On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
One of the hottest topics in Cowboys Nation currently is how the contract negotiations between Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys are going.
It's no secret that Prescott is entering the final year of the 4yr/$160 million extension he signed before the 2021 season kicked off.
Signing your franchise quarterback to his extension entering his ninth season still in his prime after a season in which he was in the MVP race is a given…right?
Pump the brakes a little, and consider the rest of the information in this article affecting not only Prescott but Trey Lance and Cooper Rush as well.
The Cowboys quarterback room could look vastly different in 2025.
Dak Prescott
There's no way the Cowboys allow a franchise quarterback to account for nearly $60 million against the cap for a one-year prove-it deal in a Super Bowl window…right?
Now that the seed of doubt is planted in your mind, how do you feel about a Cowboys insider pondering Prescott's future with the team?
In a recent tweet by Dallas Morning News reporter and insider Michael Gehlken, he states that “A Dak Prescott offseason extension is not promised.”, citing the entire coaching staff is also entering 2024 on one-year deals.
What Gehlken wants us to do is read the tea leaves.
No matter how much sense it might make from a financial standpoint to offer Dak an extension yesterday, there are other options the Cowboys can explore.
Do Nothing
The first scenario to consider if a Prescott extension isn't in the cards is to just sit and do nothing.
Prescott would count $59.455 million against the salary cap, and the final year of his contract will be a true prove-it deal.
It would also allow Prescott to hit unrestricted free agency in 2025, a product of his current contract where he cannot be traded and the franchise tag cannot be placed on him.
This favors Dak because he gets his guaranteed money plus he gets his freedom if he really does feel disrespected by the franchise.
Restructure Dak's Contract…Again
Dallas can do a simple restructure on Dak's contract by converting part of his salary into bonuses.
The problem with that is the money doesn't just disappear. It has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is voidable years beyond the length of the contract.
In layman's terms, it means Dallas can massage this year's salary cap, but it would mean adding years of dead money to the back end of the contract.
If there is one thing (out of many things) that drives Cowboys fans crazy, it's paying players after they are no longer on the team.
The Cowboys may balk at this scenario because surprise! According to Spotrac, Dak's contract already has over $36 million in dead money for the 2025 season.
An extension is in the Cowboys' best interest from a financial standpoint, but prepare yourself for the possibility Prescott will be in a different uniform in 2025.
Cooper Rush
Cooper Rush signed a 2yr/$5 million contract before the start of the 2023 season to remain Prescott's primary backup.
That means Rush will also enter unrestricted free agency once his contract expires after the 2024 season.
Rush has played well when called upon, sporting a 5-1 overall record as a starter in relief of Prescott.
A takeaway-crazed defense aided in those wins, but Rush did his part also.
In the first start of his career during the 2021 season, Rush threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns in Minnesota, leading a game-winning drive ending with a touchdown pass to Amari Cooper.
After losing Prescott to a broken thumb in the 2022 season opener, Rush started the next five games in his place.
Rush rattled off four straight wins, including a game-winning drive over Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
He brings appeal as Prescott's backup and in spot starts, but Rush doesn't give starting quarterback vibes to be brought back in 2025 unless it's to sit behind Dak again.
Trey Lance
The final quarterback in the room behind Prescott and Rush, Trey Lance is guaranteed to be brought back to Dallas for the 2024 season.
As first reported by Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys picked up Lance's 2024 roster bonus.
This means Lance will be paid $5.31 million (more than Rush) to compete for the QB2 spot behind Dak.
Lance is only 23 years old, and Dallas didn't send a 4th round pick to the 49ers unless they planned to develop him and give him an opportunity at some point.
The interesting part is Dallas already announced they will not be picking up Lance's 5th-year option after the 2024 season.
In case you haven't been paying attention, that means 2024 is a contract year for Dak (unless an extension gets done), Rush, and Lance.
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback room could look vastly different when the season kicks off in 2025.
More must-reads:
- Buccaneers' chances of upsetting Rams take massive hit due to illness in locker room
- Could Aaron Donald come out of retirement amid Rams' latest pursuit of Super Bowl?
