Dak Prescott was trending on social media on Wednesday. The reason? Chris Simms was on 105.3 The Fan talking about the Dallas Cowboys Quarterback contract situation. In the show, Simms mentioned the same contract offer that has been reported by multiple sources for about a month.
The Cowboys have offered Dak a five-year deal that would pay him an annual average salary of $35M. As we know, Prescott's camp hasn't accepted that deal mainly because they're looking for a four-year deal instead.
But Simms spiced things up by saying that the 26-year old quarterback is asking for “north of $45M” in the fifth year to sign the contract. This sent the entire NFL world into a frenzy, putting Dak Prescott at the top of tons of headlines. However, it turns out Simms' comments weren't true at all.
In fact, Ian Rappoport went as far as reporting from sources from both the team and Prescott's camp that the comments made by Simms were not accurate.
According to the team side and Dak Prescott's agent, the report (👇🏽) from @CSimmsQB is definitely not true. The two sides have never discussed such scenarios or anything like it. Dak wants a shorter deal, the #Cowboys want a longer one. July 15 is the deadline. https://t.co/yUgxcz5qcq
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 21, 2020
Despite all the noise that Dak Prescott's contract negotiations caused on Thursday, the truth is everything is the same as it has been for weeks. A contract offer is still on the table but Prescott aims to get one for a shorter term.
If the Cowboys want to convince him of signing for the fifth year, then a big payday on the final year of the contract might just convince him. Keep in mind, by 2024 the QB market will look drastically different. Right now, though, Simms' report was false.
In the meantime, Prescott has leverage. Remember he can sign the franchise tag for $31M guaranteed in 2020, watch his franchise tag value soar to $37M in 2021 and then get ready to a) sign a $54M tag in 2022 or b) hit free agency.
With Dak sitting on these options and the front office wanting to fight the quarterback's leverage by playing the waiting game, don't expect much to happen until July. The 15th is the deadline for both parties to reach a long-term agreement and it'll likely come down to the last few days.
As author Rick Riordan said, “Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face.”
Soon, the Cowboys will be staring at their last chance to extend their quarterback of the future.
