“Dak Prescott Becomes NFL’s Highest-Paid Player with Record $240 Million Contract Extension”
The Dallas Cowboys have locked in Dak Prescott with a groundbreaking $240 million, four-year deal, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history and reinforcing his goal to win a Super Bowl with his beloved team.
“I wanted to be a Cowboy,” Prescott said. “I wanted to remain a Cowboy, and we made it happen.”
An anonymous source, as the deal isn’t officially announced yet, disclosed that Prescott is now the first player in league history to earn an average of $60 million annually. Heading into the final year of a previous $160 million, four-year contract, Prescott’s new agreement guarantees him a record $231 million, surpassing Deshaun Watson’s guaranteed deal with the Browns by $1 million.
“I had a responsibility to the league and the other quarterbacks,” Prescott remarked. “Since my turn came up, I expect the next guy to surpass me.”
Prescott received the contract news from his agent while preparing for Sunday’s game against the Browns, where he led the Cowboys to a 33-17 victory with one touchdown pass in their season opener.
Negotiations were intense, with weeks of uncertainty surrounding whether a deal would be reached. Prescott was eager for resolution as he entered his contract’s final year.
“In any negotiation, one side wants one thing, and the other side wants something else,” Prescott said. “You have to find a middle ground. I’m just happy it’s done and works for everyone.”
He confirmed that he spoke with team owner and general manager Jerry Jones on Saturday, who assured him that the Cowboys were committed to finalizing the deal.
“I know these numbers are beyond anything I could have imagined,” Jones commented to reporters shortly before the game.
Prescott has led the Cowboys to five playoff appearances in his first eight seasons, including three consecutive years, but the team is still chasing a deep postseason run, as they haven’t advanced beyond the divisional round since their last Super Bowl win in 1995.
At 31, Prescott is determined to push the Cowboys further in the playoffs.
“It’s about me fulfilling my part of the bargain,” he stressed.
“This was necessary for what we’re striving for: to win a championship,” Jones said. “I’ve given everything I have to be a part of the Cowboys, and where we stand today exceeds my wildest dreams.”
Prescott’s new contract comes after All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb recently extended his deal with the Cowboys, signing a four-year, $136 million contract.
Prescott’s journey from a fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State in 2016 began with unexpected circumstances. An injury to Tony Romo and backup Kellen Moore thrust him into the starting role as a rookie. After an initial loss, Prescott led the Cowboys to an impressive 11-game winning streak, setting a franchise record.
He edged out Ezekiel Elliott for the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award as they led the Cowboys to the top seed in the NFC, though their playoff run ended with a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Two years later, Prescott guided the Cowboys to their first playoff win under his leadership against Seattle before being eliminated by the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round. Subsequent years featured more playoff appearances but no deep postseason runs, including a loss to the 49ers after a wild-card win over Tom Brady’s Buccaneers.