Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes are both waiting for new deals, and they are related in many ways.
The biggest lever for a new deal between the Dallas Cowboys and their star quarterback Dak Prescott?
Patrick Mahomes.
While Prescott and the Cowboys volley offers on a long-term deal with a July 15 deadline looming, the former could be waiting on an extension for Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. According to Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star, the Chiefs have started negotiations with Mahomes’ representation on an extension expected to dwarf any previous NFL deal.
Why Dak Prescott’s and Patrick Mahomes’ contracts are linked
For Prescott, the date which Mahomes signs is critical. If it comes prior to July 15 — the date any player on the franchise tag must sign long-term or play 2020 on the tag — Mahomes sets the market and gives Prescott ample negotiating room.
Consider this: Russell Wilson is currently the highest-paid player in football at $35 million per year. Jared Goff is the standard-bearer for most guaranteed money at $110 million.
If Mahomes signs for $40 million per year and $150 million guaranteed, Prescott’s reps now have a much higher ceiling. They can come in and point to Mahomes’ deal along with the skyrocketing cap under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and rightfully argue Wilson’s deal as being antiquated.
For Prescott and his agent, the next six weeks are a waiting game. If Mahomes doesn’t sign, the Cowboys will use Wilson’s deal as the top-line number and work from there. If the 2018 NFL MVP and current Super Bowl champ does indeed make history during that span, Dallas owner and general manager Jerry Jones is going to lose his shirt in this deal.
Many fans have long pointed out Prescott isn’t worth more than $35 million annually. In a vacuum, maybe there’s a valid argument to be made. Of course, the NFL isn’t a vacuum, and guys get paid based on their market value.
In four years, the former Mississippi State star has won twi NFC East titles and a single playoff game. He’s also reached two Pro Bowls. Prescott also threw for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, both career-highs, and he’s 26 years old.
Prescott is getting paid. In today’s NFL, any young quarterback with those numbers is going to cash in, especially when another signal-caller could destroy any semblance of normalcy with his new deal in the preceding days.