Dak Deal Doesn’t Get Done; Bears, Colts Could Not Be Happier

Dak Prescott and the Jerry Jones-led Dallas Cowboys were unable to come to an agreement on a contract extension. This led Prescott to sign a franchise tag that will pay the quarterback $31.4 million in 2020.

The Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, and perhaps a few other teams should be chomping at the bit. 

This offseason, Indy signed Philip Rivers to a one-year deal worth $25 Million. Hefty investment for the short term, but frees the team up just in time for when the Dallas Cowboys drop the ball with Dak Prescott.

The Cowboys organization raved over the years on Prescott’s attention to leadership and preparation. No team needs a leader who obsesses on preparation like Indianapolis, the 7th youngest team in the NFL. 

A young team in the NFL goes hand in hand with financial flexibility and the Colts ability to dominate draft day under general manager Chris Ballard lent them the flexibility they’ll see in the 2021 offseason. This makes the marriage between Prescott and Colts’ head coach Frank Reich inevitable.

The Cowboys have never hesitated to pay their superstars as Zeke Elliot, Amari Cooper, and Demarcus Lawrence all received contract extensions. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones failed to come to an agreement because he sees Dak on a different level than Patrick Mahomes. The Cowboys were reported to have offered a contact that would pay Prescott $33-$35 million annually at $100 million guaranteed. 

Likely harder to accept that offer when Patrick Mahomes just agreed to a 10-year contract at roughly $450 million. 

The Indianapolis Colts are in a much more flexible position, financially, to absorb Dak’s asking price. Their young roster can benefit most from his leadership and obsession to get better. 

The Colts roster is filled with young guys looking for a leader, meanwhile Cowboys star Zeke Elliot is arguing over ESPN reports claiming he’s the third best running back in the NFL. A praise hungry running back begging for the ball will do nothing to help Prescott land his deal in Dallas.

The Chicago Bears are another team frantically trying to lock in a long term solution at quarterback. Most fans believed their trade for Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles punted their ability to pursue future options, but their ability to restructure his deal to 3-year $24 million changes everything.

If the Chicago Bears see a fit with Dak Prescott after the 2020 season, they should be able to dance around financial constraints to get a deal done. $31 million in cap space next offseason that climbs over $100 million the year after doesn’t hurt their case for Prescott, either. 

Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky have proven to be liabilities either for their play or inability to stay on the field, so a more reliable Dak Prescott should be enticing. 

The future for Dak Prescott should reside outside of JerryWorld where he can take advantage of a young roster in Indy or be the missing piece to a championship roster in Chicago.