Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dak Prescott would be beyond foolish to sign the Dallas Cowboys’ reported offer of $33 million annually to remain their starting quarterback. Get more, man!
Dak Prescott shouldn’t sign the Dallas Cowboys’ reported offer.
Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reported on Friday “the Cowboys offered Prescott an average salary of $33 million with a guaranteed contract of $105 million.” Prescott has been a godsend to the Cowboys, taking over for an injured Tony Romo in 2016 and leading America’s Team to two NFC East titles in the last four years.
However, Dallas and the former fourth-round quarterback out of Mississippi State have yet to agree to terms on a new contract. Prescott played for pennies on the dollar on his rookie deal the last four years, a deal expiring in the coming days. With the CBA expected to be ratified at some point this offseason, the reported number is well below Prescott’s market value.
If he were to sign for that average salary, it would be less than what Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams makes on average at $33.5 million. Even though Goff has made Pro Bowls, won division titles and made it to the Super Bowl, Prescott is a better quarterback at this cross-section of their respective careers than the former No. 1 overall pick out of Cal in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Prescott should not sign any long-term deal for less than an average salary of $35 million. Though he is a prime candidate to be tagged by the Cowboys this offseason, all that’ll is drive up the price for what he’ll command next year in free agency. While Prescott isn’t a top-10 quarterback in the league, he’s about to be paid like a top-five signal-caller.
It’s a tough spot for Dallas because the Cowboys do like Prescott and they accept he’s due for a massive bump in pay. However, he might only be the second-best quarterback in his own division after Carson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants to win one more Super Bowl before his time is up. The question is if Prescott is the quarterback who can win big.