Dak Prescott Just Got PAID

Last May, when Dak Prescott turned down $175 over five years (35 million a year), I thought he had lost his mind. It looks like Ole Dozo was wrong again as he just got PAID like Johnny Kemp/*NSYNC tune of $160 million over four years; 126 of which are guaranteed with 66 of those coming as a signing bonus.

Cowboys are giving Dak Prescott a four-year, $160 million deal, including a record $126 million guaranteed, source tells ESPN.

The first three years average $42 million per year.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2021

The deal can be worth up to $164 million, per source.

The deal includes $66 million to sign and $75 million in year one, the most in NFL history. https://t.co/bt7uBY2v7w

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2021

I stand by my original take back in May. I'm all for taking billionaires for all you can, especially in such a brutal game with a finite amount of earning potential, but in the NFL, there is little thing called a salary cap. I think Dak is a damn good NFL QB, but how many times has a team drafted well only to have to make difficult decisions because they can't pay everybody. Again, get yours, but when you have a below-average left guard getting you killed or a defense that can't get off the field, you may wish you took a little less to build a better roster top to bottom, IMHO. Apart from Bill Belichick's genius, the primary reason the Patriots were able to maintain a two-decade double-dynasty is that Tom Brady took such team-friendly deals that allowed a more well-rounded roster around him.

I think Dak is a top 10 QB in the NFL, probably even higher, but getting into semantics about if he's #4, 7, or 9 is not worth my time at this or any moment. As a man with a soul, I'm glad to see him get so much guaranteed money after such a devastating ankle injury. I don't think this happens five years ago. I feel like this is the complete opposite of conventional sports history. Who else has turn downed an enormous deal, suffered a significant injury, only to get offered a better deal? I'm sure there's at least one other example, but I'll let you do that homework. What Dak Prescott just pulled off is more impressive than anything I've ever seen him do on a football field to this point. This man beat the system. Good for him. Will the Cowboys win a Super Bowl over the life of this deal? Probably not, but again, good for him.

Now that Dak got his in this massive payday, which includes 75 million in year one, it would only be right to give Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci, and Garrett Gilbert a little taste after they showed Jerry how much he truly matters to the Dallas Cowboys.

Dak Prescott is the ONLY QB to rank top-5 in...

...passing EPA
...YPA
...success %
...explosive pass rate
...and aDOT

the last two seasons. He led the NFL in QB point production prior to getting injured last season pic.twitter.com/hm32GsERjr

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 9, 2021