ESPN analyst argues Dak Prescott is worth more than $60M per year

Throughout the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have avoided extending quarterback Dak Prescott. Is it time for them to stop procrastinating and shell out a mega deal?

ESPN analyst and former NFL safety Louis Riddick argues that the Cowboys have little choice and should make him the league's highest-paid player with a deal worth $65M annually.

"It's a never-ending argument when you're talking about trying to ascertain—what is a player, what's his worth?" Riddick said Wednesday on "Get Up." "And I know fans will get all up in arms about, 'He's not worth $60 million plus. He's not worth more than [Chiefs QB] Patrick Mahomes.' ...But look, this is the market right now."

The QB market has boomed this offseason. Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence signed a five-year, $275M deal , while Detroit's Jared Goff inked a four-year, $212M contract. Prescott, who is entering the final year of a four-year, $160M deal, could ask for an even bigger payday after one of the best seasons of his career.

In 2023, he led the league in TD passes (36 in 17 games , finishing second in MVP voting and earning a second-team All-Pro nod.

Prescott could force the Cowboys' hand. His contract includes a no-tag and no-trade clause. Signing Prescott would diminish cap space, and Dallas still needs room to extend wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and edge-rusher Micah Parsons. Lamb is set to play on the fifth-year option ($17.99M) in 2024, and he's reportedly holding out of training camp. Two years remain on Parsons' rookie deal.

Franchise QBs are rare, though, and the jury is out on whether Prescott's backup, Trey Lance, is an adequate replacement. In 2023, Dallas acquired the former first-rounder in a trade with the 49ers, but he didn't play. If Prescott leaves in 2025, his departure would result in a staggering $40.13M cap hit. Clearly, the Cowboys have few options and must consider giving the 30-year-old a long-term deal before the start of the regular season.