Cowboys Aiming To Finalize Dak Prescott Extension Before CeeDee Lamb?

With minicamp now within the books, the period leading as much as Cowboys’ training camp will probably be dominated by progress on extension talks for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons. The latter is under contract for 2 more years, so he shouldn’t be as pressing of a financial priority this summer.

Prescott has firmly remained in Dallas’ plans beyond the 2024 campaign, one during which he is about to hold a cap hit of $55.13MM. With no-tag and no-trade clauses in his deal, last season’s MVP runner-up has loads of leverage in a possible bid to succeed in the highest of the quarterback market. A report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler earlier this month indicated the Cowboys are set to make a “strong offer” to maintain Prescott within the fold.

To little surprise, that has placed the 30-year-old at the highest of the pecking order when it comes to lucrative Dallas extensions. Fowler noted in a recent SportsCenter appearance that the Cowboys wish to work out the Prescott accord before those of Lamb and Parsons (video link). Such an approach would come as little surprise, considering the respective cap situations of the three players and the character of the quarterback (versus receiver and edge rush) markets.

Prescott is a candidate to set a brand new standard when it comes to annual average compensation on his next deal; each Joe Burrow (Bengals) and Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) are currently at $55MM in that regard. The previous fourth-rounder has publicly stated that his latest round of negotiations won’t be as centered on funds because the last one, and the extent to which that holds true will probably be a key consider this process. As Fowler confirms, the Cowboys haven’t yet aggressively engaged in extension talks with Prescott.

If that continues in the meanwhile, Lamb will probably be left to attend for serious negotiations of his own. The three-time Pro Bowler didn’t participate in OTAs or mandatory minicamp as he continues to hunt down an extension. Lamb has seen Justin Jefferson reset the highest of the receiver market together with his $35MM-per-year Vikings pact, and his own value might be similar. Given the surge in lucrative receiver pacts signed by other top producers on the position recently, Lamb could have significant leverage after any potential Prescott deal is hammered out.

After all, recent agreements for either member of that pair could have to be made with Parsons in mind as well. Under contract in 2025 via his fifth-year option, Parsons is aiming to usurp Jefferson because the league’s top paid non-quarterback. The resources Dallas has available to fulfill that goal (likely next offseason) will largely rely upon the progress made with Prescott and Lamb – in that order – throughout the near future.