21 April 2024 , 03:24
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The Dallas Cowboys are keen to secure their star quarterback Dak Prescott with a long-term deal, yet there seems to be no sense of urgency from either side at the moment.
The Cowboys have previously expressed their commitment this offseason, adamant about not letting their signal-caller walk away, seeing him as the future of the franchise. But when Prescott's new contract is eventually hammered out, it's expected to catapult him among the NFL's top earners.
While the Cowboys are itching to seal the deal, they're also mindful of their salary cap, needing enough room to accommodate other key players like standout pass-rusher Micah Parsons and dynamic wideout CeeDee Lamb. Discussions over a fresh contract haven't kicked off yet, but Prescott disclosed that he had a chat with owner Jerry Jones about a month back.
Prescott commented: "I'm focused on here, right now where I am. That's how I've always been. Anytime y'all have asked me, it's always been about right now, getting better tomorrow. And I've been in this situation before, so it's OK. I'm fine in any situation at that point betting on myself or playing this year out."
If the Cowboys don't lock down Prescott with a new contract this season, they could be gambling big time. Without an extension, Prescott would be free to hit the open market next offseason, allowing other teams to snap him up without surrendering any draft picks.
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The prospect of a trade for Prescott was looming large ahead of the 2024 season due to his staggering $55 million cap impact this year. Extending his contract could dramatically reduce this figure and free up funds to reward Parsons and Lamb. However, with no discussions underway yet, there are questions about the Cowboys' commitment to retaining Prescott long-term.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has spoken with Dak Prescott about a new contract (Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)And while he confirmed that he's not worried about the lack of talks regarding a new deal, he did hint at the possibility of him departing from the team after this season. His statement was: "I'm not going to say I fear being here or not. I don't fear either situation, to be candid with you. I love this game and love to play and love to better myself as a player and my teammates around me."
"Right now it's with the Dallas Cowboys. It's where I want to be and that's where I am and that's the focus. And after this season we'll see where we're at and if the future holds that ... and then if not, we'll go from there."
Coming off his most fruitful season in 2023, throwing for 36 touchdowns and just nine interceptions, the 30 year old is aiming for a high pay bracket.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.