Dak Prescott is the Dallas Cowboys franchise quarterback.
After playing through a rookie contract and getting franchise tagged in 2020, his payday is here.
Full terms on the Dak Prescott contract: 4 years, $160M, up to $164M. He gets a no-trade clause and no tag provision. The guarantee is $126M. Massive.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2021
Did the Cowboys overpay Dak Prescott?
The answer is most definitely yes.
What The Cowboys Are Paying For
Our 2021-22 starting QB Dak Prescott’s 2020-21 highlights. #4Dak pic.twitter.com/HstwrmLiKG
— 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙎𝙞𝙭𝘿𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙨✭ #4Dak (@PickSixDiggs) March 10, 2021
Dak Prescott has played 4 1/3 seasons.
(2020 was the 1/3 season because of his injury.)
His record in the regular season was 42-27.
Prescott’s completion rate is 66% over his career.
He has thrown for 17,634 yards including 106 touchdowns and 40 interceptions.
Prescott also rushed for 24 touchdowns.
He was named to two Pro Bowls, in 2016 an 2018.
His playoff record is 1-2 with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Arguably these are not $160 million statistics.
What Dak Gets
Dak’s guaranteed money on this contract is mind boggling.
$126 million of the $160 million is guaranteed.
The Cowboys either really believe Dak can deliver, or they put themselves in a negotiating foxhole with the whole franchise tag scenario last season.
Dak turns 28 in July so this contract carries him until he is 32, which is still very young in NFL quarterback years (especially in the age of Tom Brady).
Depending on how things turn out, this massive contract could just be a stepping stone to a future deal for him in his early 30s.
Dak is the clear winner of this deal; the Cowboys can smile and show their appreciation to him all day long, but they were outmaneuvered on this one.
Patrick Mahomes‘ Contract
Of course, everyone compares Dak’s deal to Patrick Mahomes 10 year deal worth $450 million.
The annual payout sounds similar so people may think they are similar, but they are not.
One of the biggest differences is that Mahomes’ guaranteed money is $141 million for the 10 year deal; Dak is getting $126 million guaranteed for his 4 year deal.
Dak Prescott signed an NBA contract.
Patrick Mahomes signed an MLB deal.There’s really no comparing the two…
— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 11, 2021
Roger Staubach Supports The Deal
There is a lot of pride in the Cowboys organization.
Jerry Jones is supposedly a shrewd businessman.
For his part, legendary Cowboys QB Roger Staubach supports Dak and the deal.
“I think he’s really a good football player and he is — now, I saw in the paper, the structure, of —he’s sure getting a lot of money, but it’s structure such, I guess, where it doesn’t go against the salary cap or — but the salary cap really is a factor in today’s teams, and it’s still a lot of money…I really believe that they believe that Dak Prescott is their QB, and I do, too. I would love to see him stay healthy and have a great year next year.”
Big Contracts Take Away Resources
Dak and Zeke both have big contracts.
No matter how the numbers are massaged to minimize the impact on the salary cap, it still results in less money available for other players who are also necessary to win championships.
The less glamorous positions like offensive and defensive linemen need to be filled with great players for a team to contend.
Like it or not, there is less money available for the Cowboys to pay those key positions who help Dak and Zeke succeed.
It is still a team sport so paying one player a massive amount does affect the resources available for others.
Jerry Jones will give himself immeasurable credit for this contract if Dak Prescott delivers a championship.
There are no guarantees Dak can do that despite his huge payday.
NEXT: Should The Cowboys Try To Trade Dak Prescott For Russell Wilson?