Dak Prescott on extension talks: ‘Not trying to be the highest paid, necessarily’

In 2021, Dak Prescott signed a four-year, $160 million contract. On Friday, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback pulled back the curtain on his expectations for contract negotiations in 2025.

“I’m not trying to be the highest paid, necessarily. We’ll wait until negotiations begin, and I obviously want to put this team in the best situation,” Prescott said.

Prescott is currently the 10th-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Prescott had an excellent 2023 campaign, leading the NFL in touchdown passes (36) and passing completions (410). Nonetheless, the former Mississippi State standout couldn’t lead his team to victory in the Wildcard Round of the NFL Playoffs.

In the loss, Prescott threw for an impressive 403 yards and three touchdowns, but he also tossed two interceptions, including a pivotal pick-six. With the defeat, Prescott is now 2-5 in playoff games.

When a reporter asked Prescott if he still hopes to stay with the Cowboys after his contract ends, he directed the conversation to the upcoming season.

“I’m focused on right here, right now, where I am. That’s always how I’ve been,” Prescott said. “Anytime you have asked me, it’s always been about right now, getting better tomorrow. I’ve been in the situation before, so it’s OK. I’m fine. In any situation at any point, I’m betting on myself.”

While some fans are ready to move on from Prescott, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler doesn’t expect Prescott to split from the organization anytime soon.

“The money is gonna be crazy,” Fowler said on SportsCenter on Saturday morning. “So let’s start with Dak, I was told from a source of the team that the notion that the Cowboys don’t want to keep Dak Prescott beyond 2024 when he’ll be a free agent the next year is false. They still believe in him firmly. 

“They want him long term but I would describe their pursuits at a contract extension so far as pretty passive. He’s got a $61 million cap hit this year. He’s got dead money next year. So he’s got a lot of leverage. So this will play out eventually, but they are committed to spending money trying to re-sign some guys, Dak included.”

The Cowboys have not advanced past the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs since 1995 when the team won Super Bowl XXX over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, in his final year on contract, Prescott will look to lift the organization to its former heights.