Jerry Jones fuels Dak Prescott speculation with recent comments

It's fair to wonder if the Dallas Cowboys are starting to think about life without quarterback Dak Prescott.

Prescott is entering the final year of a four-year, $160M contract. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn't commit to him when asked about extending the second-team All-Pro on Tuesday.

"Dak has done nothing to change my mind about any promise for the future," he said, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I think I've said that we will go as far as Dak takes us in the playoffs. Remember that. We will go as far as Dak takes us. And that is how far we went. That doesn't change a thing. We'll go as far as Dak takes us."

In eight seasons with Dallas, the former fourth-round pick is 73-41 and has thrown 202 TDs, the second most in franchise history behind Tony Romo (248). However, like Romo, he's struggled to deliver in the postseason. Per CBS Sports, he's 2-5 in the playoffs, tied with Alex Smith and Billy Kilmer for the worst record in postseason history (min. five starts). 

The 81-year-old owner might be growing impatient and doubting Prescott's ability to end the franchise's 28-year championship drought.
Despite the playoff flops, extending Prescott — whose 2024 cap number is $59.45M — benefits the Cowboys, creating more financial breathing room. Per Over The Cap, they will save $26.23M if they give him a new deal. Dallas must create more cap space to sign wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons to long-term contracts. OTC estimates the Cowboys are $19.74M over the cap.

Still, if Jones truly believes Prescott is the answer and will win a Super Bowl, why wouldn't he fully commit to him? The QB has a no-trade and no-tag clause. If both parties can't agree to an extension, he becomes a free agent in 2025 and could leave Dallas.

Some are starting to see that as a real possibility, and Jones' comments didn't do much to put the speculation to rest.