The new CBA has been met with a mixed bag. Not only was the vote incredibly close but a ridiculous number of players didn't even vote. As a result, a new wave of changes will take effect:
- 17-game season (beginning 2021).
- Seven playoff teams (only the number one seed will get a first-round bye).
- Increase roster size from 53 to 55, as well as an increase in practice squad spots.
- Decrease in preseason games from four to three.
- Increase in player revenue shares.
- Revised guidelines for marijuana testing and punishment.
But how does this affect Dak Prescott and his asking price? There are a few factors.
It was reported recently that the Cowboys had offered him a $33 million per year, $105 million guaranteed contract, numbers that would put him beneath fellow 2016 quarterback draftees Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, which would've been unacceptable to the Prescott camp.
The new salary cap for 2020 will be $198.2 million, a $10 million increase from a year ago. In fact, since 2013, the salary cap has increased each year by an average of $10.6 million a year.
In those seven seasons, the highest-paid quarterback has changed going from Matt Ryan at $20.75 million per year to Russell Wilson at $35 million per year last season. Those were under the old CBA, with less revenue share for the players.
Now, the Cowboys quarterback has all the leverage. He finished with his third top-five total QBR finish, has two division titles, a 41-26 record including playoffs and just last season finished two passing yards shy of having the most passing yards thrown by a Cowboys quarterback in a season. Ironically, the last time a Cowboys quarterback set the passing yards mark was 2013 when Tony Romo got his own contract extension.
Imagine for a second if the Cowboys had finished a contract extension right after the 2018 season and before 2019 free agency last year. All before Russell Wilson, Jared Goff, and Carson Wentz got their extensions. The price tag at that point was somewhere around $25-28 million per year. A number which will be an absolute bargain once this is all over.
Now, after Dak was given a season to prove himself as a quarterback with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, he chose to parlay a new deal. Not only did he have the best statistical season of his career so far, but he has since been mentioned by many in the media as one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Franchise tag or not, the new asking price for Prescott is going to be around $36 million per year with $115 million guaranteed, at minimum.
Whether or not people think he's the best quarterback or not is irrelevant. Quarterbacks like Matt Stafford, Joe Flacco, and Jimmy Garoppolo all reset the market as the highest-paid quarterback. Now, it's Dak Prescott's turn.
Thanks to the new CBA's revenue share and where the market is set at, Dak Prescott is going to be set for an incredible payday. Whether it's with the Dallas Cowboys or someone else is up to Jerry and Stephen Jones.
