Cowboys sign QB Dak Prescott to long-term contract
As first reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott have agreed to a long-term contract.
(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)The longest "will they, won't they" saga in the NFL came to an end Monday night, just before a significant deadline. As first reported by NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott have agreed to a long-term contract.
According to Adam Schefter it is a four-year contract worth up to $164 million, with $126 million guaranteed. With an AAV of $42 million over the first three seasons, Prescott surpasses fellow Texas QB Deshaun Watson as the second-highest paid quarterback in football, behind only Patrick Mahomes.
The timing of the teal is significant, with the agreement coming less than 24-hours before the NFL's franchise tag window closes. If no contract was agreed to by Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline, the Cowboys were expected to use the franchise tag on Prescott for the second year in a row.
Prescott's rookie contract ended after the 2019 season, in which he had a breakout year throwing for over 300-yards per game. Yet no deal could be reached in the offseason, and Dallas franchise tagged him to extend the negotiations another year. After an MVP-like start to the 2020 season, Prescott suffered a gruesome ankle injury in Week 5 which shut him down for the year, and make this year's negotiations slightly more blurry.
With Prescott now locked up in Dallas, any team that was hoping to get a franchise QB through free agency will need to readjust their plans. The top names on the market now include Mitchell Trubisky, Alex Smith, Andy Dalton, and Jacoby Brissett.
MORE: Will the Patriots dip deeper in the Draft for their next QB?
Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.
