This offseason, the Dallas Cowboys will need to respond to a significant query about their quarterback. No, they aren’t discussing whether or not to let go of Dak Prescott, who made his third Pro Bowl this season and finished second in the NFL MVP vote.
Prescott is still in his prime at thirty years of age. Fans have recently witnessed quarterbacks in their late 30s and even early 40s, like Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady, perform admirably. Prescott should naturally go in the same direction, if he stays healthy.
2024 is the last year of the four-year $160 million Prescott signed with the Cowboys ahead of the 2021 season. Due to several restructures and void years added to the deal, Prescott will carry a $59.5 million cap hit in 2024 and a $61.9 million dead cap hit if he were to be released.
Even the void year in 2025 will have a $36.4 million cap hit count against the Cowboys’ salary cap. In other words, it would behoove Jerry Jones to get something worked out with Prescott sooner rather than later.
A few years ago, Patrick Mahomes inked one of the biggest quarterback contracts in NFL history, a 10-year, $450 million pact. And it still is, because Joe Burrow signed a $275 million, five-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Even though Mahomes’ total is higher, his $55 million annual salary is the highest in NFL history.
As a result, Jones may need to reset the quarterback market when he considers what he can offer Prescott, who is in the peak of his career and recently had his greatest season to date.
And according to one NFL insider, that is what will occur.
NFL Insider Projects Dak Prescott Will Receive $60 Million Annually From the Dallas Cowboys
“This to me is one of the more intriguing quarterback scenarios to hit the offseason for so many reasons.
“One, Dak Prescott probably had the best season of his career. But you also have Dallas who still has to pay CeeDee Lamb. They still have to pay Micah Parsons. And, obviously, they are going to have to pay Dak Prescott.
“Now I have been on the record. I believe Dak Prescott is going to command somewhere along the lines of $60 million per year, potentially making him the highest paid quarterback in the NFL and potentially resetting his quarterback market.”
As mentioned, the current highest-paid quarterback in the NFL is Burrow who makes $55 million per year. To make Prescott the highest paid quarterback in the league, Jones and the Cowboys would not have to go as high as $60 million, but Jones is known to spend big bucks when he wants to.
A $60 million per year salary would certainly set a new standard of quarterback play, one that could change contract negotiations for many young players.
