The 2023 season had an all-too-familiar ending for the Dallas Cowboys. After what was an encouraging regular season that saw them finish 12-5, they were embarrassed in the NFC Wild Card Round against the Green Bay Packers.
Fast forward to the current day, and that familiar feeling has generated a sense of urgency for those in positions of power in 2024. Mike McCarthy is in the last year of his deal, former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is gone elsewhere, and the will-they-won’t-they saga that is Dak Prescott’s contract continues.
With free agency set to begin in just a few days, let’s look at the latest news and notes surrounding America’s Team.
Dallas Cowboys Free Agency News and Rumors
Zack Martin Gets a Restructure
In a move that makes them officially salary-cap compliant, the Cowboys opted to convert star offensive lineman Zack Martin’s salary, clearing $13 million in space for the team. The full converted amount is $16.25 million, turning his salary into a signing bonus, adding one additional void year to his contract, and giving them the $13 million space.
That move has allowed the Cowboys to have around $9 million in cap space heading into free agency if they make no other additional moves.
More Restructures To Come?
While Martin was the first, he may not be the last when it comes to the Cowboys and salary restructures.
While nothing is imminent at this time, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News is reporting that “restructures for Trevon Diggs and Terence Steele might occur as well but not at this stage. The main objective was to get under the cap for 2024. Cowboys have big contracts looming for Prescott and Lamb and signing other free agents.”
With a lot to be sorted out for the Cowboys as far as big-time contracts go, if they want to be at least somewhat active in free agency, other moves may need to take place. While nothing has been decided now, they at least know they can move money around via Diggs and Steele if they need to.
Dak Prescott Deal May Come … in August?
The feeling all along has been that if the Cowboys were going to get a new deal done with Prescott, it would be done before the free agency window opened, allowing for the team to free up space to add more talent to the roster.
However, Jane Slater of NFL Network has reported that there have not been any contract talks between the player and the team and that there is a possibility that the deal may not get done until August.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Top 100 Free Agent Rankings
“Dak Prescott and the Cowboys have had no talks at all on a contract extension, Slater reported [on Wednesday, March 6.] Slater added, however, that it’s unlikely to be cause for alarm and that she could foresee a deal coming to fruition closer to August.”
Whether the deal gets done in August, or at all, still remains to be seen.
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