The NFL salary cap increases seemingly every season.
This has created a world where players are intent on beating the last big contract signed at their respective position.
Player A enters the last year of his rookie deal, and is paid X amount of money, giving him the highest annual salary of any other player at his position.
A few months later, Player B feels he should be the highest paid.
Player B then signs a record contract.
Social media and all of the experts on television debate for weeks whether or not Player B deserves more money than Player A.
Player C enters the chat. You can see where this is going. The cycle starts all over again.
The Dallas Cowboys are not immune to this cycle and will have some negotiating to do with several of their own franchise players in the coming months.
Starting this offseason, we have seen a remarkable change in how the Cowboys’ front office does business.
Kellen Moore was released from his contract to make a lateral move to Los Angeles.
A surprise considering how much Dallas values their own homegrown talent.
Several other coaches were also given their walking papers after a second straight season with a premature playoff exit.
Will McClay & Co. used precious draft capital to trade for two playmaking veterans in an attempt to get the team over the hump.
Dallas is usually trying to stockpile draft capital as opposed to spending it on aging veterans.
When it comes to contract talks, we can all hope that this new team philosophy will also be applied to that aspect of the business.
The Cowboys have a reputation for being reactive to the market instead of proactive, and it often ends with them being on the short end of the negotiations.
Here are the top three offensive players who I believe it would behoove Owner/GM Jerry Jones and Executive Vice President Stephen Jones to reach contract extensions with sooner rather than later.
My top three defensive players will be addressed in part two of this article.
QB Dak Prescott
Years left on contract: 2
Average annual salary/NFL rank: $40 million/T-9th
QB Dak Prescott had his contract recently restructured, converting roughly $25 million of his salary into a pro-rated bonus.
This move brought his 2023 salary cap cost down to approximately $26.8 million.
It also ballooned his 2024 salary cap cost to almost $60 million. The salary cap is flexible, but general managers aren’t magicians.
The money is just moved further along in the contract, and sometimes beyond the agreed-upon years of the actual contract.
It’s a clever hand trick, but not the disappearing act many think it is.
Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, and Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson all set the market in some way, shape, or form in the past calendar year.
Does everyone agree that Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is the clear-cut best quarterback in the world?
The answer from most unbiased football fans would be a resounding “YES”.
What if I told you that Mahomes is not even in the top five quarterbacks as far as average annual salary goes?
Cowboys’ QB Dak Prescott ends up tied for ninth on this list, coming in at $40 million per year.
Personally, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes are the only quarterbacks I would say are clearly better than Dak. The rest are up for debate.
If outsiders believe Dak should be up there somewhere in that top five, it’s a certainty that Prescott and his agent Todd France believe so as well.
The longer the Cowboys wait, the more expensive Dak will become.
Quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow will be in contract talks soon, and all will likely demand to be the highest paid at their position.
The Cowboys have played this game with Prescott before.
Hopefully, they adjust their negotiating strategy this time around.
WR CeeDee Lamb
Years left on contract: 1 (2 with 5th-year team option)
Average annual salary/NFL rank: $3.502 million/60th
Since being drafted 17th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, CeeDee Lamb has been one of the most productive wide receivers in football.
The uptick in stats each year points to Lamb being an ascending player and one of the brightest young stars on the Cowboys’ roster.
Lamb’s actual worth on the field was proven by his exceptional 2022 season where he was finally out of Amari Cooper’s shadow.
CeeDee hauled in 107 receptions for 1,359 yards and 9 touchdowns on his way to Pro Bowl and 2nd-team All-Pro honors in just his third season.
One aspect of 88’s production that most people tend to overlook is that he has accomplished all of this despite playing 16 of his 49 career games with a backup quarterback throwing him the ball.
CeeDee ranks 60th in the NFL in terms of average annual salary. For reference, here is a graphic showing the top 10.
Lamb’s actual monetary worth is a discussion that should be had soon for the same reasons I gave for Dak Prescott.
That $30 million average won’t be the highest for long with wide receivers like Justin Jefferson, Mike Evans, and Tee Higgins all needing new contracts soon.
The Cowboys can lock up CeeDee Lamb with a new contract averaging roughly $24-26 million per season.
It should make him happy and would be a bargain for Dallas in the long run.
