INDIANAPOLIS — Members of the Cowboys' front office spend part of their time on the NFL scouting team talking to agents on the fancy team bus.
This week, interviews were held with agents for pending free agent Tyron Smith, veterans Michael Gallup and Leighton Vander Esch, but one person was missing.
No conversations took place between Todd France, Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and the rest of the front office.
France is Dak Prescott's agent, and the quarterback will enter the final year of a four-year, $160 million contract in 2021.
Jerry Jones said Friday he wasn't afraid to lose Prescott. He believes the organization secures Prescott's future.
But why not talk to France and make an agreement?
“No, I'm not afraid of that. No, I'm not,” Jones said. “Well, because you're conscious of being better than last year. And that's going to be the focus. All the players you've acquired have time to expire on their contracts. When you get scared, You'll walk around feeling shaken. You can't do it because it's all going to come out. They can all get hurt. They can all lose talent. So all of that isn't scary. ”
Prescott enters the season with the second-highest salary cap number in the NFL at $59.4 million. The Cowboys will likely want to reduce their cap number so Prescott can stay for three more years. The team is also considering a contract extension for receiver CeeDee Lamb this year, and linebacker Micah Parsons will arrive next year for financial gain.
But while Jones understands what kind of compensation Lamb and Parsons want and how Prescott's pending contract could make some of that happen, It didn't seem like they were in a hurry.
“All we have to do is see if we're going to try something,” he said. “If not, we'll go another way.”
Jones knows the Cowboys will have to pay Prescott a $5 million roster bonus on March 18, which could begin contract negotiations.
In Jones' mind, Prescott is QB1 and isn't going anywhere. In fact, Jones said he thinks Prescott will play better. The quarterback led the NFL in touchdowns last season.
What needs to be determined is how the lack of discussions with Prescott's representatives will affect the way the Cowboys conduct other business.
It shouldn't matter what the franchise tells everyone. Possible several reconfigurations and releases. One example of this was Thursday morning's meeting with Kevin Robinson, who represents recipient Michael Gallup.
The Cowboys could trade or release Gallup. Cutting Gallup, which Jones praised Friday, would create $9.5 million in cap space.
Running backs Tony Pollard and Smith will be free agents for more money, but will likely need less money to stay in Dallas.
All of these decisions are expected to take place this spring and summer as Prescott awaits the birth of his first child and a new big contract.
Jones believes a deal can be reached quickly if everyone wants it.
but …
“It doesn't have to be, but it can be resolved if everyone wants to resolve it,” he said. “Even if we can't do that, what we have in place will work. So obviously, doing things one way will lead to some other areas of the team doing things differently.” But you can't really plan until you know where you are, and that's what we're doing.”
If the Cowboys don't sign Prescott, he will become a free agent in 2025. The Cowboys cannot place a new franchise tag on Prescott or trade him.
One person close to Mr. Prescott said the company would benefit if Mr. Prescott hits the public market in 2025.
Jones doesn't expect that to happen, given his confidence in getting deals done in the past. During a roughly 45-minute conference call with reporters, he referenced how Emmitt Smith missed his first two games in 1993 and ultimately called Jones and made the deal.
You know the rest of the story. The Cowboys brought Smith back and won their second straight Super Bowl.
Given his history, Jones is confident Prescott will not hit the free agent market. Why should you be scared when Emmitt Smith calls and wants to make a deal?
Jones and Prescott know what they want.
Will that happen? Jones believes so, so all that's left to do is start the conversation.
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