Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acknowledged Tuesday that quarterback Dak Prescott is in the driver’s seat when it comes to contract negotiations.
The Cowboys stumbled to a 6-10 record without Prescott, who suffered a season-ending compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in October.
“I don’t know how you could have any more leverage,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.
Prescott and the Cowboys couldn’t reach agreement on a long-term contract before the 2020 season, and the quarterback was set to play on the $31.4 million franchise tag.
With the regular season now over, the Cowboys and Prescott can resume contract negotiations. When talks concluded last June without a deal, the Cowboys were discussing a contract in the range of $35 million a year with a hefty guarantee.
Prescott, 27, was leading the NFL with 1,856 passing yards when he sustained the injury in Week 5. The Cowboys got off to a 2-3 record under Prescott and finished limped to the finish behind starters Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci and Garrett Gilbert.
Jones said Tuesday that Prescott is the leader the Cowboys need while acknowledging a reduction in the salary cap in 2021 — a product of the coronavirus pandemic — will make things trickier.
“He has great ability, in my mind, to win games. He’s talented. He certainly has the experiences and he has all the things, which has been substantiated by what we’ve offered Dak,” Jones said. “You wouldn’t offer Dak what we offered in the past if you’d not thought he was very special. The issue is how do you come together? And that’s no stranger to me. I’ve been doing it all my life, putting things together. We’ve got to get it together.”
In 69 starts over five seasons in Dallas, Prescott has a 42-27 record. He’s completed 66 percent of his passes for 17,634 yards with 106 touchdowns and 40 interceptions.
