Cowboys Rumors: ‘More Progress’ Made for Dak Prescott Contract Than Amari Cooper

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The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly working toward a contract extension with quarterback Dak Prescott that would “approach $30 million annually.”

Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the update Tuesday and noted the Cowboys have made “more progress” toward a new deal with Prescott than with wide receiver Amari Cooper, whose demands have been “shockingly high.”

Hill also noted the Cowboys “seem to be nonplussed” about making Prescott the highest-paid player in franchise history. Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is the team’s top-paid player after signing a five-year, $105 million contract in April.

Both key offensive players are heading into the final year of their contracts.

Prescott is coming off a season when he completed 67.7 percent of his throws for 3,885 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 16 games. He added six rushing scores for the third consecutive year.

The 25-year-old Mississippi State product ranked 17th in ESPN’s Total QBR and 20th at the position in Pro Football Focus‘ grades.

Prescott had dramatic splits in the season’s two halves, though. He had a 88.9 passer rating in the first eight games last year and a 103.4 rating in the final eight, showcasing the impact of Cooper after he was acquired in a trade.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones appeared on The Rich Eisen Show with former Dallas wideout Michael Irvin on Monday and said he’s “confident” a deal will get done with their franchise quarterback, per Hill.

“We are sold on Dak,” he said. “We do want to have him for the long term. We think he is worthy of investing in for the long term. He is going into his fourth year in the NFL. When you look at the snaps he has had, the situations he has been in and how he has got here and you see he has performed, we see real upside in Dak.”

Meanwhile, Cooper’s role had faded with the Oakland Raiders, who selected him with the fourth overall pick in 2015, before Dallas traded its first-round pick this year for him. 

After tallying just 22 catches and one touchdown in six games with the Raiders, he racked up 53 receptions and six scores in nine appearances for the Cowboys.

His base salary will jump from less than $1 million in the first four years of his rookie deal to $13.9 million as part of his fifth-year option, though. In turn, Hill reported the team is aware the “floor of his contract is $16 million annually” to sign him to a long-term extension.

All told, the Cowboys are seemingly more focused on making sure Prescott is re-signed, but his two levels of performance last year show the importance of making sure he has a true No. 1 wide receiver. It could bring the franchise tag into play with Cooper if a deal isn’t reached.