Dak Prescott, Julio Jones among several NFL stars with restructured deals

The 2021 NFL season kicks off in just over 48 hours with a Thursday night game between the Dallas Cowboys and the reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Several NFL stars have had their contracts re-worked ahead of the 2021 season. ESPN’s Field Yates reported the changes. 

The Cowboys created $5-million in cap space by converting $6.25-million of quarterback Dak Prescott’s base salary into a signing bonus. Prescott signed a four-year, $160M extension in March after playing on a $31.4 million franchise tag in 2020. 

After conflicting reports this summer about Prescott’s status ahead of the 2021 season, Prescott will be the guy for the Cowboys on Thursday.

“I’m ready. I’m definitely ready. I’m excited. I’ve put a lot of work in to get to this point,” Prescott said Friday. 

In Nashville, the Titans converted $14-million of wide receiver Julio Jones’ salary into a signing bonus, freeing up $11.2-million in cap space and adding two void years as well. Tennessee is loaded at the skill positions with Jones, wide receiver A.J. Brown and running back Derrick Henry.

After a minor injury early in camp, Jones participated in a full practice yesterday. He is preparing for the Titans opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. This is Jones’ first NFL season away from the Falcons. The seven-time Pro Bowler spent 10 seasons in Atlanta and recorded 848 catches, 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns.

A few second-stringers have contracts re-worked as well

The Bears converted $5.825-million of tight end Jimmy Graham’s salary into a signing bonus, creating $4.66M in cap space (with four void years added as well). 

Graham was the clear TE No. 1 last season in Chicago before rookie Cole Kmet began to shine late in the year. Kmet is now listed at the Bears top tight end. Graham had 50 receptions for 456 yards and eight touchdowns in 2020. 

Chicago is currently looking at a dead cap hit of $29.7 million in 2022, and $4.66 million of that is related to Graham. He has the second highest dead cap number; quarterback Andy Dalton leads the team at $5 million.

Carl Nassib is entering his fifth year in the NFL, and the Raiders created $2.008-million into cap space when they converted $2.51-million of his salary into a signing bonus. Nassib is listed as a backup to Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. He was benched last year due to poor play during his worst NFL season to date. He played in 14 games and had 28 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass break ups and an interception. 

This is the second time the Raiders have restructured Nassib’s contract this season. In March, Las Vegas freed up over $4 million to add flexibility this fall.