The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly willing to resign quarterback Dak Prescott to a long-term extension before free agency, despite the two sides not openly acknowledging any contract plans.
On Friday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Cowboys are “all in on re-signing Dak Prescott” at some point during the year, but the team has not been open about its intentions to make a deal.
“They just haven’t shown it yet. But I’m told behind the scenes, they made it clear they don’t want him to hit free agency in 2025. They want him to be the quarterback of the future. But their negotiation so far has been described to me as passive,” explained Fowler.
“Sometime this summer, they’re going to have to ramp up the heat a little bit, come with a strong offer, and get the ball going. But they made clear they were going to do that. They’re just slow playing it a little bit,” he added.
Prescott has one year remaining on a four-year contract worth $160 million that he signed in 2021. He is coming off one of his best years in the NFL.
The three-time Pro Bowler threw for a league-leading 36 touchdowns and 4,516 yards, which was the third most in the league while having the second-highest quarterback rating of any player in the NFL at 72.7.
Although Prescott helped guide the Cowboys to a division title and the second overall seed in the National Football Conference, the team lost its opening playoff game to the Green Bay Packers.
Prescott spoke about the upcoming contract negotiations following OTAs last week. He said he was not focused on the money and “never cared for it, to be honest.”
“I’ll leave it where it gets handled. Right now, it’s about being my best for this team right now, in this moment, in OTAs, and helping these guys out. I’m just focused on that, and I know my business will take care of itself. I’ve been in [this situation] before, so I’m experienced and just controlling what I can right now,” he said, per the Dallas Cowboys.
The 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year will likely get a contract similar to those secured by his peers in recent years.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff signed a four-year extension worth $212 million this offseason. Similarly, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is significantly older than Prescott and coming back from a torn Achilles, signed a four-year contract worth up to $180 million with the team.
Prescott is more likely to sign an extension similar to that of Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who re-signed with the team on a five-year contract worth $262.5 million prior to the 2023 season.