Dak Prescott is among the top contenders for the NFL‘s MVP award amid a year of strong production and helping the Dallas Cowboys to a successful season.
The longtime Cowboys quarterback could be in for a big payday soon, too.
Extension Looming for Dak Prescott?
Prescott has been one of the league’s most productive quarterbacks this season. He’s completed 68.4% of his pass attempts for 3,892 yards, 30 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across 15 games this season, helping lead Dallas to a 10-5 record.
That production combined with his track record of success appears to have the Cowboys’ front office ready to pony up the big bucks for him.
Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported Thursday while making an appearance on Fox Sports’ Speak On show alongside Emmanuel Acho, that Dallas and Prescott are working on a long-term contract extension that is expected to make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks.
“He’s going to get between 55 and 60 million [dollars],” Schultz said. “We’ve already seen Joe Burrow get that 55 number. Dak Prescott has an opportunity to reset it. I think the floor is around 55 million.”
That reporting drew ire from some on X (formerly known as Twitter), including one user who asked whether Dak should even be in the conversation for the MVP award or a potentially record-setting extension “when he’s only good against below .500 teams.”
Dak has been lights out against losing teams, but still doesn't show up against teams with a winning record. He played well in the win against the Eagles and then we saw what happened in Buffalo and Miami. MVP when he’s only good against below .500 teams? And a big contract? Nope
— quintin (@qfleming) December 28, 2023
Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals’ star quarterback, was the most recent quarterback to reset the market value when he signed a five-year, $275 million contract with the franchise earlier this year.
The average annual value of $55 million is the highest-ever such number for an NFL player. Prescott appears to be in line to match or exceed that figure given his strong production in Dallas.
Schultz said both Prescott and the Cowboys are “highly motivated” to get a deal done well before the quarterback’s contract expires following the 2024 season. Prescott also has both no-trade and no-tag clauses in his contract, providing him with more leverage in negotiations.
Another X user said the Cowboys should “make a deep playoff run first” before giving Prescott a big-money extension. He also speculated as to how this might affect potential contracts for stars Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb down the line.
Let's make a Deep Playoff run first. I wonder what they are going to pay Micah and Ceedee as well https://t.co/Jv2HUQ2cuG
— K.H.T.🎙️🔥 (@official_keith3) December 28, 2023
Prescott’s production has certainly spoken for itself this season, though there have been some bumps in the road.
He’s up to 20 touchdown passes with just two interceptions over the Cowboys’ last eight games. And aside from a rough three-interception game against the San Francisco 49ers earlier this season, he’s thrown just four picks.
Schultz gave plenty of praise for Dak’s level of play this season, putting Prescott’s production this season on the same level as Cowboys greats Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.
“He’s a Dallas Cowboy quarterback in the sense of Staubach and Aikman,” Schultz said. “That’s the type of season he’s having, and he has earned it.”
Prescott will have a chance to make his mark in the postseason and write the latest chapter in Dallas’ storied history — this year, and potentially moving forward if his long-term deal is indeed hammered out. Time will tell whether Prescott and the Cowboys are ultimately able to reach that level of success.
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