In the world of professional football, the quarterback position has become more crucial than ever. With offenses emphasizing high-flying passing attacks, star quarterbacks are signing record-breaking contracts left and right. Just take the example of Patrick Mahomes, who set a new market standard with his massive 10-year, $503 million deal in 2020.
As the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, Dak Prescott is now in the spotlight as he approaches the end of his contract in 2024. The question on everyone’s mind is whether the Cowboys will choose to extend him or not. Prescott and his team are eager to set a new benchmark for quarterback contracts, but the decision is not that simple for Dallas.
The Cowboys are currently in negotiations with other key players like Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb, who are also seeking big paydays. Furthermore, the team must evaluate Prescott’s entire career and determine if he has what it takes to lead them to a Super Bowl victory. Despite impressive individual statistics and a league MVP award, Prescott has yet to deliver when it matters most, especially in crucial playoff games.
One of the glaring weaknesses during Prescott’s tenure with the Cowboys has been his struggles against winning teams. Since 2016, Dallas has only managed a winning percentage of 47.37% (27-30) against teams with records above .500. In the NFL, success is measured by wins against top competition, and Prescott has consistently fallen short in that regard.
A prime example of this came last season when the Cowboys were embarrassed 31-10 by the Buffalo Bills in a crucial late-season matchup. Facing a depleted Buffalo team, Dallas was expected to dominate, but Prescott and the offense faltered against a determined Bills defense. This inability to rise to the occasion against quality opponents has been a recurring theme throughout Prescott’s career.
Despite some impressive performances in early playoff exits, Prescott’s recent postseason struggles have raised serious concerns. In their most recent playoff appearances, the Cowboys fell to the San Francisco 49ers in back-to-back years, with Prescott posting underwhelming numbers and costly turnovers in those games. Even in a shootout loss to the Green Bay Packers, Prescott’s stats were somewhat inflated, masking his early struggles in the game.
With a string of disappointments in key games, Prescott’s future in Dallas hangs in the balance. As the Cowboys face tough decisions about their roster and financial commitments, the quarterback’s performance in critical moments will ultimately determine his fate with the team. Will Dallas choose to reset the quarterback market with Prescott, or will they look to move on from their talented but inconsistent signal-caller? Only time will tell.
