The Dallas Cowboys hoped to have Dak Prescott signed to a long-term contract extension prior to their season opener on Sunday, but it does not appear they are going to accomplish that goal. However, the quarterback may not be feeling as much urgency to lock down a new deal as some believe.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Prescott currently makes more money in endorsements — roughly $50 million — than some starting NFL quarterbacks earn. Those endorsement deals are in place for years, and Prescott also has hefty loss of value and insurance policies that protect him against a career-threatening injury. For those reasons, Prescott has not felt any pressure to sign a new deal with the Cowboys unless he is completely satisfied with the terms.
The Cowboys will undoubtedly use the franchise tag on Prescott next offseason if they can’t come to a long-term agreement before then, so the team has some flexibility. As Schefter notes, teams would also have the ability to apply both the franchise tag and transition tag to two different players next year if there is no extension to the collective bargaining agreement before the start of the 2020 season. Dallas has two other key players — wide receiver Amari Cooper and cornerback Byron Jones — who are also scheduled to become free agents.
Now that Ezekiel Elliott has signed a long-term deal, the Cowboys are in a good position heading into the season. While Prescott reportedly turned down a significant amount of money from them already, there has been no indication that he will hold out next offseason even if he does not have a new deal in place.
