Many questioned whether or not Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones would open up his pockets for quarterback Dak Prescott in the course of the low season.
Effectively, he did that and extra.
A couple of hours earlier than Week 1 kickoff, Jones determined to open the vault and make Prescott the highest-paid participant within the NFL by signing him to a four-year, $240 million contract extension with a whopping $60 million common annual worth. Extra importantly, it ensures stability on the quarterback place for the Cowboys till 2028.
The brand new deal does come at a price, because the Cowboys are paying Prescott the very best common annual wage in NFL historical past, eclipsing Joe Burrow, Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence, who beforehand led the way in which with a $55 million AAV.
Jones initially confirmed some hesitation in handing his quarterback this deal due to the crew’s playoff struggles. The Cowboys are 2-5 within the post-season underneath Prescott.
Prescott had some leverage, because the Cowboys risked letting him attain free company as he was heading into the ultimate 12 months of his present deal. If Prescott had left the Cowboys as a free agent, the crew would’ve needed to cope with virtually $95 million in lifeless cap after this season.
The 31-year-old was coming off his greatest season within the NFL final 12 months, as he led the league with 410 completions and 36 touchdowns and completed second in MVP voting.
Prescott’s deal not solely makes him the highest-paid participant per season, however he additionally receives probably the most assured cash within the NFL at $231 million. That’s simply $1 million greater than the $230 million the Cleveland Browns quarterback gave Deshaun Watson.
Right here is how Prescott’s deal stacks as much as different high quarterbacks within the NFL.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Contract: 10 years, $440 million ($45 million AAV)
Mahomes nonetheless owns the most important whole worth for a contract in NFL historical past after signing a 10-year $450 million deal in 2020. Prescott’s deal truly solely ranks eighth in whole worth amongst quarterbacks, however the four-year time period inflated the typical wage of the deal.
Technically, Mahomes’ deal may be value $503 million with $477 million in assure mechanisms, which gave Mahomes the flexibility to have outs if the mechanisms aren’t exercised.
There isn’t a doubt that Mahomes was definitely worth the deal he signed as a three-time Tremendous Bowl winner and a two-time NFL MVP.
Getting the long-term pact accomplished with Mahomes has allowed the Chiefs to take care of their aggressive window since Mahomes isn’t even within the high 10 by way of highest-paid quarterbacks per 12 months.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Contract: 5 years, $275 million ($55 million AAV)
Burrow turned the primary quarterback to make $55 million per season and it was a big funding made by the Bengals.
When he signed the deal again in 2023, Burrow had led the Bengals to back-to-back appearances within the AFC Championship sport, doubling Cincinnati’s earlier variety of convention championship appearances since 1968.
Since being chosen first total in 2020, the 27-year-old has thrown for 14,083 yards, 97 touchdowns and 37 interceptions in 52 profession begins. Solely Justin Herbert has thrown for extra yards (17,223) and touchdowns (114) from that draft however he has additionally performed in additional video games (62) than Burrow.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Contract: 4 years, $212 million ($53 million AAV)
A couple of months earlier than Prescott secured his extension, one other quarterback from the 2016 NFL Draft additionally obtained a wealthy extension from his crew.
The Lions rewarded Goff with a four-year, $212 million contract extension again in Could, making the primary total decide from the 2016 NFL Draft the second-highest-paid quarterback on the time.
Coming off his third season in Detroit, the 29-year-old for 4,575 yards with 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Extra importantly, he helped the Lions attain the NFC Championship Recreation for the primary time since 1991.
Out of all of the quarterbacks taken within the 2016 NFL Draft, Goff nonetheless leads the category with 30,429 passing yards, however Prescott has extra passing touchdowns (84) and fewer interceptions (74) than Goff (82). Prescott additionally has 407 carries for 1,884 yards and 28 touchdowns, whereas Goff has 241 rushes for 495 yards and 12 touchdowns.