By Josh Clark and Mike Fisher
DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - If the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott can't come to an agreement on a contract extension this offseason, he'll play under the franchise tag that's reportedly worth $31.409 million, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Per the report, the original $26.824 million tag number was just a place holder until the top five quarterback salaries were finalized once restricted free agency ended.
The Cowboys placed the exlusive franchise tag on Prescott after they failed to come to terms on an extension by the March 16 deadline.
The long-term payoff can still come, with a mid-July deadline to have that done. But even without that, Prescott will still be the highest-paid player in franchise history.
The Cowboys have wrestled with questions about Prescott as their franchise QB but last September, having offered him "top-five QB money,'' the answer seemed in place. Prescott, via agent Todd France of CAA, nearly agreed to that deal at that time.
As reported in this space, a new offer was submitted in early March that was to pay the QB in cumulative excess of $33 mil APY/$105 mil guaranteed. Prescott declined to accept that offer.
But the years of the contract was probably a sticking point then and certainly is now. Dallas would prefer a six-year contract; understandably, France would fight for a shorter-term deal given the possibility of the NFL salary cap skyrocketing in coming years as the TV contract expires after the 2022 season.
Negotiations between Jerry and Stephen Jones' side and Prescott's side will continue, of course. In the meantime, the Cowboys began their virtual offseason workouts on Monday and it was reported that Prescott wouldn't attend. It is unknown at this time if he did or didn't participate.
Prescott has the option of declining to sign Dallas' franchise-tag tender ... and using the leverage he has by staying away from the team. The virtual offseason is his first opportunity to do just that.
