Cowboys facing key decision with Prescott’s contract

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys facing key decision with Dak Prescott’s contract

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Jan 30, 2023 10:12 AM ET

With the Dallas Cowboys projected to be $9.6M over the salary cap in 2023, according to Spotrac, the team may have to get creative to give itself some breathing room to sign free agents and its incoming draft class.

One solution includes reworking quarterback Dak Prescott’s contract, which according to ESPN’s Todd Archer, would free up approximately $22M next season.

“[The Cowboys] would add four to five years to the deal, pay him a huge signing bonus and knock down his 2023 base salary, allowing them to do whatever they would want,” Archer recently wrote. “Technically, instead of extending Prescott, they could restructure his contract again and free up about $22M in room but be left with a ton of dead money in 2025 after his contract expires.”

Regarding questions on Dak Prescott's contract: It is not really a moveable contract. The contract was more or less crafted such that he will be extended in 2024 or 2025 simply due to the salary cap pressures that would come from any other decision #Cowboys
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) January 24, 2023

Prescott is due $31M in guaranteed money next season with a cap hit of $49.1M. Should the Cowboys take Archer’s suggestion, they would add a few void years onto Prescott’s deal, convert most of his money into a signing bonus, and free up enough money in 2023 to be players in free agency.

Of course, Prescott’s contract isn’t the only one that could be redone to free up funds.

Offensive tackle Tyron Smith, who has a $17.6M cap hit in 2023, and running back Ezekiel Elliott, who has a $16.7M cap hit in 2023, could also be asked to restructure their deals.

Tight end Dalton Schultz, running back Tony Pollard, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, linebacker Anthony Barr, and safety Donovan Wilson are among the Cowboys top unrestricted free agents.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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