ESPN: Dak Prescott could be waiting on Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love deals for 'market resetter' contract

Dak Prescott enters the final year of the four-year, $160 million contract this season, and while re-signing its quarterback is a priority for the Dallas Cowboys, Prescott’s patience might get him paid.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Prescott could be waiting for the right moment to sign his new, long-term deal in Dallas.

“The Cowboys have at least been in contact with Dak Prescott and his representatives,” Fowler explained on SportsCenter Sunday morning. “They’ve made clear to the player privately, ‘We don’t want you to go to free agency, we want you to get this done with us long term.’ Not a lot of progress as of yet. But here’s a little bit of a wrinkle, you still have Tua Tagovailoa in Miami trying to get a deal done. You still have Jordan Love in Green Bay, he needs to get a deal done.

“Dak Prescott has the most leveraged to those three. He very well could be waiting for those two to go first and bats clean-up with a huge deal that could be a market resetter.”

As it stands, Prescott is currently the 10th-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Prescott has said in the past that he doesn’t “play for money,” and that he would give up all of his earnings if he had to if it meant he could keep playing football. Instead, he would rather, “allow that to the business people to say what it’s worth.” He’s currently focused on what he can control and that’s his performance on the field.

Although, waiting to see how the next big-time quarterback contracts are structured could be the right move for Prescott to potentially become the highest-paid player in the NFL.

“The Cowboys likely know that this is the dynamic,” Fowler continued. “So do they tried to squeeze in a CeeDee Lamb deal in the meantime? You have a receiver that’s going to make well over $30 million per year in a new contract. They’re going to try to pay one of these two in the next month or so. It’s going to be tough”

Lamb is fresh off a career-best season in 2023, totaling 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns on 135 receptions, the most in the NFL in 2023. Lamb finished eight games with at least 100 yards, including a 227-yard performance against the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.

With fellow star wideouts in AJ Brown, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jaylen Waddle all receiving fresh contracts, Lamb could be the highest paid of them all after he signs his new deal. Whether that comes before or after his quarterback remains to be seen.