Dak Prescott’s Future in Dallas Cemented with Historic Contract Extension
Dak Prescott will continue wearing his Dallas Cowboys uniform beyond the 2024 NFL season. The star quarterback and the Cowboys have agreed on a multiyear contract extension, mere hours before their season opener against the Cleveland Browns. This new deal makes Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history, with a four-year contract worth up to $240 million.
Prescott, now 31, is coming off an outstanding season where he was a strong contender for league MVP. He started every regular season game, leading the Cowboys to a 12-5 record. Prescott set career highs with a 69.5% completion rate, 4,516 yards, 36 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions. His performance earned him second-team All-Pro honors and a second-place finish in MVP voting.
Despite Prescott’s stellar season, the Cowboys faced a disappointing playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card round, sparking speculation about his future. With his contract set to expire after the 2024 season and no option to use the franchise tag, negotiations became crucial.
On August 15, Prescott expressed confidence in securing a new deal, emphasizing positive and productive conversations. This extension follows a previous four-year, $160 million deal signed in 2021. Drafted by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Prescott has been a franchise cornerstone, except for injury-induced absences in the 2020 and 2022 seasons.
The path to Prescott’s substantial deal was marked by a strategic wait from Dallas. The $60 million annual average value is consistent with recent quarterback contracts, notably those of Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love, and Joe Burrow, which set a high benchmark. Prescott leveraged his no-trade clause, the inability to be franchise-tagged, and a weak quarterback market in 2025 to secure this historic contract.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had hinted at significant changes if the 2024 season did not go as planned. However, with Prescott’s contract finalized, any adjustments may now focus on coaching staff rather than roster changes. The recent extensions for CeeDee Lamb and Prescott underscore the urgency of these negotiations, prompting the question of why these deals were not completed sooner. Only time will tell if a new contract for coach Mike McCarthy follows next.
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