RT Terence Steele
Years left on contract: 1
Average annual salary/NFL rank: $4.304 million/16th
Terence Steele signed as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech University in 2020.
He was then thrust into the spotlight as a rookie due to injuries along the Cowboys’ offensive line.
Fast forward to 2023, and Steele has started 30 games over his first three seasons, mostly at right tackle.
An ACL injury shortened his 2022 season after 13 games.
The Cowboys decided to place a 2nd round-restricted free agent tender on Steele as opposed to offering a long-term contract.
Steele’s recovery seems to be going well, as he has looked good in workouts with offensive line guru Duke Manyweather.
https://twitter.com/es3_09/status/1639356295806599169?s=20
If Steele continues to make progress throughout the offseason, Dallas should offer him a long-term contract.
They might even get a discount if they offer him a deal before he is fully recovered from his knee injury.
Here are the top 10 right tackles in terms of average annual salary.
Where the Cowboys believe Steele falls on this list is the key to his future.
They have made preparations through the draft to replace him.
Dallas spent a 5th-round pick on Matt Waletzko in 2022 and took Asim Richards in the 5th round of 2023.
However, Waletzko and Richards are both unproven assets.
Are the Joneses willing to gamble away the production they know they can get from Steele in exchange for unproven players?
I feel safer keeping Terence Steele around for a few more years, leaving the offensive line with continuity for at least the next few seasons.
1-Dak, 2-Diggs, 3-Ceedee, 4-Parsons
Todd Cook not sure they are going to extend Dak! Strong QB class coming out next year
Todd Cook I agree with Shawn Lawther…Dak’s extension would’ve been given by this point…looks like Dak is content to play out 2023 and then hardball the negotiations next spring. After an abysmal season like 2022, I am perfectly fine with Cowboys not extending right now. And they can’t extend Micah until 12 months from now.
Todd Cook
Be very careful with extending dak.
You have to unfortunately. Just make it a highly production bonus contract.
You got burnt on zekes contract. You do not want to give one to dak.
Dak and Zeke are apples and oranges…. RBs just don’t last…… easily predictable. The problem with waiting on Dak is the price of poker is climbing….. Herbert, Burrow, etc.
James Wright dak is replaceable. Extending him is idiotic. Resigning him last time was dumb but doing it again is absolutely insane.
We are 5-1 with him on bench the first 2 years of his crappy contract. Only 19-9 with him on the field and there is alot of scrubs in that 19 wins, very few of quaility.
He set the franchise record for TD passes 2 years ago. Pay attention!
Dak Prescott has regressed the passed two seasons and you think extending him is the smart move? Gtfoh your nuts. He is not a top 5 QB. And personally if he can’t deliver in the playoff the cowboys should move on to another QB whether from the draft or free agency. The other two I agree should be extended asap
Agree with an ascending CeeDee getting an extension sooner than later from his rookie deal and probably also Steele who has been a great UDFA find. The priority should be Lamb first.
Disagree with the DP analysis. At the time of his current contract, he got second highest money in the NFL, and clearly, he was not second-best player in the league. The FO panicked and caved into the greedy DP. Now extending again would be a worse mistake. He is not ascending and actually appears to be descending player. 2022 QBR ranks him 12th. His rookie year was 20 points higher (thanks mainly to EE). In 2021, he was 17th right before the infamous last game Philly forfeit where he was able pile up stats vs 2nd and 3rd string Eagles. 17th!!!
“Personally”, IMO, he is middle of the pack, and not getting better.
They should have drafted a promising young QB to groom.
I tend to agree, though not sure the urgency to extend Lamb is actually greater than the need to also do so with Steele.
As for Dak (and for that matter, Pollard and Diggs as well) … they need to let 2023 play out then re-assess. Because they have failed to draft-and-develop at the QB2 spot, the “state of the team” will probably dictate what they have to do with Dak, moreso than common sense (sigh). Look at McCarthy’s track record in GB … you’ll see he has never developed a 2nd-tier QB despite drafting many. Closest he ever came was Matt Flynn.
Pay Steele, Diggs and Lamb. Dak can wait and Pollard can move on next offseason.
The guy that fixes the giant TV, the holder and the backup kicker
WATCH YOUR BACK WHEN JERRY IS BEHIND YOU!
