NFL Rumors: Cowboys 'Pretty Passive' in Pursuing Dak Prescott Contract Extension

If the Dallas Cowboys want to keep Dak Prescott beyond this season, they are going about it in a very strange way.

Appearing on the Saturday morning episode of SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said the Cowboys have been "pretty passive" in contract talks with their star quarterback:

"I was told from a source with the team that the notion that the Cowboys don't want to keep Dak Prescott beyond 2024, when he'll be a free agent the next year, is false, that they still believe in him firmly. They want him long-term, but I would describe their pursuits at a contract extension so far as pretty passive. He's got a $61 million cap hit this year, he's got dead money next year, so he's got a lot of leverage. So this will play out eventually, but they are committed to spending money, trying to re-sign some of their guys, Dak included."

The Cowboys' offseason has been heavily criticized thus far due to the lack of activity in free agency. They were the last team to sign an external free agent when Eric Kendricks received a one-year deal on March 13.

Kendricks remains the only external free agent signed by the Cowboys. They have lost eight players, including Dorance Armstrong, Tyler Biadasz, Tyron Smith, Tony Pollard and Jonathan Hankins. Michael Gallup, Stephon Gilmore and Jayron Kearse are still available.

There was an assumption Prescott would either restructure his current deal or sign an extension to lower his 2024 cap hit, allowing the Cowboys to have more flexibility to add players in free agency.

The Cowboys did restructure his deal on March 18 by converting a $5 million roster bonus into a signing bonus and adding two void years to his contract, clearing $4 million in cap space.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told reporters on March 14 they've had talks with Prescott about a new deal. Prescott has expressed confidence an extension will get done at some point.

But the longer this situation drags out, the more leverage Prescott gets. His current deal includes a no-tag clause that allows him to become a true free agent next offseason.

The Cowboys also have CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons eligible to sign extensions this offseason. Lamb will likely be a higher priority right now because he's entering the final season of his rookie contract. Parsons' deal runs through the 2025 season.

If Prescott leaves after the upcoming season, it would be a disaster for the Cowboys on multiple levels. The most obvious one being they don't have an obvious upgrade at quarterback currently on the roster.

Trey Lance, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL draft, might finally get a chance to start full-time. But there's been no indication from his brief appearances with the San Francisco 49ers that he's a viable starting option.

The other reason Prescott leaving would be an issue for Dallas is financial. The contract restructures have left the Cowboys with a $40.5 million dead-cap charge on a void year in 2025.

Prescott threw for 4,516 yards and an NFL-high 36 touchdowns last season. He finished second in MVP voting and was named to the All-Pro second team.