The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up to secure their starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, with a contract extension during the 2024 offseason.
Prescott is in the final year of his current contract and will become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
As of now, Prescott has posted a 4-2 record in the current season, with impressive stats including a 69.5% completion rate, 1,333 passing yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Prescott’s journey with the Cowboys includes some significant milestones. After four productive years under center, he received accolades like Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned two Pro Bowl selections.
He also led the team to two playoff appearances. In a move to secure Prescott, the Cowboys applied the franchise tag to him on March 16, 2020, and he subsequently signed the franchise tag tender on June 22, 2020.
However, a significant setback occurred during the 2020 season when Prescott suffered a season-ending injury. In Week 5 against the New York Giants, he sustained a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle.
This injury forced him to miss the remainder of the season. In his limited appearances that season, Prescott recorded 1,856 passing yards, a 68% completion rate, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions with a 2-3 record.
The Cowboys navigated the quarterback position with Andy Dalton, Garrett Gilbert, and Ben DiNucci, with Dalton starting in nine games.
Following his recovery from the ankle injury, Prescott agreed to a contract extension with the Cowboys. On March 10, 2021, he signed a 4-year, $160 million deal with the team.
In the 2021 season, Prescott demonstrated his resilience, starting all 16 games and leading the Cowboys to an 11-5 record.
He amassed 4,449 passing yards, with a 68.8% completion rate, 37 touchdowns, and ten interceptions. Despite a strong regular season, the Cowboys were eliminated by the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round.
Prescott’s journey continued into the 2022 season, but he faced a challenge early on when he fractured his right thumb in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He missed the following five games, during which Cooper Rush took over and posted a 4-1 record as the starter.
Prescott returned later in the season and concluded with an 8-4 record, with 2,860 passing yards, a 66.2% completion rate, 23 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
However, the Cowboys once again faced postseason disappointment with a Divisional Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Amidst this, the Cowboys made an intriguing move by acquiring Trey Lance, who lost the backup quarterback position to Sam Darnold in San Francisco, in exchange for a 2024 4th-round pick.
The Cowboys’ interest in Lance was fueled by the desire for a fresh perspective from a young quarterback.
Nonetheless, the acquisition of Trey Lance is not expected to alter the Cowboys’ plan for the quarterback position. Dak Prescott will continue to hold the starting role once the contract extension is finalized during the upcoming offseason. Prescott, who will turn 31 on July 29th, remains a valuable asset with several promising years ahead.