ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are like a rollercoaster: proprietor and basic supervisor Jerry Jones may be transferring alongside gradual as molasses earlier than out of the blue kicking into excessive gear and getting offers achieved.
On the age of 81, Jones confirmed he nonetheless can shut a deal when it issues most even when issues look bleak. All-Professional large receiver CeeDee Lamb had been holding out for the whole lot of the Dallas offseason program in the hunt for a long-term extension, and after the Cowboys’ preseason finale towards the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, negotiations regarded bleak. Jones and his son, Stephen, Dallas’ COO, had offered quite a lot of optimistic updates all through the offseason, however Jones’ remarks this previous weekend had been unsure.
“I haven’t got any updates however we’re close to the season beginning,” Jones stated.
That was as near Jones has come to admitting urgency, and he remodeled the sentiment right into a contract on Monday, re-signing his beforehand disgruntled receiver to a four-year, $136 million extension. Lamb’s new common per yr wage of $34 million is the second-highest amongst NFL large receivers, trailing solely Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson’s $35 million APY on his four-year, $140 million extension signed this offseason.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy made it clear the workforce had urgency, and now the deal is finished.
“I feel there’s urgency on each side,” McCarthy stated postgame on Saturday. “Simply as soon as once more, I imply, that is enterprise. And you recognize, what goes on there’s actually between the people within the room. However sure, I feel everyone concerned desires to get it achieved.”
Now, it is time for Jones and the Cowboys to show their consideration towards re-signing 2023 Second-Group All-Professional quarterback Dak Prescott, the 2023 NFL passing touchdowns chief with 36.
“Clearly you propose for Dak and you propose for CeeDee,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones stated, through Yahoo Sports activities, on Aug. 13. “The negotiations stay very cordial and everyone’s objective is to be a Cowboy sooner or later and give you options to the challenges of their contracts give you these options that make it to the place one we are able to have all three [Prescott, Lamb and Micah Parsons] of them and two we are able to put workforce round them.”
The senior Jones’ final remarks about his 31-year-old quarterback’s extension made it look like the negotiations had been caught in a stalemate.
“Nicely once more, we’re simply persevering with to speak,” Jones stated, through DallasCowboys.com, on Aug. 20 when requested about negotiations with Prescott. “The factor is there, since we’re actually in-season, working towards, doing all these issues, we’re working beneath the present contract actually good. One of many issues that the followers ought to actually perceive is that 9 instances out of 10, these are present contracts that you’ve in place. It is best to have the ability to function beneath these, however we have gotten it now within the NFL — different groups are coping with it — with a while on the contract, you continue to may need a contract dialogue. And that is what we’re doing. None of us — participant or workforce — wish to damage the preparation or chance of taking part in at your greatest.”
Dallas’ entrance workplace ought to now use the Lamb signing as a spark to re-ignite talks with Prescott and get a deal achieved earlier than the 2024 common season begins in lower than two weeks on Sep. 8 in Cleveland towards the Browns. One of many many the explanation why is as a result of Prescott has each a no-trade clause and a no-franchise-tag clause, that means he has the facility to stroll into unrestricted free company in March 2025 unencumbered. Nonetheless, the one method this deal will get achieved is that if the Jones boys alter their perspective on the quarterback contract market.
“We have a look at it like Dak’s our accomplice on this,” Stephen Jones stated, through “The Doomsday Podcast, on Aug. 8. “We’re making an attempt to win a championship. Nobody desires to win a championship greater than Dak Prescott; I can guarantee you that. And we do not have a look at it like we’re making an attempt to, you recognize, pay him to not go elsewhere.”
Dallas must make it financially value Prescott’s whereas to stay round with the Cowboys long-term and go up on his contractual proper to hit the open market for the reason that quarterback has ALL the leverage.
Prescott is each open to the thought of taking part in the again finish of his NFL profession elsewhere, and agency that any accepted supply won’t be something lower than market worth for a quarterback together with his profession resume. Maybe each Jerry and Stephen Jones and Prescott will likely be extra energized to come back collectively and get a deal achieved.
Despite the fact that there could also be issues about if the Cowboys can afford to spend market worth on Prescott, Lamb and Parsons, there’s a path ahead. Dallas was projected to have $64.6 million in efficient cap area in 2025, the fifth-most within the NFL, in keeping with OverTheCap.com, and they’re estimated to have $165.4 million in efficient cap area in 2026, essentially the most within the league per OverTheCap.com, previous to Lamb’s signing on Monday.
Now that Prescott is aware of his prime goal will likely be round for the foreseeable future, possibly each he and the Jones household will likely be extra amicable to having a solution-focused mindset and getting the brand new contract achieved within the subsequent few days.