Dak Prescott is entering a contract year with the Dallas Cowboys and is set to enter free agency after the season if the two sides don’t agree to an extension. Prescott has a ton of leverage in negotiating his new deal because of his $55 million cap number for 2024 and his contract containing clauses that prohibit the Cowboys from either franchise tagging or trading him.
Prescott’s contract situation has restricted the Cowboys from being active in improving the team following another disappointing playoff exit. On Wednesday morning, NFL analyst Ryan Clark blasted the team for putting themselves in this situation.
Ryan Clark Rips Dallas Cowboys for Dak Prescott Contract Situation
On ESPN’s Get Up, Clark ripped the Cowboys for how they’ve handled Prescott’s contract situation.
“They’ve handcuffed themselves with a lack of belief in their quarterback and with a lack of action of trying to mitigate what his contract would do to this team,” Clark said.
It’s rare that teams allow their quarterback to play on the final year of their current deal and be eligible to test free agency. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Tuesday reported that the Cowboys and Prescott are in a mutual understanding that no contract extension offer is coming this offseason.
The #Cowboys and QB Dak Prescott have a mutual understanding of his contract situation, sources say, with no offers from Dallas despite him being in a contract year. Owner Jerry Jones said, “We are where we are, locked and loaded for this year.”
No indication a deal is coming. pic.twitter.com/JtW5lqHzSG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2024
“No team goes into the season and accepts loss,” Clark said. “But the Dallas Cowboys are accepting that they will not be competing for a championship.”
Dallas won the NFC East with an impressive 12-5 record for the third year in a row. However, they crumbled in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs against divisional-rival Green Bay Packers.
With that loss, Prescott is now 2-5 in the playoffs, and the Cowboys have now gone 29 consecutive seasons without making it to the NFC Championship Game.
On top of not extending Prescott, Clark believes that Mike McCarthy’s team will have a tough time getting buy-in from the rest of the roster due to a lack of moves needed to compete with teams atop the NFC.
The Cowboys lost left tackle Tyron Smith to the New York Jets, running back Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans, and center Tyler Biadasz, along with defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler to the Washington Commanders.
While the Cowboys are still good enough to be a playoff team in the NFC, Clark’s questioning of Super Bowl aspirations is valid, considering Dallas has plenty of holes on its roster following the departure of key players who haven’t been replaced.
Will Prescott Become a Free Agent in 2025?
Following the initial reports of the Cowboys and Prescott preparing to go into this season without a contract extension, NFL Insider for CBS Sports Josina Anderson reported that the organization still hopes to get a deal done with their franchise quarterback.
Regarding the #Cowboys and Dak Prescott, I’m told the team does intend to work out a contract for their 3x-Pro Bowl quarterback and also has not closed off potential to consummate a deal for him this year, per source.
While there’s currently no offer or imminent talks, the team… pic.twitter.com/02yfYD7CUA
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 27, 2024
“While there’s currently no offer or imminent talks, the team is not presently charting a path to let Prescott go to free agency, despite some chatter to the contrary, I’m told,” said Anderson.
If Prescott does make it to free agency, expect him to be in high demand.
On Tuesday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said, “If he becomes a free agent next year, there will be no shortage of suitors” and mentioned two NFC East rivals in the Commanders and New York Giants as two possible suitors.
KEEP READING: Could Cowboys’ Lack of Free Agency Activity Hurt Them in 2024?
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