Prescott vs. Wentz, the Meaningless Debate Continues

Since reports on Carson Wentz signing a four-year extension with the Philadelphia Eagles emerged, football fans have passionately discussed how the 2016 second overall pick compares to Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. Who is the best quarterback of the two? Ever since they entered the league, we knew this would be a controversy that would extend throughout their careers. However, when it comes to Dak Prescott’s imminent contract extension, this is the wrong conversation.

As Dak Prescott heads to the 2019 season, his agent and Cowboys front office are working toward an extension to lock him up for the future. A few months ago, many in Cowboys Nation speculated that a new deal for Dak would be worth around 28 or 29 million dollars. A few signed deals later around the league, the price has gone up and is now in the thirties. But it’s Carson Wentz’ extension that really set the market price for a QB like Dak.

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (AP Photo / Michael Ainsworth)

Regardless of who’s better than who, the deals will likely be similar in terms of average per year. At the end of the day, they’re both good, young quarterbacks who have proven their respective teams they can be their franchise signal-callers. Wentz was having an MVP-caliber season in 2017, a feat that was forgotten by many due to Nick Foles successfully leading the team in the playoffs on road to the Eagles’ first Super Bowl win in history. Prescott has led the Cowboys to the NFC East title twice in his first three years and had his first playoff win last season.

In the NFL, if you want to have a franchise quarterback, you must pay him what the market dictates. Otherwise, you’re stuck with a need at the single most important position in football.

So, instead of tirelessly trying to figure out who is the best quarterback when discussing the contract extensions, the discussion should revolve around the fact that the two are capable of making their teams win and that they’ll be paid as such. They’re both franchise quarterbacks.

The discussion should also be more about how in a couple of years, their deals will be considered a steal. Next offseason, we’ll be discussing Patrick Mahomes’ extension. Which, if he follows up his impressive debut season with a strong 2019, will probably be massive. Not to mention, Deshaun Watson, Mitchell Trubisky and later, guys like Baker Mayfield.

Also worth considering is the new CBA the league and the NFLPA are working on. As the players seek for a better deal, who knows what the salary cap and contract rules will look like once the new agreement is in place.

It’s only smart to pay Dak as soon as possible. Every time a QB signs an extension, the price goes up. That’s why he’s certainly getting over $30M per year now, something that would have seem very expensive at the beginning of the year. The Eagles beat the L.A. Rams and the Cowboys to set the price. Now it’s Jared Goff’s and Dak Prescott’s turn.

There are many things to keep in mind regarding the future extension for Dak. But figuring out if he’s better or not than Wentz is really not that relevant to the discussion. Of course, where it will matter is on the playing field. After all, they’ll be battling for the NFC East title year in and year out for the next decade.