FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys have made no secret about their needs. They need to signal Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons to contract extensions.
It was one thing they used to do routinely with gamers they needed to maintain off the free agent market. As not too long ago as 2019, they signed DeMarcus Lawrence, Jaylon Smith, La’el Collins and finally Ezekiel Elliott to extensions. Previous to that, stars like DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten, Tony Romo and Terence Newman not often sniffed the open market, signing offers more often than not earlier than their contracts expired.
Recently, it has been tougher.
They signed Professional Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs to a five-year, $97 million extension final summer season and had designs on getting one thing performed with Lamb, too, however nothing got here of it.
The truth is, nothing seems imminent with any of the three gamers they need to signal. By way of significance, Prescott would appear to be essentially the most urgent as a result of they can’t use the franchise tag on him in 2025. The Cowboys can use the franchise tag on Lamb in 2025. They are going to have Parsons beneath the fifth-year choice in 2025.
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Why does it matter? The longer the Cowboys wait on offers, the extra probably the fee will increase. That may influence their capacity to maintain different gamers or add items in free company. And extensions enable for roster continuity with out the potential distraction of a holdout. In addition they take away the ailing emotions of a participant questioning how a lot the group desires them. And it offers different gamers hope that they’ll signal long-term offers with the franchise.
As a substitute, these talks appear to virtually get to a degree of no return, inflicting pointless drama.
In 2019, Lawrence stated it was not his job to handle the Cowboys’ wage cap when in discussions with the Cowboys on an extension after taking part in the 2018 season on the franchise tag. He would finally signal a five-year, $105 million take care of $65 million in ensures.
The Cowboys have lengthy used a pie as a metaphor for the wage cap. There’s solely so many items to go round, and in consequence, the extra one participant takes, the much less there’s for the others, which makes it tough to maintain a great roster intact.
The Cowboys aren’t fallacious of their view, however their message is just not convincing.
In contrast to his fellow first-round offensive linemen Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick, who signed extensions as quickly as they had been eligible after their third season, Zack Martin waited till after his fourth season to signal an extension.
Elliott didn’t need to wait. He held out of coaching camp in 2019 earlier than signing a six-year, $90 million deal earlier than the season began. Whereas there may not have been a lot distinction in what the Cowboys supplied that spring to what Elliott signed the week earlier than the season, he was prepared to check the system.
The size of the offers issues extra to the Cowboys virtually as a lot as the cash. The longer the deal, the extra salary-cap flexibility they’ll have. The gamers need shorter-term offers with a purpose to doubtlessly money in yet one more time.
Prescott waited two years earlier than signing his four-year, $160 million deal that included $126 million assured. He even bought the contract regardless of a fractured and dislocated ankle that ended his 2020 season after 5 video games. And he seems to be prepared to attend once more.
Lamb doesn’t seem like in a rush, both. He was requested quite a few instances about an extension final 12 months and by no means gave the impression to be in a rush. He’ll make $17.99 million on the fifth-year choice this 12 months. Because the offseason program begins, he might skip the voluntary periods at The Star to work out on his personal.
After main the NFL in catches (135) and setting crew data in catches and yards (1,749) final 12 months, Lamb could make a case that he ought to be the NFL’s highest paid receiver. By way of common per 12 months, that falls on Miami’s Tyreek Hill at $30 million a 12 months. Davante Adams is No. 2 at $28 million per season.
Maybe Lamb and Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings are in a staring contest with neither desirous to go first for concern of setting too low of a bar whereas desirous to be the highest-paid receiver even for a brief time period. Perhaps each are ready due to the uncertainty at quarterback of their organizations.
And so everyone waits.
In the meantime the Philadelphia Eagles signed their left deal with Jordan Mailata, guard Landon Dickerson and kicker Jake Elliott to profitable extensions in latest weeks as they entered the ultimate years of their contracts.
The Cowboys have their philosophy and do not stray removed from it.
However at what value?
Finally Lamb’s deal will probably value $30 million a 12 months simply as Prescott’s present deal finally value them $40 million a 12 months.
Is it an unwillingness of the membership to set the market? Is it attempting to win the deal? Is it hoping a participant will lastly see it their approach that the pluses of taking part in in Dallas outweigh nearly every part else?
Subsequent offseason, the Cowboys must work a take care of Parsons, who could make a case that he ought to be the highest-paid defensive participant within the sport after ending within the prime three within the Defensive Participant of the Yr voting in every of his three seasons.
In 2026, they could be coping with the identical problem with offensive lineman Tyler Smith, who had a Professional Bowl season in 2023 as a guard and might be a franchise left deal with as effectively if the Cowboys transfer him this season.
Government vice chairman Stephen Jones has stated these are good issues to have as a result of the Cowboys have drafted so effectively.
However they’re nonetheless issues if you aren’t getting the offers performed.
