NFL players are typically not viewed as having much leverage when a team uses the franchise tag on them, but former New York Jets executive Mike Tannenbaum says that is not at all the case with Dak Prescott.
Prescott is expected to sign his franchise tender with the Dallas Cowboys no later than Monday. That will place the star quarterback under contract with the team in 2020 whether it is by way of the franchise tag or a long-term extension. According to Tannenbaum, it also gives Prescott “enormous leverage” because of the money he stands to make this season and in 2021 if he plays under the tag one or both years.
I’ve thought all along that a long term deal, if it gets done at all, will be within a day or two of the July 15th deadline. @dak has enormous leverage as he’s locked in at $31,400,000 and would make around $38mm next year if he’s Franchised in ‘21. https://t.co/lv3AKGykKv
— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum) June 21, 2020
Kirk Cousins made roughly $44 million by playing under the franchise tag in 2016 and 2017. While playing under the tag takes some long-term security away from a player, Cousins is the perfect example of how the situation doesn’t always favor the team. The Washington Redskins paid Cousins a massive amount of money just to watch him walk in free agency, where he signed a mammoth, fully guaranteed contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
Given their history, it seems unlikely that the Cowboys will let it get to that point. They don’t want Prescott counting more than $31 million against their salary cap this season and $38 million in 2021, so they have plenty of incentive to sign him to a long-term deal before July 15. There has reportedly been one big issue in negotiations, but Prescott would be wise to stick to his guns.