List should be Lamb, Diggs and Steele (but Steele only once they think he is 100%)
never going to a superbowl with dak……
Y’all should have gotten a QB in the draft because Dak is like Romo. He will only win enough to get paid but never go all the way.
Joe D. Cruz please get Romo out of your filthy mouth already! He hasn’t played for the crygirls for over 7 years and he was trice the QB your current qb is and with a lot less talent!!
fire dak and get some back
Dump the loser!
Any QB and I mean any who leads the league in interceptions while missing 5 games, should be happy to be making as much as he is. Extend his contract, hell NO. When totally plays like an elite NFL QB then reward him as so.
Dak is a choker!
Never a Super Bowl with Dak he is a choker
Garry England little louder for those with ear wax!!!!
What ever you do don’t give that back up QB Prescott any kind of extra money, he is not worth it, he is nothing but a loser, he will never take you to the Super Bowl Dallas, get rid of him, get a good QB for Dallas. What is wrong with you Jones are you that nuts, Dallas needs a quarterback, do something Jones.
David Canales , I don’t know who should be the new QB for Dallas, but anyone would beat that no good back up QB Prescott. He’s nothing but a loser !!
Charley Crawford yeah I get it’s been frustrating for cowboys fans, but if you don’t have a QB I mentioned earlier, the other QB’s give their team a chance. Dak is still 61-36 (66%) and 8th among active QBs in playoff wins. There are no stats to back your narrative. New season, new slate. Cheers!
Dak 50m
Lamb 25
Steel 13
88 million 3 players
Leaves about 152 million for 50 other players
Let’s take another 80 million and spend on 4 other players
That leaves 72 million for 46 players.
You still have 14 other starters let’s say they average 3 million each that take up 42 million
Now you have 30 million for every one else that is average of 1 million each
News for you.
They might win 10 games that is just being lucky.
You have to cut the pie up so they can have a chance to win the super bowl. 1 player getting over 20% that is not going to happen.
No, no, and no
Lamb the rest on list can go
Extend??? You mean his choking in the playoffs is what you want to keep seeing??? Cause thats all he will ever mount to!
Dak is a choker, sorry it’s true
The Cowboys would be “wiser” to shit can Trashscott and start over at QB.
Them Dallas cowgirls are losers
NOT Dak!!!
Punt him to arkansas, we dont want this loser!
I think that should keep the team that they have they’re ready now
Yes! Please extend Prescott’s contract! There’s nothing funnier than watching cowboys bloggers and fans come to his defense every time he shows how awful he is. The list of excuses for him is miles long!
Prescott has not proven himself in the post season. he is not an elite Super Bowl winning QB and should by no means be paid like one. to put it bluntly he’s a Romo rerun and needs to prove he’s a super Bowl winning QB before being granted any more big contracts.
Enough with the bullshit lol got to get new qb or not this year or for the next ten yrs not going to sb cowboy fans after 7 yrs of 0000000 and still hasn’t won one so what makes you he is going to win a sb lol not even in a dream lol grt rir of him the coach and most of all Jerry so he doesn’t get involved in the. Coaching lol
Dallas should replace dak hes been 7 years in dallas.and have nothing accomplished since hes the qb.
Loreto Blas He is in decline, each year he looks a little worse.
In your opinion, not mine!
They need to plan for moving on from Dak. Teams are going to have to stop paying a guy the top pay just because. That would be the smart move, and I like Dak. Just not a top 5 guy for pay.
JONES YOU ARE THE REASON THE COWBOYS SUCK, GO AWAY JONES,LEAVE THEM ALONE
DUMP DAK NOW!!!
Rogers and Mahomes the only quarterbacks better than Dak? What is the dude that wrote this article smoking. Dak may not even crack the top 10.
# Dallas Cowboys #extension
Hell you are the cowboys, most valuable franchise in the world. You should make all your starters the highest paid at every position. And all contracts should be 5+ years. The rest of the league will love you for it.
Now this is Jerry Jones telling his chokeboys that he is selling the chokeboys to Mexico city
Hmmmm doggie! You been workin out at big Mikes all you can eat buffet!!
Cowboys would be wise… hahahahahaha
Being a Giants fan from NYC, I believe Dak should be extended at least 7 years at an average salary of $50m.