Cowboys Rumors: Dak Prescott Contract Talks Being Held Up over Length of Deal

The Dallas Cowboys have yet to sign quarterback Dak Prescott to a new contract just days before their 2024 regular-season opener against the Cleveland Browns, and a disagreement on terms is reportedly the biggest reason.

Speaking Tuesday on her Scoop City podcast (beginning at the 8:07 mark), The Athletic's Dianna Russini said: "The holdup at this point from what I understand is about the years the Dallas Cowboys are willing to commit to."

Russini noted that the Cowboys are weighing whether they want to keep Prescott in Dallas "longer than two, three, four years" since Dak has made it clear that he wants a long-term commitment.

As of now, Prescott is set to enter the final year of a four-year, $160 million extension he signed with the Cowboys back in 2021.

The 31-year-old veteran is coming off arguably the best campaign of his eight-year career, as he completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 4,516 yards, a career-high 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions, which were six fewer than the previous season.

By virtue of his strong statistical season, Prescott was named a Pro Bowler for the third time in addition to earning All-Pro second-team honors and finishing second in the NFL MVP voting behind only Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

All of that points toward Prescott challenging for the crown of highest-paid quarterback in the NFL on an annual basis, which is a distinction currently held by Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers and Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars, all of whom make $55 million per year.

Prescott has a chance to reach the $60 million mark, and he likely will either by re-signing with the Cowboys or hitting free agency and signing elsewhere during the offseason.

There is no denying the fact that Prescott has put up numbers and won plenty of games during the regular season, having posted a 73-41 record as a starter, along with leading Dallas to the playoffs five times in eight seasons.

However, Prescott is just 2-5 in his playoff career, and the Cowboys have never advanced past the NFC Divisional Round during his tenure.

That included last season's disappointment when the Cowboys were beaten decisively at home by the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card Round despite being the No. 2 seed.

While it would be understandable for the Cowboys' decision-makers to wonder if Prescott is capable of getting them over the hump, they also have to consider the idea that there won't be a better quarterback option available to them any time soon, which is significant given that they need someone who can get the ball to superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who just signed a four-year, $136 million extension.

Quarterbacks the caliber of Prescott almost never hit the free-agent market, and the Cowboys aren't going to be bad enough to land a top quarterback in the draft.

That would seem to suggest that Prescott has most of the advantage in contract negotiations since he knows someone is going to give him the deal he desires even if the Cowboys refuse to do so.