Dak Prescott, playing arguably the best football of his career, was the favorite to win the 2023 NFL MVP award heading into Week 15 last season. Then the Dallas Cowboys floundered again in the postseason, making Prescott’s lingering contract expiration date an even bigger talking point this offseason.
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Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones attempted to quell any discussion surrounding a lack of confidence in Prescott and the future of the quarterback with the team during an interview Monday with Adam Schein on Mad Dog Sports Radio.
“I mean, I totally think Dak can lead us to a championship,” Jones said. “He does everything the right way. He’s certainly the leader of this football team. He keeps everybody motivated in the offseason. He’s got everybody working out and doing all the things that it takes to put in the work to give yourself every opportunity to win a championship. It just so happens that sometimes, you know, that old oblong football doesn’t bounce your way.
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“And we’ve had some tough breaks and tough games there in the postseason. But, you know, we’ve won 12 games three years in a row. I think that’s right at the top in terms of what teams have done over a three-year period. And, you know, we’re hanging around the rim. We’ve just gotta go up there and grab it, to use a basketball term, and dunk it in. We’re hanging around the rim. We just gotta get the job done.”
Prescott turns 31 on July 29. He is coming off a 2023 season in which he threw for 4,516 yards on a career-best 69.5 completion percentage with a league-leading 36 touchdown passes, compared to just nine interceptions. But the 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC wild-card round seemingly has overshadowed Prescott’s impressive season.
Right now, Prescott is a lame-duck quarterback entering the final year of his deal. He’s set to count $55.1 million against this year’s salary cap, per Over the Cap. He’s also on the books for about $40.1 million in dead money for next year once his current deal is voided making him a free agent after 2024.
Jones said it’s a “priority” to get a new contract done with Prescott. Franchise QB contracts, “they just take time,” Jones said.
In mid-April, Prescott said there had been no progress on a new deal. The quarterback said he had spoken with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones about his contract, but also noted that “real” negotiations had not taken place.”
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(Photo: Perry Knotts / Getty Images)