FRISCO, Texas: The days of Dak Prescott, the success story of the fourth round, are over.
Now that the quarterback has signed a multi-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys, he will be defined by the $ 160 million contract, which includes $ 126 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Prescott’s firm bonus is $ 66 million, the highest in NFL history, a source told ESPN. With this megadeal, he becomes the second highest paid QB in the NFL.
Now it’s just a Super Bowl.
There are numerous reasons why the Cowboys wanted to sign Prescott, 27, on a long-term deal in each of the last two seasons. His play on the field of play (106 touchdown passes, 24 quick touchdowns and a 42-27 record) and what it means off the field (have you seen how things broke down after being injured in 2020?) the main reasons.
Another is fear.
Yes, by. There are only so many top-tier quarterbacks in the NFL. After retiring Troy Aikman, the Cowboys started Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Ryan Leaf, Clint Stoerner, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe before they got lucky with Tony Romo, a 2003 unwritten free agent. who did not throw any passes. a game until 2006.
Although Romo would become the leader of the franchise in touchdown steps (248), he went 2-4 in the playoffs and the team struggled when he got hurt. Romo’s backups, including Brad Johnson, Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee, Kyle Orton, Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel and Kellen Moore, had a combined 6-19 record between 2008 and 2015.
In 2020, the Cowboys scored 4-5 and scored a touchdown in the first three games without Prescott, who dislocated and had a compound fracture of his right ankle in a Week 5 game against the New York Giants.
The Cowboys selected Prescott in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. It wasn’t even their first selection in the fourth round as compensation, number 135 overall. And it wasn’t even his first choice. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was crushed because he couldn’t change in the first round to catch Paxton Lynch. They wanted Connor Cook in the fourth round.
They settled for Prescott and were lucky. Really lucky.
Prescott could have been the eighth quarterback selected in 2016, but he is likely to be the last QB in that category to be with his original team. Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick, will be handed out by the Los Angeles Rams to the Detroit Lions as part of Matthew Stafford’s trade. The Philadelphia Eagles have a deal to change No. 2 general election, Carson Wentz, to the Indianapolis Colts.
Prescott has started every game he has played with the Cowboys (69 to be exact) and has not had a losing history as a starter in any of his five seasons. The Cowboys have won the NFC East twice and a playoff game. In 2019, Prescott set career highs in steps (4,902) and touchdown steps (30). In 2020, he was on the verge of setting an NFL record by going 1,856 yards on his five outings. He had nine touchdown passes and four interceptions.
We were never able to see how the entire marriage between Prescott and coach Mike McCarthy would develop due to the coronavirus pandemic that caused a virtual low-season program (Prescott did not participate), and then the quarterback injury.
With this agreement, Prescott will participate in any aspect of the 2021 low season.
Prescott’s work in the off-season is what draws him to teammates. Even last year, Prescott had skill players at home, not far from The Star, to train on his garden’s grass field.
Intangibles and leadership cannot be quantified, but Pro Bowl offensive linemen Tyron Smith and Zack Martin, runner Ezekiel Elliott, and receivers Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb believe in Prescott when the Cowboys are in a situation completed.
“It’s all you want in a quarterback … someone would run down the wall for him,” Martin said.
Which means players on the other side of the ball know Prescott will figure out a way to win when things don’t go well for three-quarters, as he did in 2018 against Philadelphia in a 14-overtime win. .
“That’s how it works,” said Sean Lee, a Cowboys advocate. “He leads from the front. He’s there lifting with us, he’s running with us. When he practices, he practices with a certain kind of intensity. As I said, leaders, the first thing they do is set an example, and there’s no no one to set a better example than Dak. “
Now, Prescott has to deliver.
Cowboys quarterbacks are judged by championships. Don Meredith was the first to know. Then Danny White. Romo was the most recent. Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for their skill and leadership i his five Vince Lombardi Trophies combined.
Prescott’s contract comes with high expectations. He has already acted above his draft position. Now expectations are significantly higher: winning a Super Bowl.