Cowboys reportedly don't want Dak Prescott to 'reset QB market'

The Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott aren't seeing eye to eye on a contract extension.

"There's no question that Dallas wants Prescott to remain its franchise quarterback," wrote Jon Machota of The Athletic. "But the team would prefer to get a deal done that doesn't reset the QB market."

Prescott — who is entering the final year of a four-year, $160M deal — reportedly wants a contract worth $60M per year, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL. This would be an overpay. Per Spotrac, his market value is a four-year deal worth $50.8M annually.

The problem for the Cowboys is Prescott has an upper hand in contract negotiations. His deal has a no-trade and no-tag clause. 

Extending the three-time Pro Bowler saves $26.2M in cap room. Dallas could use this to give wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons new contracts. According to OTC, Dallas is $10.6M over the cap.

The Cowboys can use one of the void years (2025 and 2026) on Prescott's contract to save $18.5M, but that decision would carry risk. 

The 30-year-old — who finished second in MVP voting last season — will attract suitors if he becomes a free agent in 2025. 

"We don't need to, but we can if everybody wants to solve it," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently said of a new deal, via Machota. "If you can't, what we have in place works. And so obviously, if you do it one way, then that gives you, you'll be working through some of the other areas on the team in a different way. But you can't really plan on that until you see where you are there. That's what we're doing."

Jones and Co. should be more proactive, however. Dallas has the 24th overall pick in the draft, meaning it's not in a position to find a replacement.

Spotrac founder Michael Ginnitti suggested that the Cowboys offer Prescott a three-year, $175M deal with the largest signing bonus in league history. 

This might be the best option for both parties. The QB would get his desired salary, and a shorter contract incentivizes him to win his first Super Bowl before he exits his prime.