Making Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history was the only option for the Cowboys if they want to be contenders in the future.
DALLAS — Dak Prescott He quietly debuted against the Cleveland Browns his contract extension that makes him the most expensive player in NFL history, with an annual average of $60 million and guaranteed money of $231 million.
He had a very good first half in the win against the Browns and a rather questionable second half in which even his receivers saved at least two interceptions when the game was still competitive.
Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys passes the ball to Ezekiel Elliott #15 during the Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on September 8, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cowboys defeated the Browns 33-17. Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
Perhaps in that second part he got the emotional hangover from a morning full of emotions that began an hour before leaving the hotel for the stadium, when his agent called him to tell him that his new contract had already been agreed, which links him to the Dallas Cowboys until the end of the 2028 season and includes no-trade or franchise tag clauses, as it already had in the most recent one.
Dak has delivered since he arrived in the fourth round of the 2016 Draft and by chance he was in the right place to start absolutely every game he has played in the NFL.
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He has performed well in the regular season since his first year when he earned just over $600,000, to the last four years when he earned $40 million annually, including this year in 2024.
Many criticize him and blame him for his lack of regular season wins or consider that his success in the NFL is very good against weak teams.
His record against non-playoff teams is 55-14 with a 74 quarterback rating, compared to his 18-27 mark with a 61-point quarterback rating in the regular season against teams that made the postseason, where he also has just two wins and five losses in eight years.
The big optimism is that he seems to get better every year despite all the pressure that is always on him as the quarterback of America’s Team.
For example, last year Prescott rebounded from his worst season in turnovers in 2023 to become the NFL’s leader in touchdown passes and finish second in quarterback efficiency rating with his second consecutive season with at least 35 touchdowns.
To put that into context, throwing for at least 35 touchdown passes with 10 or fewer interceptions has only been accomplished by four other quarterbacks, according to ESPN Research statistics: Aaron RodgersTom Brady, Payton Manning y Matt Ryan.
Los Cowboys had no other choice –if they want to compete at least in the regular season in the short and medium term– but give that contract to Prescottwho opened three consecutive years with at least 12 regular-season wins.
There are no quarterbacks who are unemployed or who will be free agents starting next season who give Dallas a better chance of winning than Prescott. Much less think about the Draft as an immediate solution.
On the Cowboys bench either. It was no coincidence that he received so much play Trey Lance during the preseason. Yes, with the reserve team, but also facing rivals with reserves.
Now the big challenge for the Cowboys is to surround him with enough talent so they can take the next step in their hopes of returning to the Super Bowl: trying to accommodate the salary cap in the league in the right way because interesting times are coming to renew several other of their best players.
That includes defensive end/linebacker Micah Parsonswho showed on Sunday against the Browns that he arrived corrected and improved in a defense that looked much better than any expectations.
“Whether you like it or not, Dak is the guy,” former Cowboys championship coach Jimmy Johnson said on television yesterday. “He’s going to be the guy. He’s been great during the regular season.”
“Everybody says, ‘Well, he has to win playoff games.’ Well, give him a chance to win playoff games. Surround him with a better supporting cast. The problem isn’t Dak,” Johnson concluded.
