Dak New Cowboys ‘Highest-Paid Ever’ Contract Impacted by Packers & Playoffs?

ARLINGTON – The Dallas Cowboys have long since hinted that we might all “wake up one morning” to find that a

new contract extension has been reached with quarterback Dak Prescott. However, that “one morning” isn’t going to

happen on Monday, after this Sunday’s NFL playoff opener here at AT&T Stadium against Green Bay. Rather, it

won’t have to come until early March, at the beginning of the new NFL business year, at which point Dak’s

unsupportable $59 million cap hit needs to be worked out. What might occur on Monday morning, however, after

this game’s outcome? A disagreement over Prescott’s worth, both materially and otherwise.

The Cowboys have essentially made their bed in terms of Prescott being this team’s centerpiece for the long term, in

addition to the Jones family’s faith in Dak as a player and leader. The already significant commitment will almost

certainly lead to another significant commitment for cap reasons in order to retain the player and spread out his

money cap-wise so other roster business, such as new deals for Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb, can be done.

As of right now, Prescott is earning “$40 million APY,” but he is expected to reach “$50 or $60 million APY” in the

near future, perhaps making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. It makes sense that there will be discussion

about “whether he is worth it”—is Prescott truly a “top QB”? How does he justify a salary of fifty or sixty million

dollars? Would it not make more sense for him to take a team-friendly discount? What has he done to solidify his

next major move?

Critics will be more inclined to accept the Cowboys’ commitment if Dak and the team win today despite being 7-point

underdogs, if they repeat the feat the next week, and if they… You know, but.

According to team owner Jerry Jones, Dak’s status as an MVP candidate and potential Super Bowl contender

justifies the expense, whatever the market price may be.

“I just want him to be a part of having the team to be a Super Bowl quarterback,” Jones stated. He’s not our

quarterback, and I haven’t considered that possibility. Like everyone else, I want him to win the NFL’s Most Valuable

Player award.

We want to win the Super Bowl, and if he plays quarterback at that caliber, we have a better chance of doing so.”