It sure doesn’t look like Dak Prescott is going to get the record-breaking contract extension he was hoping for from the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.
Owner Jerry Jones and Co. seem comfortable with the reigning NFL MVP runner-up playing out the final year of his contract and hitting free agency next offseason. It’s a risky proposition for Dallas in that the team can’t place the franchise tag on the star signal caller.
With that as a backdrop, a recent report indicates that the ‘Boys are a “sleeper” team to select a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft in less than two weeks.
There is a lot to look at when it comes to Prescott and his evolving relationship with the Cowboys. The 31-year-old signal caller is set to count a whopping $55.46 million against next season’s salary cap.
Dallas was unable to come to terms on an extension with Prescott ahead of NFL free agency. This put them out in the cold when it came to adding top-tier talent after the Cowboys’ humiliating playoff exit against the Green Bay Packers in January.
If Dallas believed Prescott was the long-term answer under center, it would have done everything possible to extend him ahead of March. In doing, so, the Cowboys would’ve been able to build up more talent around him. Could this lead to a divorce after the 2024 NFL season? One big name seems to think it’s a real possibility.
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Mike Tannenbaum urges Dallas Cowboys to select Dak Prescott’s replacement in NFL Draft
The former New York Jets general manager appeared on ESPN’s “Get Up” show on Friday and provided a rather interesting take. He looked at what the cap number would be for a first-round pick at quarterback under his rookie deal in comparison to what Prescott would earn on a long-term deal. Check it out.
This really isn’t too far-fetched.
We’ve seen how the San Francisco 49ers have been able to build their roster with Brock Purdy playing under his rookie deal.
The likes of Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts have also led their teams to the Super Bowl while playing under rookie deals earlier in their careers.
For Dallas, there is a real concern here. The team must think long and hard about extending wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons. Both will likely reset the market at their positions given how they’ve performed throughout their careers.
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Dallas is slated to pick 24th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. It is not in position to land one of the top-four quarterbacks in the annual event baring a major trade up the draft board. This leaves Michael Penix Jr. as the most-likely option should owner Jerry Jones and Co. go in this direction.