Dallas Cowboys training camp has been dominated by constant off-the-field talk about the team's future which remains in doubt with a trio of core players without deals going forward.
Quarterback Dak Prescott is entering the final year of his contract, which will pay him $29 million and count $55 million against the salary cap. If Prescott were to leave the Cowboys in free agency, he would still count $40 million against the Cowboys’ cap in 2025 because of the way his contract is structured.
There has been concern about Prescott's unsettled contract situation, but the quarterback isn't worried about his current status.
"I'm not putting much thought into hoping it gets done now, hoping it gets done in a couple weeks, during the season or whenever it happens," Prescott told reporters."I just know conversations are on the right way."
The 31-year-old established a career-high in passing yards (4,516) last season, while also throwing 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also completed 69.5 per cent of his passes which was a career-best.
Prescott's health has also been a talking point in camp as he missed a day of practice with ankle soreness for the second time in a month. Before training camp started, he was spotted in a walking boot while on vacation.
Prescott is now four years removed from the gruesome ankle injury he sustained in Week 5 in 2020. The 31-year-old was not wearing a protective boot as he watched the light practice in California.
“I'm free right now as in, where I am in life, what I’ve done here — not what I’ve done here, but who I’ve been here,” Prescott told Yahoo Sports. “Understanding that sure, I'm deserving of [the next contract]. But then again, I mean, I told [my physical therapist] Luke [Miller] this: This game is judged off of winning the Super Bowl. And I understand people's angst, maybe their angst and me having not done that.
“Hey, if these people want to move on, it's a business. But I know, as I said in the media, it's a two-way street.
“Things have to be right from my end as well.”
A bigger issue for the Cowboys is the fact that Prescott's top receiver, All-Pro CeeDee Lamb, is holding out while seeking a new contract with a year remaining on his rookie deal.
He led the NFL in receptions last season and has topped 1,100 yards receiving in each of the past three seasons, setting a career-high with 1,749 yards in 2023.
Owner Jerry Jones has reiterated his expectation that Lamb would be with the Cowboys for their season opener at Cleveland on Sept 8.
Not only are Lamb and Prescott on the Cowboys' to-do list but so is pass rusher Micah Parsons who is eligible for an extension. The 25-year-old has finished second twice and third once in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He has been named to the Pro Bowl and has been a first- or second-team All-Pro in each of his first three seasons, combining for a total of 40.5 sacks.
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