Cowboys' Dak Prescott on precipice of rare feat as QB seeks extension
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is on a tear and could reach a rare milestone. Will his excellent play help him earn a contract extension?
On Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, Prescott could become the fourth player with 300 passing yards and three TDs in four consecutive games, via Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith. Two-time league MVP Patrick Mahomes and Hall of Famers Steve Young and Peyton Manning are the other QBs to accomplish this feat.
Two years remain on Prescott's four-year, $160M deal, which includes an out ($61.9M in dead cap) in 2024. Former NFL general manager Randy Mueller, a contributor for The Athletic, thinks it's the right time to extend the QB.
"At 6-3 and riding high, this seems like the perfect time for owner Jerry Jones to be Jerry and slide that $50-million-a-year contract extension across the table for Prescott to sign," wrote Mueller. "Any public pushback will be muted by the Cowboys' recent performances."
Per Spotrac, Prescott's market value is a four-year deal worth $47.5M annually, sixth among QBs. This might dissuade the Cowboys. The 30-year-old has only won two playoff games in eight seasons, and Spotrac projects Dallas will be $11.9M over the cap in 2024.
However, the Cowboys could find a way to create cap space for a Prescott extension. While they could also move on, replacing a two-time Pro Bowler at the most important position is difficult.
"But timing is everything, especially in making a deal of the magnitude needed to minimize change at the hardest position in sports to find, even if the talent is not elite," wrote Mueller.
If Prescott keeps thriving, it will likely persuade the Cowboys to reward him with a massive payday.
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