Dak Prescott's Contract Extension Delayed as Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Says He's 'Not Ready'

The Dallas Cowboys are facing delays in contract extension talks with several of their star players, including quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and linebacker Micah Parsons. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has acknowledged the challenges, saying "I'm not ready to go" in terms of finalizing the contracts in April 2024. "I'm not ready to go," Jones said, citing salary cap restraints as a factor. "We're going to have to diminish that supporting cast to make it work."

Despite Prescott's successful eight-season tenure with the team, Jones has been hesitant to commit to extending the quarterback's contract. Prescott has elevated his playing level in the last three seasons, posting MVP-type numbers, but the team has not yet announced a new deal. Jones remains optimistic that Prescott will return for a 9th season and beyond, but says he will take as much time as needed to make the correct decision and a fair offer. "We want to keep Dak," Jones said. "But sometimes timing keeps you from making a mistake."

The Cowboys also face the challenge of retaining other promising young talents like Lamb and Parsons, who will soon be eligible for contract extensions. Lamb is set to play next season in his final year of his current deal and is worthy of a new contract. The team has exercised the fifth-year option on Parsons' contract, keeping him with the team at least through the 2025 season. However, their representatives are waiting to see the terms of other high-profile contracts before negotiating.

Why this matters: The Cowboys' ability to retain their core stars while managing the salary cap will have significant implications for the team's competitiveness in the coming years. As one of the NFL's most valuable and popular franchises, the Cowboys' contract decisions are closely watched and could set precedents for other teams facing similar challenges.

Jones acknowledged that paying Prescott another big extension will leave less room in the salary cap to build the rest of the team. The Cowboys have already lost some key players like offensive lineman Tyron Smith, running back Tony Pollard, and center Tyler Biadasz to other teams this offseason. Despite the challenges, Jones expressed confidence in the team's approach. "I've got a good feel for where the money is going to be spent in future years," he said. "I'm not worried about the market." The Cowboys hold the 24th overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and have drafted well in recent years, which could help offset potential losses in free agency.

Key Takeaways

• Cowboys face delays in contract extensions for Prescott, Lamb, Parsons due to salary cap
• Jones hesitant to extend Prescott's contract despite his success, wants to avoid mistakes
• Cowboys also need to retain Lamb and Parsons, who are eligible for extensions soon
• Retaining core stars while managing cap will impact Cowboys' competitiveness in coming years
• Cowboys have lost key players this offseason, but Jones confident in team's draft approach