In a move that brought considerable excitement and relief to Dallas Cowboys fans and the organization, the team has signed 2023 All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to a four-year, $136 million extension. This pivotal decision ends Lamb's holdout, ensuring that one of the NFL's elite pass-catchers will remain a cornerstone of the Cowboys' offense for years to come.
Focus Shifts to Dak Prescott
With Lamb's contract situation resolved, the attention now turns to quarterback Dak Prescott, a critical piece of the Cowboys' offensive puzzle. Entering the final year of his contract in 2024, Prescott's future with the Cowboys is the next major item on the agenda. Having led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns in 2023, Prescott’s performance on the field underscores his value to the team.
The complexities of Prescott's contract are notable. His current deal includes a no-franchise tag and a no-trade clause, adding layers of intricacy to the negotiations. If an extension isn't reached, Prescott is set to hit the open market by March 2025. Compounding the urgency, none of the Cowboys' current quarterbacks—including Cooper Rush and Trey Lance—are under contract for 2025.
Financial Factors
The financial considerations looming over Prescott's contract situation are significant. Elite quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, and Jordan Love command contracts with the highest average annual salary in the NFL, around $55 million per year. With the Cowboys possessing $39.6 million in effective cap space in 2025 and a projected $160.1 million in cap space in 2026, managing such a high-value extension for Prescott involves balancing immediate needs with long-term strategy.
"You’ve always got to remind everybody that this is a zero-sum game," noted Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones. "Any dollar one player gets is a dollar another one doesn’t get."
Strategic Approaches
In the context of the ongoing negotiations, both the team and Prescott have expressed an intention to stay focused on the upcoming season. "We’re continuing to, first of all, put all of our focus on what’s coming up here in the next 10 days, two weeks. That game [Week 1 at the Cleveland Browns] takes priority over anything," said Jones, emphasizing the importance of immediate performance over contract distractions.
Prescott, maintaining a professional demeanor, echoed similar sentiments. “There’ve been conversations back and forth, but for the most part, as y’all know, I let my agent (Todd France) handle that, especially as we get right here into training camp,” he explained. "The money and all that will take care of itself as it always has."
Voices from Within
The internal confidence within the Cowboys' camp is palpable. Lamb, now secure in his extension, expressed optimism regarding Prescott's situation. “You look at our numbers together, they're at the top of the charts. I have no doubt that they're going to get a deal done. We all know that I want Dak here. Jerry [Jones] wants Dak here, too, so let's just get this under control and kill the speculation and let's go win,” Lamb stated emphatically.
Jones, who has been at the helm of the Cowboys since purchasing the team in 1989, understands the intricacies and inherent risks of managing an NFL roster under salary cap restrictions. “If you can get the most and the best players out there for the least amount of the cap, you’re doing your very best job," he asserted. "Sometimes it’s worked out really well. Sometimes taking those risks will bite you.”
As the intricate dance of contract negotiations unfolds, the Cowboys continue to prepare for the season ahead with Prescott at the helm. The resolution of his contract talks will undoubtedly shape the future of the franchise, but for now, the focus remains firmly on the present and the quest for victory in the approaching opener against the Cleveland Browns.