Dallas Cowboys Forced to Review Dak Prescott’s Unsustainable Contract… And Other Stars Too
The Dallas Cowboys are a team constantly under the microscope, both due to their storied history and their high expectations year in and year out. With success in the NFL often hinging on a combination of roster depth, coaching, and financial flexibility, no one area can be ignored. And right now, for America’s Team, it’s their cap space that is raising questions, especially when it comes to the value of their star quarterback, Dak Prescott.
In this article, we explore how the Cowboys are now being forced to revisit Prescott’s contract and, by extension, the contracts of other marquee players, as the team faces an increasingly complex salary cap situation. With challenges looming, the Cowboys’ ability to manage their finances effectively may dictate their competitive future in the coming years.
Dak Prescott’s Contract: A Double-Edged Sword
Dak Prescott’s contract, signed in 2021, was a landmark deal that made him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL at the time. The Cowboys inked Prescott to a four-year, $160 million extension, including $126 million in guarantees, with a base salary of $40 million annually. On the surface, Prescott’s contract was seen as a bold move to lock in the team’s leader for the future. Prescott, who had shown promise since taking over as starting quarterback in 2016, had led the team to multiple playoff appearances and had demonstrated a mix of leadership and production.
However, despite Prescott’s talent and his importance to the franchise, his contract is proving to be unsustainable in the current financial landscape of the NFL. The salary cap, which is essentially the financial constraint that each NFL team must operate within, is increasing, but the Cowboys’ ability to manage Prescott’s substantial cap hit is causing a ripple effect across the team’s roster.
For the 2024 season, Prescott’s cap hit is scheduled to be $49 million, a number that could severely limit the team’s ability to build around him. The NFL’s salary cap is a strict limit on how much money a team can allocate to player salaries in a given year, and the Cowboys’ inability to adjust Prescott’s deal could lead to difficult decisions down the road. While it’s clear that Prescott’s contributions on the field have been integral to the Cowboys’ success, his financial impact could soon outweigh his performance if not addressed.
Why the Cowboys Must Revisit Prescott’s Deal
The primary reason the Cowboys must revisit Prescott’s contract is the way it impacts the team’s roster flexibility. In order to remain competitive in the NFL, teams need to manage their salary cap effectively. This involves balancing high-dollar contracts for superstars like Prescott with cost-effective deals for supporting players. The Cowboys’ current roster construction, however, leaves them with limited financial maneuverability due to Prescott’s massive cap hit.
In 2024, Prescott’s contract is expected to account for nearly 20% of the team’s total salary cap, which will leave little room for Dallas to make the moves necessary to improve in areas of need. The Cowboys are already dealing with significant financial commitments to other players, including running back Ezekiel Elliott (who was cut in 2023 but still carries dead money from his prior contract), wide receiver Amari Cooper (who was traded in 2022), and a slew of high-profile defensive players. As a result, the Cowboys may be forced to make difficult choices regarding who to retain, as they would not have the cap space to pay a full roster of complementary players to surround Prescott.
Moreover, Prescott’s current contract doesn’t offer much flexibility for restructuring. The deal was designed to heavily favor Prescott in terms of guaranteed money, meaning there is little room for the Cowboys to renegotiate the deal without incurring significant dead cap space, which would only worsen their financial situation. The inability to alter Prescott’s deal effectively is quickly becoming a headache for the Cowboys’ front office, and the team’s financial future is becoming increasingly clouded.
If the Cowboys want to remain competitive, they may have to reconsider how they allocate their resources, potentially reworking Prescott’s deal to create more cap space or even exploring the possibility of a trade. While this would undoubtedly be a difficult decision, one that would require careful consideration, the current structure of Prescott’s contract is unsustainable in the long term.
The Domino Effect on Other Stars
The challenge with Prescott’s contract is that it’s not just about his deal in isolation. The Cowboys have several other key players whose contracts are similarly problematic. While none are quite as large as Prescott’s, they still represent significant financial commitments that impact the team’s ability to build a competitive roster.
Ezekiel Elliott’s Fallout
Running back Ezekiel Elliott was once the highest-paid player at his position, and his contract was one of the cornerstones of the Cowboys’ offense. But in the years since he signed his lucrative deal in 2019, Elliott’s productivity has declined, and his contract has become a significant burden. Elliott was cut in 2023 after the Cowboys realized they could no longer afford to pay him top-tier money for his diminishing returns on the field. Still, the Cowboys are dealing with his dead cap money, which further complicates their ability to manage other contracts.
The Micah Parsons Factor
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Micah Parsons is quickly emerging as one of the most dominant players in the NFL. The former first-round pick is on a rookie contract for now, but when his deal expires, the Cowboys will face a difficult decision. Parsons is a generational talent, and he will demand top-tier money. However, with Prescott’s contract already eating up a large portion of the salary cap, the Cowboys will need to get creative if they hope to retain Parsons without completely sacrificing their roster depth.
In fact, Parsons could become a key point in the Cowboys’ negotiations with Prescott. The team may need to decide whether they want to lock up their young defensive star or continue to invest heavily in their quarterback. If they opt to keep Parsons, they may have to make difficult cuts or trades in other areas, especially if Prescott’s contract remains as burdensome as it is.
CeeDee Lamb’s Next Contract
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who has emerged as Prescott’s top target, will also require a new contract in the near future. Lamb’s production has been consistent, and his value is expected to rise significantly in the coming seasons. Like Parsons, Lamb is still on a rookie deal, but that won’t last forever. When it’s time to extend Lamb, the Cowboys will again be faced with a financial dilemma. If they can’t restructure Prescott’s contract to free up cap space, they may have to let Lamb walk or make other difficult roster decisions.
The Aging Defense
The Cowboys also face challenges with several key veterans on defense, such as defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and cornerback Trevon Diggs, both of whom are still integral parts of the team’s success. While Lawrence remains a potent pass rusher, he is also aging, and his large contract will soon require reworkings or an exit from the team. Diggs, a standout cornerback, will also require a new deal at some point in the near future. The Cowboys must balance their investments in these stars with the larger financial considerations of maintaining a competitive roster.
What’s Next for the Cowboys?
The Cowboys are at a crossroads. Prescott’s deal, while initially designed to ensure stability at quarterback, is quickly becoming a financial albatross. To continue competing at a high level, the Cowboys will need to rework Prescott’s contract or risk losing other key players as they face difficult cap decisions.
One possible route is to restructure Prescott’s contract, which would allow the team to push some of his cap hit into future seasons. While this would create some short-term relief, it could also lead to future salary cap issues, potentially leading to a situation where the Cowboys are forced to cut or trade high-value players later on.
Another option is to move on from Prescott entirely. While this would be a drastic move, it is not beyond the realm of possibility. With a deep quarterback draft class on the horizon, the Cowboys could potentially seek a trade partner or pivot to a younger quarterback. This would be a tough sell to the fan base and would likely set the team back in the short term, but it could offer long-term financial flexibility.
Regardless of the approach, the Cowboys must act quickly to address their financial issues before they impact the team’s ability to compete for championships. Prescott’s contract, while rewarding him for his past performances, is now a significant barrier to the Cowboys’ future success. With other star players also looming on the financial horizon, the Cowboys will need to manage their cap space wisely if they want to remain competitive.