The Cowboys‘ staredown with quarterback Dak Prescott was one of many dominant storylines of this uncommon NFL offseason, with the mega-deal falling aside for what sources stated was an uncommon motive, and with the ramifications possible looming in Dallas for years.
Conversations with normal managers, brokers and workforce contract negotiators revealed a consensus about each the magnitude of the Cowboys’ mistake with this negotiation — a number of sources independently instructed it should price proprietor Jerry Jones roughly $40M — and normal settlement about the way it will affect the workforce in years to return. The edges did come comparatively near finishing a long-term deal by the July deadline by which to increase the contract of a participant on a franchise tag, however Prescott finally opted to play out 2020 on that tag in a transfer that’s being heralded all through the business as one that may reap super monetary advantages for him in 2021 and past.
The Cowboys have been insistent on a five-year wage construction for the quarterback, who had his most efficient season in 2019, is surrounded by a powerful supporting solid and is drawing some preseason hype as a possible MVP candidate this season. Jones has lengthy sought to safe his high gamers to the longest time period attainable, and whereas Prescott’s illustration was intent on 4 years for a lot of the offseason, issues modified close to the July deadline, in accordance with the sources. At the moment Prescott would have accepted a five-year deal, value about $35M a yr, however provided that it included a provision that he couldn’t be franchise tagged on the conclusion of the deal. Jones wouldn’t comply with that language, sources stated, and the deal fell via.
Since then Deshaun Watson secured a brand new contract extension with the Texans value almost $40M a season, and Patrick Mahomes, usually seen as one of the best participant within the sport, is locked in at $45M a yr for the subsequent 12 years. Barring catastrophic harm, Prescott’s market worth for 2021 appears fairly clear within the estimation of those GMs, brokers and cap gurus: between $42M-$43M a season. The Cowboys can have no selection however to franchise tag Prescott, incomes $31.4M this season, once more in 2021 to safe his rights, which might lock in a $38M wage. That alone is sort of $70M for 2 years — with no workforce management past 2021 — in comparison with Mahomes incomes $63M within the first three years of his new deal, with the Chiefs nonetheless controlling his rights into the subsequent decade.
“Regardless of the way you slice it, Jerry made a $40 million mistake,” stated one distinguished agent who has negotiated high quarterback contracts however will not be concerned in Prescott’s deal. “Simply do the mathematics. It is fairly easy. Prescott has them over a barrel.”
“Based mostly off every part I do know of that state of affairs, the Cowboys did themselves no favors,” one GM supplied. “Even when the cap goes up (anticipated maybe by 2022 relying on COVID-19), $8 million a yr is a giant deal. That is like costing your self a few starters or high backups at less-expensive positions. Should you suppose you are competing for a Super Bowl, that is a giant deal.”
“This one appeared to get private,” one other longtime NFL team exec stated. “It ought to have been carried out earlier than Watson and (Lamar) Jackson, whether or not it is 4 years or 5 years. And what occurs if Prescott goes out and throws 40 TDs? The Cowboys have been too cussed for their very own good.”
“I do not know the way Jerry was studying the quarterback market, however they learn all of it improper,” one wage negotiator stated.
In actuality, the chance of Prescott ever even reaching a degree the place a future franchise tag would matter in a five-year deal appeared distant to everybody I spoke to, with the altering NFL financial panorama and his efficiency organising one other extension by 2023 given the way in which QB contract dynamics usually work. And now it stands to price the Cowboys dearly.
As proprietor Stephen Jones stated of Prescott on his radio present on Friday, “He is guess on himself, and guess correctly.”
