Source says Dak Prescott’s contract talks between Cowboys are ‘more productive than they were’

With the deadline for the Cowboys to place the franchise label a week further to quarterback Dak Prescott, several sources said talks on a new contract are progressing Tuesday night. One source described discussions in previous months as ‘more productive than ever before’.

The Cowboys have until March 9 to place the franchise label on Prescott, which will earn him a 2021 salary of $ 37.7 million.

If the Cowboys do not place the franchise label on Prescott, he becomes a free agent on March 17 and this will lead to a massive bid war for quarterback-hungry teams.

Placing the franchise label on Prescott, as expected, will not limit contract negotiations. The two parties would continue talking until July. If an agreement cannot be reached, Prescott will play under the franchise label for the 2021 season.

The two parties were in the same position last year after the Cowboys placed the exclusive franchise label on Prescott that gave him $ 31.4 million.

Prescott suffered a season-ending right ankle injury in a Week 5 win over the New York Giants. Prescott started fast, completing 68% of his passes for 1,856 yards, with nine innings and four interceptions.

The injury has raised concerns about whether the Cowboys should lock up Prescott in the long run. After surgery in October to repair a compound fracture and dislocation of the right ankle, team officials were encouraged by his progress in rehabilitation.

However, Prescott underwent a second operation in December to clear up previous problems in his right ankle. Team officials indicated that the second operation was not a setback for the quarterback, and that it would strengthen the ankle.

In the last week, Prescott was spotted at a football camp and Blake Jarwin’s wedding without the use of crutches.

Prescott is expected to be ready for training camp by the end of July.

Whether he will have his future safe at that time is unknown. Prescott is looking for a contract that will place him among the highly paid individuals.

The length of the contract was an important point. Prescott wants a four-year deal, while the Cowboys oppose it for five years.

In the past two years, Deshaun Watson of Houston and Russell Wilson of Seattle have extended four years. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes also signed an extension, but it was a ten-year contract that earned him the largest contract in NFL history at $ 450 million. Mahomes also has the largest average salary of $ 45 million.

Watson ($ 39 million) and Wilson ($ 35 million) are behind Mahomes in terms of average salary. Watson’s total contract is worth $ 156 million, while Wilson’s worth $ 140 million.

Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Source