After Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Dak Prescott will play under the franchise tag in 2020, these four teams would be wise to pay him if Dallas doesn’t.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that the Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott were unlikely to reach a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline, meaning that the 26-year-old quarterback will play on the franchise tag in 2020.
After Patrick Mahomes signed the largest deal in NFL history in July, it is likely that Prescott asked for a higher number than Dallas was willing to pay, and it does not appear that the standoff will end any time soon, especially with uncertainty surrounding the 2021 cap number due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Prescott will play under the franchise tag for at least the next year, and it is still in his best interest to work out a long-term deal with the Cowboys. The young quarterback has found plenty of success in Dallas, and the team has surrounded him with a talented stable of weapons. However, his return is not a given.
Although it is rare for an accomplished starter like Prescott to play on the franchise tag, it is not unprecedented. Kirk Cousins experienced a similar ordeal in Washington a few years ago when the two sides could not agree on his value, playing on the franchise tag for two years before signing a fully-guaranteed deal in Minnesota.
If Prescott’s situation unfolds similarly (and it appears possible that it could), he will certainly have suitors ready to hand him a lucrative contract. Whether looking to add a final piece to a playoff-caliber roster or trying to upgrade at the quarterback position, these four teams would be wise to keep an eye on Prescott’s situation.