Dak Prescott has sent a stern message to Dallas Cowboys front office management after the team secured CeeDee Lamb to a new contract.
Dallas finally managed to end CeeDee Lamb's protracted holdout earlier this week, inking Prescott's favorite target to a mammoth four-year, $136 million contract, but now face similarly significant negotiations regarding the Cowboys gunslinger.
"I think it says a lot if it is or if it isn't," Prescott said Thursday of whether a deal is completed. "But 'however' doesn't really matter to me, to be honest with you. When asked what it means if a deal is not completed, Prescott replied simply, "Just how people feel."
Prescott has earned starting quarterback responsibilities since his rookie season in Dallas, unexpectedly taking the reins from franchise legend Tony Romo suffered an L1 vertebra injury in preseason. The former Ole Miss star served out his relatively-meager $2.7 million rookie contract — Prescott emerged out of relative obscurity in the fourth round of the NFL Draft — and received a $31 million player option in 2020 before finally signing the 4-year, $160 million deal the following year.
The three-time Pro Bowler now enters the final year of this deal, however, facing unrestricted free agency ahead of the 2025 season. Prescott is looking for another long-term commitment from the franchise, with owner Jerry Jones insisting their hesitancy comes from internal conditions rather than any discontentment with the quarterback.
"I'm such a fan of Dak's and appreciate all of the great things that we all know that is there. And I appreciate his work ethic more than anything out here. I can't tell you how proud I am that we've got him this year to start this campaign.
"When you look at a situation, you've also got to weigh, 'OK, what are the consequences of the other side of the coin?' And so Dak's situation right now for me, from my mirror, has more to do with our situation than it does with the merits of Dak Prescott being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys."
Prescott has led the Cowboys to unquestioned regular-season success, helping the franchise eclipse 12 wins in three straight seasons for the first time since 1995, but faced acute criticism over his accuracy after throwing 15 picks in 2022. The 31-year-old responded marvelously last season, nearly halving his interceptions while throwing for 36 touchdowns and over 4,500 yards as he finished second in AP voting.
The main beneficiary of Prescott's success has been Lamb, who has led the Cowboys in receiving for three consecutive seasons. And while the star wideout has no questions about Jones' appreciation for Prescott, he calls for expediency in agreeing on a new contract for his quarterback.
"You look at our numbers together, they’re at the top of the charts," Lamb said, via The Athletic's Jon Machota. "I have no doubt that they’re gonna get a deal done. We all know that I want Dak here. Jerry wants Dak here too, so let’s just get this under control and kill the speculation.”
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