Draft is no guaranteed promise, Cowboys must lock down Dak Prescott

What’s the hold up?

Since contract negotiations with Prescott have started, the Cowboys have instead agreed to extensions with running back Ezekiel Elliott, right tackle La’El Collins, linebacker Jaylon Smith, and wide receiver Amari Cooper. While Collins and Cooper are justified expenditures at premium positions in the league today, running back and linebacker are among the most replaceable positions in the sport.

Yet the Cowboys have signed their running back and a linebacker before the most important position all of sports.

Dak Prescott wants to be the highest paid quarterback in the NFL, and honestly not only his numbers support that, but this is how the salary cap works as well. Every year a new player becomes the highest paid player at their position, because players use the contract before theirs as the starting point in negotiation.

Recently turning down a long term deal worth $33 million per year, it has been reported that he wishes to be compensated at the number of Russell Wilson’s $35 million annually. Given his age, performance thus far, and the rise of the salary cap, these demands should not be too steep of a price for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys to shell out.

Prescott has earned the right to use these same methods of negotiation, and frankly, deserves nothing less. Last offseason Jared Goff and Carson Wentz both received massive extensions from the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles respectively, and on the field Prescott has shown more consistency and promise than both of them. This should not have come as a surprise to the Cowboys, as they must have know this massive payday was right down their sights.