The Dallas Cowboys have locked up their franchise quarterback for the next few years.
Dak Prescott has signed a four-year, $160 million contract with the Cowboys. This contract becomes the second highest in NFL history in average annual value, at $40 million per year, second only to Patrick Mahomes at $45 million per year. Prescott also received a $66 million signing bonus, the largest in NFL history, and is set to make $75 million in his first year.
This contract comes at the end to a long battle between the Cowboys’ front office and Prescott’s camp. General manager and owner of the Cowboys Jerry Jones, wanted to sign Prescott to a long-term deal of five years or more, but Prescott was only interested in a four-year deal. Questions continued to rise regarding the star quarterback and the organization about if and when a deal would be made, particularly after fellow members of the 2016 draft class, Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, both signed extensions with their respective teams. After not reaching an agreement before the 2020 season, some concern arose for Prescott when he suffered a season-ending right ankle fracture in week five. Prior to the injury, Prescott had been having a career year, leading the league with 1,856 passing yards while tossing nine touchdowns. The Cowboys’ offense struggled without Prescott at the helm, as backup Andy Dalton was unable to provide the needed spark for the team. The Cowboys eventually finished the season 6-10, missing the playoffs for the third time in the past four years.
With the Cowboys having no other viable quarterback options, the need for Prescott is clear, and it showed in his contract. Now it is up to him to lead the team to the Super Bowl, a feat the Cowboys have not accomplished in 25 years.
