The increase for and vote of confidence in Prescott is nicely deserved. The 31-year-old signal-caller is coming off a profession yr, wherein he led the league with 410 completions and 36 touchdowns and completed second in MVP voting. Prescott’s marked enchancment from the 2022 season, when he performed simply 12 video games however nonetheless paced the NFL with 15 interceptions, proved that the QB was getting higher with age, a pillar to nonetheless construct round relatively than one to desert.
By signing Prescott earlier than he was slated to hit unfettered free company in 2025, Dallas prevented their franchise QB reaching the market with unheard-of leverage. Along with his no-trade clause, Prescott benefitted in negotiations from having already been franchise-tagged twice. If Dallas was to tag him a 3rd time, they might have owed Prescott upwards of $80 million, a prohibitive quantity even for the cash-rich Cowboys.
Sunday’s information ends an offseason of consternation for Jones and the ‘Boys, who from the beginning of coaching camp confronted questions on the way forward for Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons in Large D. Jones was fairly assured all summer time in regards to the state of his massive stars at The Star, telling reporters he was embracing the “ambiguity” of Dallas’ good downside. The Cowboys proprietor mentioned late final month that the workforce did not have to get Dak’s deal finished earlier than the beginning of the 2024 season, however Sunday’s delicate deadline spurred motion.
“I am pleased that it is finished,” Jones mentioned. “This was a time when it was proper there for us to do. We had been all set to go and it was crucial. I’ve seen so many issues that had been worthy of doing that weren’t finished since you missed the timing to make it occur. Opening Day, up right here in opposition to Cleveland, this was a good time to make it occur.
“I feel all of us felt a bit of vitality to come back on in and get to a degree the place let’s imagine sure. I’ve recognized all alongside what an excellent participant Dak is, and I am glad all people understands I perceive [that].”
With Prescott and Lamb now beneath contract, every close to document ranges, Dallas can flip its consideration to a crucial 2024 season and to re-signing the two-time All-Professional and perennial Defensive Participant of 12 months candidate Parsons, who’s getting into his fourth season with the Cowboys. The star linebacker is beneath contract via the 2025 season after Dallas exercised his fifth-year possibility earlier this yr, giving Cowboys brass room to breathe earlier than they shell out extra cash on big-time extensions.
For now, the Cowboys can say with confidence they’re lastly and actually “all in” — on Prescott, their quarterback of the current and future.