On the floor, CeeDee Lamb’s four-year, $136 million contract extension looks like an enormous win for the Dallas Cowboys.
However after the preliminary fist-pumping and celebratory high-fives, one would possibly understand the Cowboys aren’t out of the woods simply but as a result of quarterback Dak Prescott will command a good bigger contract extension than Lamb’s if re-signed, which in flip, would possibly additional complicate hammering out a long-term deal for star edge-rusher Micah Parsons subsequent season as effectively.
Spotrac values Prescott’s market worth round $55.1M per season, which is what his 2024 cap hit is, however some in league circles consider he might be the NFL’s first $60M-per-year participant.
Dallas is aware of the longer Prescott goes unsigned, the extra he’s going to value in the long term, which is why the group is reportedly making an attempt to get his deal finished earlier than the beginning of the common season in accordance with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“They’re going to attempt to get Prescott finished earlier than Week 1 and double down on each these guys and spend a ton of cash,” Fowler mentioned, via SB Nation. “It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not they can pull this off. Prescott…he’s effectively conscious of how effectively he can do in free company if he have been to let this trip out, play effectively once more, put up an enormous QBR after which be there in March for $60M a 12 months.”
The Cowboys have somewhat over $30M in cap house in 2025 and almost $147M in 2026 as soon as Lamb’s new cash hits the books. There are methods Dallas can signal each Prescott and Parsons subsequent offseason, but it surely includes getting inventive.
For instance, restructuring deal with Terrence Steele’s deal subsequent 12 months opens up $9M, slicing security Donovan Wilsons post-June 1 creates $7M in cap house, and lengthening Parsons himself frees up round $16M. Nevertheless, the actual conundrum occurs in 2026.
Parsons’ market value is estimated at round $30.6M per 12 months, and if Prescott indicators for $60M per 12 months (he additionally counts for $40.13M in opposition to the cap in 2025 if he leaves Dallas), the Cowboys have to determine a option to justify committing almost $124M, or roughly 68% of their cap house to only three gamers.
It may be finished, however then severe questions get raised concerning the high quality of the group the Cowboys can construct across the trio.