Reporter raises doubts about Dak Prescott extension

Quarterback Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys haven't made significant progress on a new deal, leading to speculation about his future with the franchise.

"I am not as convinced as a lot of people seem to be that a Dak Prescott extension in Dallas is a sure thing," wrote ESPN NFL reporter Dan Graziano.

Prescott is entering the final year of a four-year, $160M deal, which includes a no-tag and no-trade clause. He reportedly wants a contract worth $60M annually, which would make him the highest-paid player in the league.

Prescott — who finished second in MVP voting in 2023 — has leverage in contract negotiations with Dallas. Over the Cap estimates the Cowboys are $10.6M over the salary cap. Extending Prescott reduces his 2024 cap number ($59.4M), saving $26.2M. 

The team can still clear more cap room without giving the 30-year-old a massive deal. His contract contains void years (2025 and 2026), allowing Dallas to convert his salary into signing bonus, creating $18.5M in space.
However, this would count toward the team's 2025 salary cap and potentially sour the relationship with the franchise QB. That doesn't seem to bother Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

"I don't fear that," Jones said of Prescott leaving the team in the future, via The Athletic's Jon Machota. "No, I do not. Because I have my mind on being better than we were last year. And that's where the focus would be. Every player you got has some time when his contract is up. You would walk around with the shakes if you feared it."

While Prescott is a three-time Pro Bowler, he's 2-5 in the playoffs. He threw two costly interceptions in a 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round.