Dallas — Now that the Super Bowl is concluded, the offseason can officially start. This implies that the Dallas Cowboys will need to make some crucial financial decisions about some of their greatest players.

Dak Prescott, the quarterback, is in the beginning of this process. He signed a four-year contract in the offseason of 2021. Prescott’s cap charge for the last year has increased to around $60 million for 2024 as a result of restructurings; if the Cowboys are to contend for a title, this amount cannot continue. Maintaining it at that level will make it more difficult for the squad to sign any free agents who can help them out.

Prescott’s current contract is expensive, and part of it states that the team cannot use the franchise tag on him once more. As a result, the organization faces pressure to either extend the contract of their MVP-caliber quarterback or let him finish out the season and run the risk of him becoming an unrestricted free agent. The Cowboys, who witnessed Prescott step up his game in 2023, do not find that to be an appealing option.

The organization and their franchise quarterback, Prescott, are in their fourth contract standoff, and after years of talks to ink his current deal, another round of talks is about to begin this offseason.

But it seems like the Cowboys are realizing this time around that they should close a deal as quickly as possible. Agreeing to a new deal with Prescott before to the start of free agency is crucial because Dallas is up against the salary cap, has several unsigned free agents, and is awaiting an agreement for outstanding wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Fortunately, it seems that the company is aware of these realities. If they are going to go “all-in,” as Jerry Jones said, they are aware that a new agreement needs to be made soon in order for the  Cowboys will be prepared to participate in free agency when it begins in March.

Prescott is in complete control of these talks; the Cowboys should make him one of the most paid players in the NFL unless they wish to part with their elite signal caller, in which case they should reduce his cap figure in order to field a competitive team in 2024. Prescott has the opportunity to profit, and the Joneses seem prepared to do so.

It’s difficult to blame the Cowboys for wanting to re-sign Prescott right now after he had a stellar season. After eight years of experience, the experienced quarterback for the Cowboys became the first since Roger Staubach to lead the NFL in touchdown passes. He also led the league in completion %, passer rating, and yards while drastically cutting down on interceptions from the previous season.

While the Cowboys’ offense struggled to start the season in 2023 as they adapted to head coach Mike McCarthy’s new playbook, Prescott and the team picked up steam after the bye week, throwing 30 touchdown passes against just five interceptions to lead the team in scoring. The Cowboys’ offense finished first in the league in scoring, so the team’s chances of winning the postseason were increased by keeping Prescott in the fold at a salary cap number that can be worked around in Dallas.

Rather, it appears that the Cowboys will stick with Prescott and maybe add more players to surround him. By signing him before the start of free agency, the team will be able to take advantage of cap space and equip itself to compete aggressively in the open market.