all that will take care of itself as it always has,” he added.
The days ahead will undoubtedly be crucial as the Cowboys gear up for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Fans and analysts alike will be keeping a close eye on Prescott’s contract negotiations and the broader implications for the team's financial and on-field future. As it stands, the Cowboys have taken significant strides to secure their offensive stars, with the potential for more exciting developments on the horizon.