- The 'NFL single-game completions leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Packers Receive Disappointing Injury News Before Vikings Matchup
Jayden Reed’s anticipated return to the practice field for the Green Bay Packers will have to wait a little longer. Despite some growing hope earlier this week that the dynamic wide receiver could begin the next phase of his recovery, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Wednesday that Reed will not open his 21-day practice window yet. “He’s not practicing today,” LaFleur said ahead of Sunday’s critical matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. When pressed for a clearer timeline on the second-year standout, who remains on injured reserve with collarbone and foot injuries, LaFleur deferred to the medical staff. “I don’t know. As soon as medical clears him, he’ll be out there,” LaFleur said. “I know he’s excited to get back. As am I.” The optimism had spiked in recent days. On Monday, LaFleur indicated there was a chance Reed and/or rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd could start their practice windows this week. Reed himself fueled the excitement Tuesday by sharing a photo of himself dressed in full uniform on social media. Those plans, however, are now on hold. Reed’s surgically repaired foot seems to have healed satisfactorily, but the collarbone—fractured on a diving attempt during the first half of Green Bay’s Week 2 victory over the Washington Commanders—still needs additional time. For a wide receiver whose job involves regular physical contact and the risk of landing hard on the shoulder, the medical staff is requiring clear imaging evidence that the bone is strong enough before green-lighting a return. The cautious approach echoes the Packers’ handling of Aaron Rodgers’ similar collarbone injury in 2017, when the former quarterback sat out seven games while waiting for full healing. Nearly 10 weeks removed from the injury and having already missed eight contests, Reed could still require another one to two weeks before doctors are comfortable clearing him for football activities. That timeline keeps a potential return for the Thanksgiving night clash with the Detroit Lions or the following week against the Chicago Bears realistically in play. Before the injury, Reed had established himself as Green Bay’s top receiving weapon. He paced the team in receiving yards in both 2023 and 2024, and in the two games he played this season while managing the foot issue, he recorded three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. The Green Bay Packers will continue their Week 12 preparations without their leading wideout on the practice field, with LaFleur and the organization prioritizing full recovery over a rushed comeback.
Texas HC Steve Sarkisian gives bold claim on job rumors
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has been a popular name in both the NFL and college football coaching cycles. It makes sense, too. He's brought Texas back to being competitive and in the championship hunt, but he also has a wealth of great experience as an assistant in both college and the NFL. He's about as well-rounded a candidate as you'll find, so of course, programs like the Florida Gators, LSU Tigers or even the New York Giants may be interested to see if he's interested. The thing is, though, he's not. Or, at the very least, that's what he's telling the media. He's all-in with the Longhorns, according to comments he made on a recent SEC teleconference call. “I’d like to comment something before I get into our team that has been bothering me now over the past few weeks. That is people reporting that are insinuating that there’s a possibility I could leave the University of Texas, and that is absolutely false and untrue," Sarkisian said (h/t On3). "I’m not going anywhere. Never do I do this because I never want to be a distraction, so I never address these things. At this point, I feel like this is important that I do this because it’s important for our team. It’s important for our university." Steve Sarkisian has deep roots in Austin and is all-in with Texas As if that weren't clear enough, Sarkisian said that he has not had any discussions with anybody about coaching elsewhere. He even went as far as to say that even his agent hasn't spoken to anyone. Sometimes coaches can say publicly that they aren't talking about any opportunities while, in the meantime, their agents are working backchannels and putting something together. He could be lying, of course, because college football history is full of head coaches saying one thing and doing another. A full-throated statement like this seems to be a pretty clear indication that Sarkisian is serious about what he's saying, though. Heck, he went as far as calling Austin home, which is a pretty big deal for a coach to say. Those guys aren't used to staying in one place for too long. With that said, Sarkisian does have two kids actually enrolled at Texas, one on the football team. He has a third kid he wants to go to Texas in the near future. He also just had a baby. Sarkisian has roots in Austin. He also has high aspirations for the Longhorns. “We came here to win championships," he said. "We’ve built a damn good football program over the five years that we’ve been here. We’ve been to two College Football Playoffs. We won a Big 12 Championship. We went to the SEC Championship game in Year 1. We’ve had 23 players drafted the last two years, which is more than any other school in the country and our team GPA is at an all-time high. “Can we please stop putting things out there that you have absolutely zero evidence on? Can we please stop retweeting and putting it back out there as if it’s true? As if it’s the gospel? It is not true."
