Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and quarterback Dak Prescott have each indicated that they would like to come to an agreement that would keep Prescott in Dallas long-term, but time is running out with the 2024 NFL regular season already underway.
Prescott is entering the final season of a four-year $160 million contract that he signed with the team prior to the 2021 season, and the Cowboys’ failure to re-sign the three-time Pro Bowler could result in him signing elsewhere next offseason.
The terms of this contract dictate that Prescott cannot be franchise-tagged by the Cowboys following the 2024 season, meaning he could potentially fetch a contract worth an average annual salary of more than $60 million per season with another team, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Prescott has discussed the ongoing negotiations multiple times and said he is focused on what he can accomplish on the field, noting on Thursday that he also understands “both sides are working” to complete a deal.
“People change their feelings daily. I can’t say I have the same feelings that I had last week,” he said, per Jon Machota.
While Prescott has not indicated whether he would be open to taking slightly less money to allow the Cowboys flexibility with the salary cap, he did explain how winning a Super Bowl in Dallas would differ from winning one with any other franchise.
“Yeah, that’s what motivates me on being here, honestly, to be the quarterback who does it, who wins it. I don’t think winning it any other place would be the same as winning it here. That is a No.1 in wanting to be here, to be honest with you,” he said, per Clarence Hill Jr.
Jones also discussed the possibility that Prescott could accept slightly less to help the front office surround him with talent, saying that NFL teams have a long history of success when given this flexibility.
“I don’t know of anybody that has gone back to back on a contract where you had to go borrow the money to get the first one and still owe a bunch of the money on the first one right before you did the second one. I don’t know. I’d better get clear that, just to be accurate,” he explained, according to DLLS.
Jones made an appearance on 105.3 The Fan on Friday morning but was unwilling to talk about the negotiations, saying that he would not be discussing “business or contract at this particular time,” per Jon Machota.
An agreement between the two sides will become increasingly unlikely as the season continues and the Cowboys’ front office and players shift their attention toward winning games and making the playoffs, giving the coming days more urgency.
With just two days left before the Cowboys officially begin their 2024 regular season, Jones and Prescott must come to terms before it is too late into the year.
Dallas will open the regular season against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at 3:25 p.m. CT, where the team will look to begin the year with a win for the second consecutive season.