Monday and Tuesday at The Star brought waves of excitement and relief for Dallas Cowboys fans and the organization alike. The team announced the signing of 2023 All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to a four-year, $136 million extension—securing one of the NFL's premier pass-catchers for the foreseeable future. This significant move ends Lamb's holdout and shifts the focus to another crucial piece of the Cowboys' offensive puzzle: quarterback Dak Prescott.
The Dak Prescott Equation
Prescott, who led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns in 2023, enters the final year of his contract in 2024. Without an extension, the quarterback is poised to hit the open market by March 2025. The urgency is palpable, given that none of the Cowboys' current quarterbacks, including backups Cooper Rush and Trey Lance, are under contract for 2025.
Adding to the complexity of the negotiations are the financial considerations. The Cowboys have $39.6 million in effective cap space to work with for 2025, and a projected $160.1 million in cap space for 2026. For a player of Prescott’s caliber, this needs to be balanced against contracts like those of Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, and Jordan Love, who hold the highest average annual salary in the NFL at $55 million per year.
The Voices Inside the Star
Jerry Jones, Cowboys' owner since 1989, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the upcoming season opener. “We’re continuing to, first of all, put all of our focus on what’s coming up here in the next 10 days, two weeks. That game [Week 1 at the Cleveland Browns] takes priority over anything,” Jones stated. His message echoes the immediate focus but doesn't overlook the longer-term implications of Prescott's contract situation.
While Lamb’s extension has brought temporary clarity, the spotlight remains on Prescott. Lamb himself expressed confidence in an impending deal for the quarterback. “You look at our numbers together, they're at the top of the charts. I have no doubt that they're going to get a deal done. We all know that I want Dak here. Jerry [Jones] wants Dak here, too, so let's just get this under control and kill the speculation and let's go win,” said Lamb.
Negotiations and Financial Realities
Prescott has been involved in negotiation talks but has chosen to focus on the season, leaving the details to his agent, Todd France. “There’ve been conversations back and forth, but for the most part, as y’all know, I let my agent (Todd France) handle that, especially as we get right here into training camp,” Prescott noted, maintaining a professional stance on the issue. “The money and all that will take care of itself as it always has,” he added, signaling trust in the process.
For Jones, the NFL’s salary cap landscape is a stringent one. “You’ve always got to remind everybody that this is a zero-sum game. Any dollar one player gets is a dollar another one doesn’t get,” Jones remarked. He added, “If you can get the most and the best players out there for the least amount of the cap, you’re doing your very best job.” This practical approach underscores the delicate balance required to manage an NFL roster under cap restrictions.
Jones remains candid about the inherent risks involved in high-stakes negotiations. “Sometimes it’s worked out really well. Sometimes taking those risks will bite you,” he admitted. This mixture of confidence and caution typifies Jones' approach to team management, reflecting both his experience and the nuanced challenges of the NFL landscape.
With Lamb secured, attention now firmly rests on Dak Prescott. As the Cowboys prepare for their season opener, the negotiations for Prescott's extension loom large over The Star. The resolution of this situation will be pivotal not only for the team’s immediate success but also for its long-term stability. For now, the Cowboys and their fans wait with bated breath, hoping that the wheels set in motion will lead to a harmonious conclusion for their star quarterback.