Report: Cowboys’ Prescott seeking deal ‘right behind’ Patrick Mahomes

The biggest elephant in the room when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys is the long-term security of quarterback Dak Prescott. Shock waves were sent throughout the NFL landscape last week when Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson listed the Cowboys as a potential landing spot if he were to be traded.

NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported a day later, after confirming with a team source, that it was “laughable” to think such a scenario would happen. Slater also made an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show on Monday to discuss Prescott’s potential deal. Slater relayed a Cowboys’ team source has told her Prescott is looking to put his John Hancock on a contract that comes in “right behind” Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Slater goes on to say that while there haven’t been meaningful conversations, the two sides are talking and her team source indicates it feels that recent interactions “feels a little bit more productive.”

Mahomes’s deal in the ceiling for all at the quarterback position at $45 million annually. The floor is Deshaun Watson’s contract which pays him $39 million per year. Many feel Prescott hasn’t earned the right to approach Mahomes’ value, so something slightly above Watson is more realistic.

Prescott and Watson are often compared, but most seem to think Watson is the better player and Prescott should be paid as much or more than him. When the numbers are investigated, they’re much closer than many assume.

They both have a 69.3 QBR for their careers. Their completion percentages are close with Watson at 67.8 and 66.0 for Prescott. Watson uses his legs better and has a higher touchdown percentage (5.9%) than Prescott (4.6%), however, Prescott’s 1.7% interception percentage is lower than Watson’s 2.1%.

The two young studs have almost identical playoff numbers as well. Both have a 1-2 record in the postseason. Prescott has completed 64.1% of his passes with a rating of 95.7 while Watson has connected on 63.5% of his throws with a rating of 91.

The contract saga between Prescott and the Cowboys seemed to be headed towards a long-term deal in 2019. After Prescott threw for 405 yards (franchise-record for a season opener) and four touchdowns against the New York Giants, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that a new deal was “imminent”.

That never materialized and Prescott finished with a near franchise-record 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns, having many to believe the two sides wouldn’t let the 2020 season kick-off without a new long-term marriage. The Cowboys put a five-year, $175 million dollar deal on the table, but Prescott wanted a four-year commitment with the ability to hit the market again early in the new television deals and the associated windfall of revenue and salary cap space.

Prescott was placed on the franchise tag for $31.4 million for the 2020 season after another round of failed negotiations but only played in five games before a season-ending ankle injury.

The Cowboys and Prescott remain adamant a long-term deal is what both sides are striving for. The deadline to place a second consecutive franchise tag is March 9 and would slot Prescott for a $37.7 million salary. If Prescott is tagged again, the two sides will have until July 15 to work out a multi-year extension.

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