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Issue 17 Out Now

Dak Prescott Agrees to Groundbreaking Deal with the Dallas Cowboys.


Tom Pennington / Getty Images


There comes a time when individuals must decide how they value themselves and if they’re willing to step out to get it — in Dak Prescott’s case, taking a chance on himself has paid off in the best scenario. The Dallas Cowboys’ QB has signed a four-year, 160 million dollar deal to lead the historic franchise for years to come. The agreement ends a long-fought standoff between the young franchise player and the Cowboys’ administration.


Prescott, a fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, will average $40 million per year, putting him second behind Patrick Mahomes, who is $45 million per year. In the first four years of his career, he was averaging barely three-fourths of a million. Last year, he signed a franchise tag worth $37.69 million offered by Dallas.

Here are the details of this monstrous deal, according to spotrac:

  • $126 million is guaranteed over the first three years of the contract ($95 million guaranteed at signing). He stands to make $75 million in the 2021 season.

  • Prescott’s signing bonus will amount to $66 million (the highest in NFL history).

  • He has secured a no-trade and no-tag clause in the contract.

The conclusion of the much talk about negotiation is a win-win for both parties involved. Prescott gets the upfront financial security with the potential of another long-term deal when he becomes a free agent after the 2024 season (he will be 31 years old). Meanwhile, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his staff can have their cake and eat it too since this is a team-friendly deal. The Cowboys will only take a $22.2 million cap hit in 2021 from Prescott’s contract, allowing them to avoid dismantling its’ roster for cap space.


Numerous NFL insiders and fans alike were wondering if this deal would ever come to light. In 2020, the Prescott team shocked the Cowboys after reportedly declining a contract worth over $100 million ($30-$35 million per year). The main dispute was over the length of the contract. The Cowboys wanted a five-year deal (most likely to help with cap space), whereas Dak requested a four-year deal (make more early on and become a free agent in his prime). Unable to agree to terms, the Cowboys moved to franchise tag the two-time Pro Bowler in which Prescott signed.


Many thought Prescott to be insane and arrogant for demanding such a high salary. Some saw him as an above-average QB blessed with a top-five offensive line and one of the game’s top running backs in Ezekiel Elliott. That mindset would change during Week 5 of the 2020 NFL season when Prescott suffered a season-ending ankle injury against the Giants. At the time, he was leading the lead in passing yards and a potential MVP candidate. The loss of consistent gameplay and leadership plagued the Cowboys as they would finish with a record of 6–10, 3rd in NFC East standings.


While the injury was gruesome and shortened Prescott’s potentially best season, it would be the bargaining chip that he needed. It put all the pressure on the three-time super bowl winning owner to make the deal work for both sides. Sports reporters and personalities criticized Jones for not making a deal with Prescott sooner to avoid franchising him a second time. It also doesn’t help that both Ezekiel Elliot (who had a below-average 2020 season) and WR Arami Cooper were given long-term deals that put both towards the highest paid in their position.

Jerry Jones, along with Vice President and son, Stephen Jones, and Prescott, had an in-person press conference to discuss the details within the contract.


“I’m overwhelmed with so many emotions right now,” Prescott said to reporters at The Star. “This is the right fit. I grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan. I never dreamed of not being a Cowboy. I’m excited to be here and never leave. This is my home. I’m a Cowboy. This is only the beginning.”


Prescott walked in with no crutches or a boot, giving hope to Dallas Cowboy fans that he will be ready to lead the Cowboys to victory in Week 1 of the 2021 season.



Resources


Brown, Larry. “Dak Prescott turned down over $100 million guaranteed by Cowboys.” Larry Brown Sports, 14, July 2020. https://larrybrownsports.com/football/dak-prescott-offered-100-million-guaranteed-cowboys/559121

Iyer Vinnie. “Dak Prescott contract details: Big guaranteed money is win-win for Cowboys and QB.” SPORTINGNEWS, 9, March 2021. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/dak-prescott-contract-details-guaranteed-money/1rpz8uhx7jvw41iyokv4q4t5rz.

Stevenson, Stefan. ‘This is the right fit.’ Dak Prescott signs multi-year contract with Dallas Cowboys.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10, March 2021. https://news.yahoo.com/live-updates-dak-prescott-signs-194122735.html





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