The parameters that would get a deal done with Dak Prescott according to sources

The latest “headlines” from the Dak Prescott situation don’t really move the needle much, but they do kind of give a clear picture of where this may all be headed. The deadline for the Cowboys and Prescott to get a long-term deal done is July 15th, and almost everyone expects these negotiations to drag on until close to that point.

We’ve previously heard that the sticking point is length of contract, and the latest bit of info doesn’t specifically get into that, but does lay out a deal that a few NFL execs think would get the job done. According to ESPN, if the Cowboys offered $35 million a year for four years, pen would likely hit paper.

“I continue to hear, from sources, that Prescott and the Cowboys are both ready to drag this out to the July 15 franchise tag deadline if that’s the way it’s going to be,” Fowler said to show co-host Hannah Storm. “And that’s the paste right now. It’s been slow over the last month, and they still have a gap in money and number of years on the contract. So Prescott’s willing to be patient as well.

“I continue to hear that he’s looking at the overall picture. And if Deshaun Watson gets a deal done in Houston, that only strengthens the quarterback market. Speaking to several execs around the league, they believe if Prescott can get close to or at that 35-million-dollar-per-year mark on the four-year deal he covets, it’s going to be really hard to pass that up.”

Four years, $35 million a year. The Cowboys have been pushing for five years, but it doesn’t look like the Prescott camp is willing to bite. Prescott has the leverage for a couple of reasons. He has a tender in place that he can sign and play under this year and get $31+million, then hit free agency again in 2021. The Cowboys could franchise him again, but the price would go up significantly, and that brings us to the second part of the leverage.

Guys like Deshaun Watson and possibly Patrick Mahomes getting new deals would reset the quarterback market again. They would drive up the franchise tag cost for the future, and they would also drive up the expected yearly average of contracts for the position. There is really no need for Prescott to budge on his contract stance.

Stephen and Jerry Jones are likely to wait until the deadline, but they will likely give in. Expect the numbers to end up in the four-year, $35 million a year range, with over $100 million guaranteed.