The Dallas Cowboys: Navigating Contract Challenges With Star Players

The Dallas Cowboys find themselves in a tough situation. They've got a franchise running back in Ezekiel Elliott, a star receiver in Amari Cooper, and a good to great quarterback (depending on who you ask) in Dak Prescott. All three players are nearing the end of their contracts, and while having such talent is beneficial, it also means the Cowboys will face hefty paychecks soon.

A recent report indicates that Prescott was offered a multi-year contract paying around $30 million annually. That’s a significant amount, yet Prescott declined the offer. This raises the question: is he making a mistake, or is this a savvy move on his part?

This offseason has seen other notable contract extensions that bolster Prescott's negotiating position. For instance, the Seattle Seahawks granted Russell Wilson a remarkable four-year, $140 million extension, including $107 million guaranteed. Just two months later, the Philadelphia Eagles secured a four-year, $128 million deal with Carson Wentz, also featuring a stunning $107.87 million guaranteed.

Prescott is now in a position to leverage these high-profile contracts in his favor. He can reasonably ask for an annual salary that is two to five million dollars above the initial offer he received. Although reports suggest he is aiming for at least $40 million per year, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has labeled this claim as "all-caps false."

Currently, Prescott is set to earn just $2.7 million due to his rookie contract, which explains his push for a significant salary increase. When compared to Wentz, Prescott stands out favorably, boasting a better career completion percentage, quarterback rating, and fewer interceptions despite having started 11 more games.

With Wentz earning such a hefty salary, Prescott has every reason to continue negotiating until he secures a deal that reflects his value. While asking for $40 million a year may be ambitious, it is quite likely he will land a deal exceeding $30 million annually. The real question remains: how much will he secure, and for how many years will it be?