Following another playoff disappointment, will Cowboys put Dak Prescott contract extension on hold?
It's fair to wonder if the Cowboys will pause discussions about quarterback Dak Prescott's contract extension following Sunday's wild-card round exit against the Green Bay Packers.
Prescott is entering the final year of a four-year, $160M contract, which includes a potential out ($61.91M in dead cap) this offseason. According to Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz, both parties want to agree to a new deal, which could be worth $55M to $60M, making him the highest-paid player in the league.
Still, that's a lot for a QB who's 2-5 in the playoffs. In the 48-32 loss to Green Bay, Prescott completed 41-of-60 passes for 403 yards and three TDs. But he also threw two interceptions, including a pick-six that gave the Packers a 27-point lead in the second quarter.
"I sucked tonight. That was it," Prescott said in a postgame news conference. "We got it going a little bit late, but none of that mattered at that point. Fought. That's all I really know how to do. But it's about winning, and it's about winning in the playoffs and getting to the last game and winning that as well. Yeah, tough."
Prescott thrived in the regular season. In 17 games, he finished third in the league in passing yards (4,516), second in QBR (72.4) and first in passing TDs (36). This proves he's a good QB who just needs to overcome his postseason struggles.
Dallas must make defensive improvements, as well. The Cowboys defense allowed 415 yards and forced no takeaways. To do this, they must create more cap room. Over The Cap estimates Dallas will be $16.09M over the cap.
A Prescott extension will devour cap space, which could dissuade Dallas from doing so. However, this might motivate the second-team All-Pro, which might help the Cowboys make a deep postseason run next season. Per CBS Sports, they're 5-13 in the playoffs since their last Super Bowl win in 1996.
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