A week after Carson Wentz signed a contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys are still negotiating the terms that will lock up the franchise quarterback for the long-term future. According to a recent report from the Forth Worth Star-Telegram, Prescott’s agents have asked for a deal of approximately $34M per year. A big, yet unsurprising sum. But is there something else Prescott is asking for, beyond an extension?
There are many things to consider on a contract beyond mere average money earned per year, but it only makes sense for Prescott to get a similar deal to Wentz’s. After all, they both entered the league in 2016 and have proven to be capable of leading their teams. The debate between the two will prevail for a long time, and I assure you we won’t be able to figure out who’s the best one anytime soon.
However, there’s one big thing that separates the two signal-callers. Carson Wentz was the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Dak Prescott was selected 133 picks later, late in the fourth round. Why is this so important three years later?
Well, while Dak Prescott earned two million in his first three seasons in the NFL, Carson Wentz earned $28.58M, per Over The Cap. On top of that, prior to the extension, Wentz had a fifth-year option to play 2020 for almost 23 million dollars.
One thing is clear. On their first three years as professional football players, Prescott has received way less compensation than Wentz has. Also worth noting is that Dak hasn’t missed a single game unlike the Eagles QB, who has missed eight. Half a season worth of playing time.
That’s definitely going to play a role on the negotiations. Not only could the Cowboys QB ask for enough compensation in the future, but he could also ask for a completely new deal. With a year remaining on his rookie deal, his representatives could be asking for completely new terms for the upcoming season and beyond. After all, what he would earn in 2019 would be way less than deserved. It would make sense for his party to lobby for a completely new deal instead of a simple extension for life after next season.
Many things could be complicating talks between Prescott’s team and the Cowboys’ front office and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one being one of the most important ones. We know he’s getting paid, but how much will he receive for the 2019 season after being the most underpaid QB in the NFL for the past three years?
