INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 13: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
The Cowboys and Dak Prescott may be able to avoid the franchise tag and come to an agreement on a long-term extension to keep him in Dallas.
The Dallas Cowboys have had contract extension talks with Dak Prescott for several years now. Yet he had the franchise tag placed on him in 2020 and the same may happen in 2021.
The deadline to tag a player is Tuesday afternoon and the Cowboys will likely place another tag on Prescott for a one-year deal worth nearly $38 million. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting the two sides may actually be able to get an extension done between now and the summer.
Cowboys and Dak Prescott apparently closer than before
One thing Rapoport keeps reiterating is Prescott will be the team’s quarterback in 2021. Placing the tag on Prescott before the deadline ensures he stays on the roster and gives the team more time to work out an extension. July 15 is the deadline to do that.
Rapoport also mentions hearing plenty of positivity surrounding Prescott extensions talks that weren’t there in the past. Signing Prescott in March would be great for the team because it allows them to focus on free agency and the NFL Draft without having an unknown about how much their quarterback will make in 2021.
The worst-case scenario is not getting a deal done by July 15. Prescott would then hit the open market following the season and surely some team out there would pay him what he wants. The Cowboys can avoid that scenario by giving Prescott his money and avoiding a reset at quarterback in 2022.
This positive momentum toward an extension is great news for both sides. Getting a deal done avoids another major distraction and allows the Cowboys to focus on chasing a Super Bowl in 2021 after a season to forget in 2020.