Dak Prescott's Future with the Cowboys: Confidence and Commitment from All Sides
The Dallas Cowboys have made their stance clear: Dak Prescott is an integral part of their future. The star quarterback, having led the NFL with an impressive 36 touchdown passes in the 2023 season, has firmly etched his name into the team’s plans. Jerry Jones, owner of the Cowboys, summed it up succinctly, “We want Dak Prescott. That's that.”
Prescott's contract intricacies underline the Cowboys’ commitment to him. His deal includes both a no-franchise tag clause and a no-trade clause, indicating the team's long-term intentions. Despite the complex nature of negotiations, Prescott remains undeterred and focused on his primary role - leading the team. “Business is business. I'll leave it where it gets handled. Right now, it's about being my best for this team right now in this moment. OTAs is helping these guys out and just focused on that and I know my business will take care of itself,” he said.
Prescott's approach to the ongoing contract discussions is refreshingly pragmatic. “I don't play for money. Never have cared for it, to be honest with you. Yeah. Would give it up just to play this game. So, I allow that to the business people to say what it's worth what they're supposed to give a quarterback of my play. A person of my play, leader of my play. For me, it's about as I said, control what I can control and handle that part and the rest will take care of itself,” he emphasized.
Jerry Jones’ dedication to finalizing Prescott's contract is relentless, often working in the early hours of the morning. “I work on it at two in the morning sometimes. What your actual question is why don't you have something done and negotiated and put in the drawer? We'd like to see some more leaves fall. We'd like to see some more action,” he mentioned, highlighting the dynamic nature of these negotiations.
The intricacies of salary cap management play a significant role in these discussions. According to Jones, “To be very candid, this is pro football. It has to do with the allocation of your resources, which happens to be cap space.” Despite the inherent challenges, Jones is confident in his understanding of future cap projections. “You're asking me if I worry about things going up. Not worry, but I probably have as good of feel as anybody living on this earth what the cap is going to be three years from now, four years from now, five years from now. I really do,” he asserted.
Prescott shares this confidence in the process. “I'm definitely confident. Obviously, it helps the team. It's important for the (salary cap) numbers. I've heard Jerry say that. That is a process. Both sides understand that. Everything is great. It'll happen,” Prescott said, emphasizing the mutual understanding between him and the team’s management.
In the broader landscape of the NFL, quarterback contracts continue to reach unprecedented heights. For instance, Trevor Lawrence inked a five-year, $275 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Jared Goff secured a four-year, $212 million deal with the Detroit Lions. These figures set a benchmark that inevitably influences the Cowboys’ negotiations with Prescott.
At the heart of this ongoing saga is a mutual respect and determination to see Prescott continue to don the Cowboys jersey for years to come. Jones' unwavering support for Prescott, combined with the quarterback’s steady focus on leading his team, sets a solid foundation for a forthcoming agreement. With Prescott’s performance and dedication, and Jones’ tireless efforts, it seems all but certain that Dak Prescott will remain the cornerstone of the Dallas Cowboys’ future. As Jones put it succinctly, “Who in the world would think that we're not working on it?”