Dak Prescott is widely expected to be the Dallas Cowboys quarterback next season, either under a long-term deal or playing under the franchise tag. While speculation intensifies regarding the size of the deal he could land, Prescott is reportedly considering a different type of contract to help himself and the team.
Prescott might reportedly prefer to sign a short-term extension with the Cowboys, giving the team greater cap flexibility in the future, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
The 26-year-old could follow in Kirk Cousins’ footsteps and sign a three-year deal that is fully guaranteed. Prescott could potentially suggest a three-year contract worth $34-plus million per season, which would still make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks.
A short-term extension would allow Prescott to become a free agent as a 29-year-old. In that scenario, the NFL salary cap will likely be even higher and he could push for a far more lucrative deal than he’d receive this offseason.
Dallas is expected to place the exclusive franchise tag on Prescott, which is worth $33 million per season. That’s likely to be the floor in negotiations for Prescott’s average annual salary regardless of whether he signs a long-term or short-term deal.