By Brandon Simmons
The contract saga between Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys has finally come to an end. Dallas signed the QB to a 4 year 160 million dollar contract, with a record breaking, $126 million in guaranteed money. It has a been a long, dramatic road for both sides.
Prescott and the Cowboys have been battling to get this deal for a couple of years now. The QB, who was drafted in the 4th round of the 2016 draft, could not reach a deal heading into 2019, the final year of his rookie deal. Negotiations continued well into the offseason as reports leaked of Prescott’s demand for a $40 million per year. The Cowboys placed him under the franchise tag for 2020, but his season ended abruptly when he suffered an ankle injury in Week 5. Many people questioned if he would return to the team or if he would still have his contract demands.
Time went on but contract talks were under the radar. As the new offseason approached, Prescott’s name showed up on a few free agent lists as well as a huge trade rumor, which involved sending him to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for QB Russell Wilson. That rumor remained seemed to have had some sizzle on it, until Monday’s signing, obviously.
The Cowboys made a pricey choice but it is justified. Since coming into the league in 2016, Dak quickly took over for the Dallas Cowboys as their franchise QB. When Tony Romo went down, Prescott stepped in and lead the team a playoff berth. A couple of seasons later, he brought the Cowboys back to the postseason, earning his first playoff victory in the Wild Card game against the Seahawks. His numbers have always remained near the top of the league as well. In 2019, he finished with a career high 4,902 passing yards on the season which included 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Last season he averaged a whopping 371 yards per game, before his injury, which included a 502 yard passing performance in a loss against the Cleveland Browns. His absence was reflected in the Cowboys’ season as they slid to 6-10.
A lot should be said about how Dak and his team held their own to get the money they wanted. For them to stand firm with the owner of one of sports’ biggest franchises and walk away with the deal they asked for is amazing, even through all the rumors and public backlash from those who did not think he deserved it. In addition to the money, they were able to work in a no-trade clause for him. Dak and his agent could have sought out their ideal contract with other teams, or they could have folded and took a lesser deal. Not to say that the deal was going to be egregiously low, but they decided to cash in on his value now, something that the Cowboys have done with other players such as linebacker Jalen Smith, wide receiver Amari Cooper and running back Ezekiel Elliot. This is even more admirable when you think about how the market for QB’s suddenly got open. Even the 2 signal callers who were drafted number 1 and 2 in Prescott’s draft class – Jared Goff and Carson Wentz – got moved around from the teams that drafted them. The bottom line is Dak Prescott gives the Cowboys the best chance winning right now, with the level of talent they have, which Is the main reason they made this investment. It’s hard to ignore the price tag, which will affect how they move with adding pieces, but as those big contracts begin to near their expiration, they can be flipped into draft picks or cap room to bring in quality free agents. Right now, the Cowboys invested in their main free agent and will be looking for an immediate ROI.