The longer the Dallas Cowboys wait, the more Dak Prescott‘s contract value will go up.
As is the case with NFL salary cap economics, the latest elite player at his position to sign a new contract usually resets the market for deals. That means if Prescott waits until after his peers — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love and the Miami Dolphins‘ Tua Tagovailoa — sign deals, he will likely set a new mark for quarterbacks in terms of contract money.
While that thought isn’t so far-fetched, one published by Athlon Sports might be. According to Mike Fisher of Athlon Sports’ Cowboys Country, an NFL source told him that with patience, Prescott will see his contract value reach $70 million annually.
“On the way to Dak seeking a ‘highest paid player ever’ offer, one NFL source tells CowboysCountry.com that with ‘patience,’ Prescott’s value will hit $70 million annually,” Fisher wrote on July 23.
But the Cowboys are in a state of uncertainty, with no deal for Prescott and star wide receiver expected to not appear at Cowboys training camp on July 24 as he looks for a new deal as well, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Why Dak Prescott Is More Likely to Earn $60 Million Annually
The “highest-paid player” distinction isn’t out of the cards. If Prescott waits to sign a new deal with the Cowboys — assuming the two sides work it out — or the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback signs with another team in 2025, he’ll likely become the highest-paid player ever. Prescott, one of the top quarterbacks in the league, is coming off of a career year after finishing as the top runner-up in MVP voting.
However, one has to keep in mind that the highest-paid player on an annual basis is the Cincinnati Bengals‘ Joe Burrow and the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ Trevor Lawrence at $55 million.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini offered what appeared to be a more realistic projection. She wrote that the Packers and Love will likely complete a deal early in training camp that will reset the market for quarterbacks — for the time being.
“However, Love might only hold that title for a few weeks — that’s because the Dallas Cowboys are working hard to get Dak Prescott’s deal done,” Russini wrote on July 24. “Prescott could be the first quarterback to break the $60 million-per-year barrier.”
SI.com’s Josh Sanchez called the potential salary “an eye-popping number, but the numbers show it is deserved.
“Last season, Prescott had one of the best seasons of his career. He threw for 4,516 yards, an NFL-leading 36 touchdowns, and nine interceptions,” Sanchez wrote on July 24. “The effort earned Prescott second-team All-Pro honors and a nod to the third Pro Bowl of his career.
Why Cowboys’ Patience Is Setting Table for Record-Setting Deals
The longer the Cowboys wait on a deal for Prescott, the more of a problem it becomes when it comes to their salary cap. That’s because they’re also dealing with the situation of CeeDee Lamb — who will hold out of training camp without a new deal — and star linebacker Micah Parsons, who is also expected to reset the market at his position with his latest contract.
“Dak Prescott is setting up to become the highest paid QB. WR CeeDee Lamb is holding out to become the league’s highest paid non-QB OLB Micah Parsons will then want to become the next, highest paid non-QB,” writes Spotrac. “The #Cowboys are literally bidding against themselves to retain their core.”
Further complicating matters is that the Cowboys’ negotiations with both Prescott and Lamb have been “quiet” as training camp begins, according to NFL Network’s Jane Slater.