Scout shares take on why Vikings' J.J. McCarthy has struggled with accuracy this season
Second-year Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has mostly played like a work in progress when healthy and on the field this fall. For a piece published on Wednesday, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano pointed out that McCarthy is "obviously missing too many throws" at this stage of his development. Graziano spoke with an unnamed "scout with another team" to learn more about McCarthy's struggles. Are Vikings panicking about J.J. McCarthy? "McCarthy's throwing at only one speed -- all fastballs -- and attributed that to trying to be the hero in a situation where he knows his team is counting on him to help it win," Graziano said about his chat with the scout. "The general sense I get from inside the Vikings' building and out is that he just needs time and reps." The Vikings made McCarthy a first-round draft pick in the spring of 2024, but he then spent his entire rookie season recovering from a full meniscus repair. More recently, what became a lingering ankle injury limited McCarthy to just five starts over Minnesota's first 10 games of the ongoing campaign. According to Pro Football Reference, McCarthy began Wednesday ranked last in the league among qualified players with a 52.9 percent completion percentage, a 26.6 adjusted QBR and a 61.7 passer rating for the season. Nevertheless, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said in Wednesday's article that the Vikings really have "no choice" but to stick with McCarthy over undrafted free agent Max Brosmer. Veteran Carson Wentz previously started when McCarthy was sidelined with the ankle issue, but Wentz has since had season-ending shoulder surgery. What Vikings like about J.J. McCarthy amid struggles "The accuracy is a concern," Fowler added about McCarthy. "There's no hiding from that. Balls are sailing, and that affects the entire offense. McCarthy needs to hit the layups. The Vikings will be working to help him find more consistency as a thrower. From a developmental standpoint, the team still believes in his work ethic and skill set." For what it's worth, McCarthy tossed a go-ahead touchdown pass versus the Chicago Bears with under a minute to play in this past Sunday's matchup between the clubs. He then could only watch as Chicago's Cairo Santos kicked a walk-off game-winning field goal. 4-6 Minnesota next plays at the rival Green Bay Packers (6-3-1) this coming Sunday. As of Wednesday morning, ESPN BET had the Vikings as 6.5-point underdogs for that game.
No. 4 Arizona accomplishes rare feat in thrilling road win over No. 3 UConn
One coach makes sense for LSU if Lane Kiffin doesn't flip to Tigers
Steve Spurrier has two endorsements for next Florida HC
Steve Spurrier is a legend for the Florida Gators. Known as "the head ball coach" down in SEC-land, Spurrier was a star both as a player and as a coach for Florida. Heck, the dang field in Gainesville is named after him. That means what he says about the Florida program carries a lot of weight, and he recently revealed that he believes there are only two people who would live up to the expectations and be a great fit for the Gators as they look to replace fired head coach Billy Napier sooner rather than later. “I know Lane Kiffin and I know Eli Drinkwitz,” Spurrier recently said, according to Daniel Hager of On3. “Obviously, either one of those guys would be super if it works out. But, it’s a long way from whoever we’re going to get as our coach right now.” The Gators are currently making a full-court press for Lane Kiffin, but they're not alone in their pursuit of the Ole Miss head coach. While the Gators reportedly flew members of Kiffin's family down to Gainesville to check things out recently, the LSU Tigers also pulled the same trick — hoping to get Kiffin to ultimately come down to Baton Rouge. LSU is probably Florida's biggest competitor for Kiffin right now, but there's also Ole Miss to consider. It's not like the Rebels are going to let a coach who has led them to a 54-19 record over the past six seasons go without a fight. Kiffin would absolutely be a home-run hire for the Gators, though. He's a high-level recruiter and a high-level offensive mind in the SEC. Those are two things that the Gators desperately need in the wake of the middling Napier era. Not only that, but Kiffin has ties to the state. He was the head coach at Florida Atlantic from 2017-19. Eli Drinkwitz an interesting option for Florida if it can't land Lane Kiffin Drinkwitz is another interesting option, though. You'll also notice that there's a trend here for Florida, and that's going after established SEC head coaches. Napier had come from the Sun Belt conference. Drinkwitz has made Missouri a tough out in the SEC, and he's won a ton of football games. His overall record at Mizzou is 45-27, though his record in big games does leave a little to be desired. He's 7-14 against ranked opponents and 0-7 against top-10 teams. Still, Drinkwitz is a young coach at just 42, so the upside is there. He's a big personality who does well on the recruiting trail, and he could do a lot of good things with the firepower of the Florida Gators behind him. There are other options out there for Florida. Washington head coach Jedd Fisch is a Florida alumnus, for instance. If Spurrier has narrowed it down to Kiffin and Drinkwitz in his mind, though, you can bet those in power at Florida are likely thinking the same thing.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
