OXNARD, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys stay caught in an awfully complicated state of affairs with three of their stars’ contractual standing.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, extensive receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons are all up for brand new offers, although they’re all in very totally different phases of negotiations with the staff. Nevertheless, if the Cowboys prolong all three, they are going to be rostering three gamers who might be among the many highest paid — if not the highest — at their place concurrently.
All three negotiations are interconnected, with the Cowboys having to be conscious of the cap gymnastics that may turn out to be essential to hold the trio in Dallas long-term. After spending time this week on the Cowboys’ coaching camp, right here’s the intel we’ve been capable of collect from league sources:
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First, Prescott has had an incredible camp, and he dazzled throughout the Monday observe session. The Cowboys have been impressed by the quarterback’s potential to dam out the enterprise facet in the case of his personal efficiency.
However now to the enterprise facet. Prescott is enjoying within the ultimate season of his four-year, $160 million contract, and there’s a novel problem along with his extension talks. Attributable to void years and a previous restructure, Prescott is ready to earn $29 million in money this season whereas incurring a cap hit of about $55 million.
As a result of an extension would proceed to push that useless cash into future years, it’s a far larger hurdle to cross from a cap perspective. It’s additionally distinctive. Prescott is amongst 19 quarterbacks who make north of $30 million yearly, and none have signed a second big-money extension with their staff. That’s essential to notice due to the dead-money issue.
And among the many 16 quarterbacks averaging a minimum of $40 million yearly, the 31-year-old Prescott, is one in all solely 4 on the opposite facet of 30. Whereas the usual quantity for a franchise quarterback has ballooned to $50 million over the previous yr — if not even larger — not one of the eight QBs at that quantity have celebrated a thirtieth birthday.
That’s to not say that rule received’t be damaged briefly order. It’s merely an anticipated negotiating level from the staff facet.
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For Prescott, he’s seen quarterbacks with lesser statistical resumes soar previous his contractual worth, and the brand new customary is now $55 million yearly. As a result of Prescott’s timing is so advantageous, he’s been asking for north of that quantity, which is his well-earned negotiating proper.
From a cap perspective, it will really make extra monetary sense for the Cowboys to permit Prescott’s contract to run out after the season, eliminating the $26 million in useless cash from future books. From a logical perspective, nevertheless, such a technique may backfire as a result of the temptation of the open market and the QB-desperate groups lurking would pounce with presents that would shatter historic benchmarks.
Prescott is aware of that. So, whereas he’d certainly admire one thing nearer to market worth in money this season, he acknowledges the checking account might be simply wonderful with a little bit endurance. Keep in mind, he’s been by way of all of this earlier than.
The Cowboys badly need to hold Prescott by way of the period of one other long-term contract. It’s why they’ve been making an attempt to execute an extension earlier than free company turns into extra of a temptation.
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Additionally, the concept of beginning over on the place doesn’t attraction to a corporation that has received 36 regular-season video games over the previous three seasons, second to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (37). It hasn’t translated to playoff success, however the Cowboys are contenders attributable to their general expertise. Prescott solely aids that stance.
At this level, it doesn’t seem the Cowboys and Prescott are shut on an extension, and the cap dynamics and leverage factors clarify why that’s been the case.
This one feels nearer. Lamb and the Cowboys have made progress, nevertheless it’s nonetheless shy of the purpose the place the perimeters are assuming a assured decision.
Lamb is holding out and has knowledgeable the Cowboys he received’t report back to camp and not using a new deal. He’s presently working underneath the phrases of his rookie contract’s fifth-year possibility, which is price $17.991 million.
The collective-bargaining settlement requires the Cowboys to wonderful Lamb $40,000 per day in camp, however they’re prone to rescind these fines upon the execution of a brand new contract. An elimination of fines is barely permissible as a result of Lamb continues to be on his rookie contract.
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Final season, Lamb led the league with 135 receptions, completed second with 1,749 yards and tied for third with 12 landing catches. The 25-year-old, who was the No. 17 decide within the 2020 draft, has improved his manufacturing profile in each season of his profession.
Justin Jefferson ($35 million yearly) and A.J. Brown ($32 million) lately reset the market, and there’s no query Lamb’s quantity would additionally exceed $30 million yearly, which might make him the fifth member of that membership.
The discrepancy is the place Lamb ought to fall between Jefferson’s deal and Brown’s contract. Jefferson is broadly seen as the perfect receiver within the league, and he obtained his contract with a corporation that has a quarterback on a rookie deal. Brown, one other bodily dominant receiver, obtained his deal after quarterback Jalen Hurts signed his large pact. The opposite pair of $30 million wideouts, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tyreek Hill, are additionally working with $50 million quarterbacks.
The Cowboys appear to be reluctant to hit Jefferson’s APY with Lamb, so the concession could possibly be the assured cash. Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million contract contains about $88.7 million absolutely assured (roughly 63 p.c), whereas Brown’s three-year, $96 million extension contains $51 million absolutely assured (roughly 53 p.c).
Eying the 2 contracts, is a four-year deal price $30 million to $32 million yearly together with 63 p.c in ensures palatable?
These numbers may take advantage of sense. Knock down the APY and kick up the ensures to discover a compromise, and it’d assist with the Prescott negotiations. That’s why there are causes to consider Lamb’s contract could possibly be the primary to be agreed upon.
The defensive chess piece’s contract is on the back-burner for now, nevertheless it’s been on the Cowboys’ minds for a yr. He’s within the fourth season of his rookie contract, so he’s now eligible for an extension, however the Cowboys have additionally exercised his fifth-year possibility for 2025.
Understandably, the Cowboys have extra urgent enterprise with Prescott and Lamb earlier than diving all the best way into the Parsons pool. However there could possibly be a big value in ready, as a result of Parsons’ price ticket may rise, particularly if he delivers one other wholesome, productive season.
Parsons, 25, has been extremely in line with 40.5 sacks by way of three seasons, however his athleticism as a second-level linebacker has made him distinctive. The Cowboys received’t be enjoying the semantic sport of treating Parsons as an area linebacker, which might drive down his worth.
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San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa set the bar final yr with a five-year, $170 million deal together with $88 million absolutely assured. That $34 million annual benchmark would be the goal level, although the league appears to nonetheless view Bosa because the superior participant.
However once more, if Parsons stays wholesome, he’ll as soon as once more be on the quick checklist of Defensive Participant of the Yr candidates and ought to be inside his proper to ask for Bosa cash, particularly after a pair years of cap inflation.
That’s simply one thing the Cowboys are going to should abdomen down the street. With Prescott a extra urgent matter and Lamb out of camp, the group should prioritize accordingly.
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It’s not a stretch to ascertain a situation the place the Cowboys finally make use of the league’s highest-paid quarterback, a top-two receiver and the highest-paid defensive participant. However even with concessions from the gamers, they’re nonetheless taking a look at premium-priced gamers at every place, and therein lies the problem forward with holding this star-studded roster collectively.
(Photograph of CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons: Richard Rodriguez / Getty Pictures)