Cowboys' Stephen Jones shares optimistic Dak Prescott contract update

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones insists that the $59.45M salary-cap figure for 2024 attached to Dak Prescott's contract hasn't impacted the club's free-agency decisions. 

"Dak's been willing to work with us," Jones explained, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. "We've had good discussions about him and his contract. He's all-in in working with us, and we've had personal discussions with Dak as well. Other than that, that's all we'll say about that, our negotiations with him. We want to keep that private. Won't get into timelines, but certainly a priority of ours."

Archer mentioned that the Cowboys were the last organization to sign a player from a different team in free agency. It was learned on Wednesday that Dallas swooped in to essentially steal linebacker Eric Kendricks from the San Francisco 49ers via a one-year contract. 

While much has been made about the Cowboys needing to sign Prescott to an extension this offseason to lower his salary-cap hit for 2024, there are other ways Dallas could receive cap relief. Prescott is in the final year of a deal that prevents Dallas from using the franchise tag to retain his rights for 2025 and includes a no-trade clause. 

"There's a lot to be played out between now and our first game next year," Jones said about transactions Dallas can make before, during and after the upcoming draft. "I don't think you win a Super Bowl championship on the first, second or third day of the league year."

The 2023 Cowboys had enough talent to win the NFC East with a 12-5 record but then suffered a home 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Prescott is now responsible for a 2-5 career postseason mark, and Dallas hasn't played in an NFC Championship Game since the franchise won the Super Bowl in January 1996.

"I know where the frustration is," Jones said about how fans have reacted to Dallas' lack of free-agency activity. "It's the fact that we have not had a lot of success in the playoffs to their satisfaction. Until we do that, the criticism is certainly something that's going to be there...but we are going to stick with what we believe will ultimately get us a championship for our fans. We don't define all-in by what you spend in free agency."

Prescott was a Most Valuable Player finalist for the 2023 season, so logic suggests he'll sign an extension with Dallas sooner rather than later. With that said, every week he doesn't ink a deal raises eyebrows regarding what Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones may be planning for 2024 and beyond.