Dak Prescott signed an extension in September that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL ($60 million per season). There are questions as to whether or not the franchise made a wise decision in locking up their franchise signal-caller, but let’s take a look at where the Dallas Cowboys sit now that they have elected to pay up.
Dak Prescott’s Contract Details
The Cowboys dragged their feet as long as they could on extending the 31-year-old Prescott, but when push came to shove, they gave him another four seasons. There is a potential out after the 2027 season, but assuming all parties stay interested, Prescott will be well compensated through the 2028 season.
Cap Hit and Percentage of Cap Allocated
- 2024: $43,382,647 (17%)
- 2025: $89,882,647 (32.9%)
- 2026: $68,005,000 (23.3%)
- 2027:$62,000,000 (19.8%)
- 2028: $72,000,000 (21.5%)
UNREAL 92-YARD TD 😱😱😱
📺: #DETvsDAL on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/urKeZaIvCL pic.twitter.com/uVK0ixWWZo— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2023
While critics will point to the lack of postseason success, Prescott has led Dallas to three straight 12-win seasons. In each of those campaigns, the Cowboys ranked among the five highest-scoring teams in the league, and the franchise is clearly betting on that production eventually leading them to the promised land.
Prescott celebrated his 31st birthday in July, and while that may feel old by NFL standards to see a payday like this, quarterbacks have seen their careers extended further now than ever before.
Is Prescott the highest-paid QB in the league? Yes. Is he in the conversation for the best in the game? Probably not, but that’ the nature of payment history in this league.
Being well compensated is less a ranking of skill these days and more a signal as to who signed the most recently.
Highest-Paid NFL Players, Annual Value
1. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys): $60,000,000
T-2. Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers): $55,000,000
T-2. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals): $55,000,000
T-2. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars): $55,000,000
5. Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins): $53,100,000
Absent from that list are the most recent MVPs and Super Bowl champions. Today’s NFL has become a league of haves and have-nots at the position, and these franchises are betting the farm on “their guy” being “the guy.”
Only time will tell if these quarterbacks are capable of leading their respective teams on deep postseason runs. In an NFC that appears up for grabs through the first month of the 2024 season, Prescott can quiet all doubters with a deep winter run this season.
Dallas Cowboys Supporting Cast
In this pass-first version of the NFL, the Cowboys have the ingredients it takes to succeed at a high level. CeeDee Lamb’s deal runs concurrent to Prescott’s, making this one of the QB-WR premier duos for years to come. Jake Ferguson has proven himself as a viable secondary option in Dallas’ passing game, checking another box that successful teams seem to have in this era.
The running game is a weak point and will be tested as we progress through the season, but if recent history has taught us anything, it’s that running backs are replaceable and impact winning at a lower-than-average rate.
In theory, the pieces are in place for the Cowboys to live up to expectations sooner than later — can Prescott get them there?