Actions speak louder than words, they say, and the business of the NFL is no exception. Especially when it comes to quarterbacks. Take these two recent examples: The Minnesota Vikings told us they desired Kirk Cousins‘ return. And the Pittsburgh Steelers told us they were committed to seeing more from Kenny Pickett. But once the 2024 offseason really got underway, the Vikings let Cousins cash in elsewhere, and Pittsburgh sent Pickett packing in favor of not one but two perceived upgrades.
Now it’s the Dallas Cowboys‘ turn. Just weeks ago, ninth-year veteran Dak Prescott all but guaranteed he’d land a new long-term deal ahead of the 2024 season: “It’ll happen,” he told reporters, saying “both sides understand” the importance of an extension. Apparently not. While there’s a lot of time between now and September, NFL Media reported Tuesday that Prescott and the Cowboys are in fact on the same page — except with the understanding the quarterback is on track to play out his current contract in 2024.
What does this mean? For now, nothing. Prescott is locked up through 2024, and his current deal includes a no-trade clause. CBS Sports HQ senior NFL insider Josina Anderson also reports Dallas is “not presently charting a path” to let Prescott hit the market, with intentions of hopefully resuming contract talks down the road.
But no talks are “imminent,” per Anderson, and rarely are proven longtime starting quarterbacks allowed to enter a contract year; Cousins did it with Minnesota in 2023, and it’s no coincidence he now wears different colors. With a no-tag clause also embedded in his current contract, Prescott is quite literally headed for 2025 free agency, with no extension offers on the table from Dallas, and no signs of any coming in the near future.
The Cowboys, at least for the time being, appear content to let Prescott do as coach Mike McCarthy (and predecessor Jason Garrett) have so often been forced to do under owner Jerry Jones: perform under the threat and/or reality of dwindling job security. So much can happen across a calendar year in the NFL. Coaches can change. Contract talks can reignite. Contenders can emerge and vanish. But in light of this latest development, it’d be foolish to discount the possibility of Prescott following in Cousins’ footsteps and becoming the next big-name signal-caller to explore the open market come 2025.
If that’s the case, keeping in mind…
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