Monday and Tuesday at The Star were nothing short of exhilarating for Dallas Cowboys fans and the organization, following the announcement of a major signing. The Cowboys confirmed the long-anticipated news: CeeDee Lamb, the 2023 All-Pro wide receiver, has agreed to a four-year, $136 million extension. This deal concludes Lamb's holdout and secures one of the NFL's elite pass-catchers for the foreseeable future.
However, as one chapter closes, another opens. The spotlight now shifts to quarterback Dak Prescott, a cornerstone of the Cowboys' offensive unit. Prescott, who leads the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns in 2023, is entering the final year of his contract in 2024. Jerry Jones, the Cowboys' owner, underscored the urgency of the upcoming season opener.
“We’re continuing to, first of all, put all of our focus on what’s coming up here in the next 10 days, two weeks. That game [Week 1 at the Cleveland Browns] takes priority over anything,” Jones said.
Prescott's contract situation is complex, featuring both a no-franchise tag and a no-trade clause. If an extension is not secured, Prescott will hit the open market by March 2025—a prospect that brings both risk and opportunity. None of the Cowboys' current quarterbacks, including backups Cooper Rush and Trey Lance, are under contract beyond the 2025 season. The team must navigate financial considerations carefully, especially given the contracts of top-tier quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, and Jordan Love, who command an average annual salary of $55 million.
The Cowboys' financial picture for the future shows $39.6 million in effective cap space for 2025 and a projected $160.1 million in cap space for 2026. However, managing an NFL roster under salary cap restrictions is a task fraught with complexity and inherent risks, as Jones acknowledged.
“You’ve always got to remind everybody that this is a zero-sum game. Any dollar one player gets is a dollar another one doesn’t get. If you can get the most and the best players out there for the least amount of the cap, you’re doing your very best job,” Jones explained. “Sometimes it’s worked out really well. Sometimes taking those risks will bite you.”
Despite the looming contractual challenges, there’s an undeniable optimism surrounding the Cowboys' camp. Lamb expressed his confidence that a deal for Prescott is imminent.
“You look at our numbers together, they're at the top of the charts. I have no doubt that they're going to get a deal done. We all know that I want Dak here. Jerry [Jones] wants Dak here, too, so let's just get this under control and kill the speculation and let's go win,” Lamb stated.
For Prescott, the focus remains squarely on the field. Although there have been conversations about his contract behind the scenes, he remains concentrated on football.
“There’ve been conversations back and forth, but for the most part, as y’all know, I let my agent (Todd France) handle that, especially as we get right here into training camp,” Prescott said. “The money and all that will take care of itself as it always has.”
Jones, who purchased the Cowboys in 1989, is no stranger to high-stakes negotiations and has navigated the franchise through numerous financial tightropes. As the 2024 season approaches, the Cowboys face the dual challenge of performing on the field while managing their future financially. The game's ultimate zero-sum nature means that any financial misstep could have significant repercussions down the line.
With Lamb securely in the fold and Prescott's potential extension on the horizon, the Cowboys are positioning themselves not just for immediate success but long-term stability. The upcoming season will serve as a critical juncture for an organization perpetually striving for excellence under the watchful eye of its seasoned owner.