Schefter: Deion Sanders' $10M Contract Buyout Not 'Insignificant' amid Cowboys Rumors

Jerry Jones' unwillingness to break the bank for a head coach could be a major obstacle for the Dallas Cowboys if they want to pursue Deion Sanders.

Appearing on Friday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show (starts at :45 mark), ESPN's Adam Schefter noted that Sanders' $10 million contract buyout with Colorado is not an "insignificant" hurdle for the Cowboys.

After the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy parted ways on Monday when they were unable to agree to terms on a new contract, Sanders spoke with Jerry Jones that same day.

Coach Prime confirmed his conversation with Jones to Schefter, calling it "truly delightful" and "intriguing" to hear from the Cowboys owner.

Paying coaches top-of-the-market money isn't something Jones has really ever shown much of an inclination for. He did attempt to trade for Sean Payton in 2019 before the New Orleans Saints decided against it.

Other than that brief interest in Payton, the coaches Jones has hired since Bill Parcells retired after the 2006 season include Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett and McCarthy. Garrett's post-Cowboys career included two seasons as offensive coordinator for the New York Giants, but he's been out of the NFL since 2022.

Phillips had a terrific run as defensive coordinator for three different teams after being fired by the Cowboys midway through the 2010 season. He won a Super Bowl as defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos in 2015.

Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein described Jones as being philosophically opposed to "paying for services he's not receiving" and valuing the "market price of players more honestly than the market price of coaches."

Sanders, in addition to his buyout, would likely command a significant contract to become head coach of the Cowboys. His current deal with Colorado pays him $29.5 million over five years, which makes him just the fifth-highest-paid head coach in the Big 12. That total doesn't include the money he is able to make from outside projects, including a weekly talk show and a documentary series.

Jones has the ability to entice Sanders to the NFL because the Cowboys are the highest-profile team in the league, but the total cost to make a deal happen might lead the two sides down separate paths.