Jerry Jones talks future of QB Dak Prescott with Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones insisted Tuesday that Dak Prescott will remain his starting quarterback beyond the 2023 NFL season. 

"You’re implying on discussion — those numbers on those contracts, those types of numbers, especially the big ones, you live with constantly, that’s always on your mind," Jones explained about salary-cap hits during an appearance on sports radio station 105.3 The Fan, per Logan Mullen of Audacy. "There’s never a time when it goes away because you’ve got to make the entire thing fit. So, it’s on the mind (with) a player decision in the middle of the year. It’s just a fundamental. We expect Dak to be with us a long time, and yeah, we’re always working around it with several machinations of numbers that would work." 

Prescott signed a four-year contract with the Cowboys in March 2021, and Mullen mentioned that deal carries what is roughly a $59M cap charge for the 2024 season. Dallas can decrease that figure by signing Prescott to an extension at any time before or during the upcoming campaign, but there's no indication the sides will put pen to paper on an agreement before the Cowboys play at the division-rival New York Giants this coming Sunday night. 

Prescott hasn't earned a Pro Bowl selection since the 2018 season and has never guided the Cowboys to an NFC Championship Game appearance. Meanwhile, Dallas acquired 2021 first-round draft pick Trey Lance from the San Francisco 49ers in late August and theoretically could redshirt Lance this fall so he can prepare to compete for the starting job as soon as next summer. 

Todd Archer of ESPN noted that Jones suggested on Tuesday the front office could continue extension talks with Prescott's camp through the regular season. Unless the 30-year-old inks a deal soon, questions about his future will hover over his status and the Cowboys as Dallas looks to overtake the Philadelphia Eagles atop the NFC East standings.

As of Tuesday afternoon, OddsChecker had the Cowboys at +195 odds to claim the division crown. The Eagles topped the list at -115, while the Giants were at +900.