Weird Dak Rumor: QB Signed Due to Ankle Injury Worries?

FRISCO — After months of waiting and speculation, the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott came to terms on a contract extension Sunday morning. The franchise quarterback inked a four-year $240 million deal, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Many speculated if the deal would get done or the potential consequences of Prescott taking the field in Week 1 without one. Nonetheless, Dallas buried those rumors in the eleventh hour.

Had the deal not been secured at that time and the 2024 season played, analysts mused about the potentially lucrative free agency in store for the Cowboys quarterback. And now others are speculating about assorted other angles ... to the point of weirdness.

ESPN's Dan Graziano, for instance, questioned the "free-agency bonanza'' narrative , believing that gruesome ankle injury suffered Dak during the 2020 season might've played a negative role in the pursuit of him.

"While he's fine to play and there aren't any long-term concerns, there's no guarantee how this season will go behind the Cowboys' revamped offensive line," Graziano said. "The Cowboys know all about the ankle, have examined it many times and are comfortable with it.

"Would another team in free agency have felt as good about guaranteeing four or five years at that amount of money? Maybe, maybe not."

That's nonsense on two fronts.

One, while the offensive line is "revamped,'' it also features three first-round picks and a future Hall-of-Famer. ... and teams with a Cowboys' reputation for perennial O-line success. The notion that Dallas (or potential bidders) should be more worried than other NFL teams about the sturdiness of the line is foolish.

Two, the ESPN writer twists himself in knots here by saying "there are no long-term concerns'' about the ankle before adding that, hey, many there are concerns.

And he's wrong again. Until ESPN can find an NFL GM willing to say otherwise? That past ailment - managed with great care here in Frisco (and even while Dak is on vacation wearing a protective boot!) was not in any way on course to hinder any courtship of a potential suitor ... or, for that matter, unnerve Prescott in his dealings with Dallas.

What do we mean by that? Latching on to this report is the notion that Dak may have "settled'' for a deal now because of his own ankle concerns.

Via Yardbarker: "One can't help but wonder if he would've made a different business decision this summer had he not gone down with the brutal ankle injury roughly four years ago.''

Actually, one can help but wonder . Since the 2020 season, Prescott has only missed time due to a fluke injury sustained in the 2022 season opener when his hand collided with the helmet of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defender.

Related: Dak Contract Details Reveal: What’s $240M Cap Impact?

In the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons, Prescott has elevated himself among the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Not only has he shown a recovery from that injury, but he has demonstrated a maturation to his game that makes him an invaluable piece to the Cowboys hopes to contend for a title.

If the Cowboys did not want to extend Prescott, he would likely feel confident heading into free agency. A 31 year-old quarterback in his prime without a contract would present unheard of value to a new team.

Ultimately though, this decision has never been about security especially in regard to injury. Prescott wants to be a Cowboy and wants to be the one to lead this franchise back to the promised land. And in terms of "settling''? He got the richest deal in the history of the NFL, with unprecedented dollars in APY, signing bonuses and guarantees.

How is it even possible to "settle'' for the highest-priced contract ever?