Cowboys insider reveals major detail in Dak Prescott's contract holdup as QB waits on potential $60,000,000 deal
The Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott appear to be locked in negotiations. Let me rephrase. The Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott have been locked in negotiations in what seems like like forever. And with Week 1's slate of games set to kick off tonight with Ravens vs Chiefs, the franchise has, in all likelihood, backed itself into a corner.
With negotiations crawling along at a snail's pace, Cowboys insider Clarence Hill Jr. delivered a major update on Thursday morning.
"Despite what has been reported elsewhere, 'contract length' is not a sticking point in a prospective Prescott deal, per a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations," Hill tweeted.
Everything we know about Dak Prescott's contract negotiations so far
On her 'Scoop City' podcast this week, The Athletic's NFL insider Dianna Russini reported that the hold-up over a prospective deal is that Prescott is looking for a long-term commitment from the franchise but Dallas is looking at a two-year deal to keep their options open.
It's all hearsay at this point, but Cowboys GM Jerry Jones has gone on record to say that the previous extension they handed the quarterback is also playing a role in his decision.
"I'm trying to be real practical... But the facts are that not only have we had great supporting cast around Dak, we have also spot some of the money that we've got to spend on Dak in the future that went in on his last contracts," Jones said.
Prescott's playoff record (2-5) could also be a factor, given the Cowboys' Super Bowl drought is at 28 years and counting.
As things stand, Prescott will play out the final year of his four-year, $160 million extension. Spotrac projects his market value at a four-year, $220 million deal that would amount to an annual average value in salary of $55 million.
All of Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love have signed contracts that will pay them $55 million a year. Considering Prescott's stature as an MVP candidate when healthy, and the rising NFL cap situation, he will likely be looking at a deal that would pay out at $60 million a year to make him the highest-paid NFL player.
The alternative is that he could walk in 2025 and become the most high-profile quarterback to hit free agency since Tom Brady.
For what it's worth, Cowboys icon Michael Irvin stressed the urgency of getting a deal done. On FS1's Speak, Irvin said:
"Dallas, I think is making a bad decision here, because I say lock him down five six years, and let's get this out of the way and finish with this so you're not running by this mountain again."
New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski also urged Jones to get a deal done.
"It's so hard to find a franchise quarterback. Who are you going to move on to? Like, are you kidding me? The guy knows the playbook in and out. He knows the system in and out. He's been having great years," Gronk said.