Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is entering a contract year for the 2024-25 campaign. In many ways, it’s an all-in type of year not only for Prescott but many key fixtures on the Cowboys. The expectations in Dallas are Super Bowl or bust, and the pressure is on for Prescott to finally deliver some long-awaited postseason success.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Prescott and the Cowboys have a mutual understanding of his current contract status. There is no indication a new deal will soon be on the horizon for Prescott, which clears the way for him to potentially test the free agency waters next offseason.
One of the key questions for Prescott to answer next season is his postseason play. With a 2-5 record featuring most recently two key turnovers against the Green Bay Packers on wildcard weekend, can Prescott silence the naysayers? Immense pressure is on the plate of Prescott to deliver. This current window for the Cowboys led by Prescott remains open, but can the Cowboys’ current QB1 be the one to finally deliver.
There’s no denying Prescott is a top-10 level quarterback. After throwing for 36 touchdowns to only nine interceptions, including a career-best 105.9 quarterback rating, Prescott’s camp would be wise to approach Dallas about a potential extension. On the other side, Dallas is wise to wait this one out to see how Prescott handles the 2024-25 season.
Here’s how the current structure of quarterback contracts are going entering into the new media rights deal and exploding salary cap: a lot of guaranteed money and huge annual value. Prescott figures to cash in next offseason, and the big question remains whether Dallas will be the ones to pay up.
Prescott currently makes $40 million annually, but the elite-tier of quarterbacks are now inking deals exceeding $50 million per year. Thus far, four signal-callers have contracts reaching $50 million: Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts. Patrick Mahomes figures to join this list soon enough as he ultimately restructures himself for another record-setting deal. Is Prescott presently in this tier of quarterbacks? It’s a real question the Cowboys must ask themselves before forking over likely $250-plus million total.
The best scenario for both sides here might be a compromise in the middle. Would Prescott be comfortable not in the $50 million annually tier, but how about $45 million or so? Would Dallas approach Prescott about a payout from his current salary for him to stay long-term, especially with record-setting deals looming for CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons?
These are questions that will loom all season for Dallas and Prescott, but the answer will play itself out on the field in real time.
