Cowboys formally ink Zeke, flip consideration to Dak

FRISCO, Texas — Since April, the Dallas Cowboys have signed defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence, linebacker Jaylon Smith, proper sort out La’el Collins and working again Ezekiel Elliott to offers totaling $185.5 million in assured cash, which is greater than what Jerry Jones paid to purchase the franchise in 1989.

The group hopes to ship extra assured cash on long-term offers with quarterback Dak Prescott and vast receiver Amari Cooper — they usually hope it might occur earlier than Sunday’s season opener towards the New York Giants, whereas acknowledging it could be troublesome.

“Do not ever say by no means,” govt vp Stephen Jones mentioned. “The season would not begin till Sunday. We nonetheless obtained three or 4 days right here. Clearly we have ended up signing a number of gamers we did not essentially know we had been going to signal, however on the identical time, I definitely felt optimistic that we are able to get these guys. Whether or not it is by the beginning of the season or if it goes over that, it does. That was our purpose. Typically you do not get it fairly finished on the precise timing that you simply had hoped, however clearly the last word purpose is to get them signed.”

The Cowboys held a information convention to announce Elliott’s six-year extension that made him the highest-paid working again within the NFL with $50 million in assured cash. Elliott reiterated he was glad the deal was completed in time for him to play Sunday and hold him with the Cowboys doubtlessly for the remainder of his profession.

Subsequent up would seem like Prescott, though there haven’t been many discussions not too long ago. Talks with Cooper have been gradual all summer time, however Jones mentioned issues might come collectively shortly with the receiver as properly.

Prescott is ready to start out the common season on Sunday on the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract, making $2.02 million.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Rams signed quarterback Jared Goff to a four-year, $134 million deal that included $110 million assured, in accordance with sources. Earlier within the offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Carson Wentz to a contract extension price $32 million per season and $107 million assured.

Goff and Wentz had been the highest two picks of the 2016 draft class. Prescott went No. 135 total, within the fourth spherical.

Jerry Jones has made it clear the Cowboys need to hold Prescott for the long run. Prescott has mentioned he desires to stay a Cowboy for the long run. Coming to an settlement on the monetary phrases isn’t straightforward. One subject is that Goff and Wentz had been every assured roughly $27 million over the 2019 and 2020 seasons as a part of the fifth-year choices on their rookie offers. Prescott has no assured cash remaining on his deal, which makes reaching the $110 million and $107 million assure thresholds a bit harder.

Prescott has began each recreation in his first three seasons, one thing Goff and Wentz can’t say. Since 2016, Prescott has 32 wins, fewer than solely Tom Brady. Prescott has not thrown for four,000 yards or had greater than 23 landing passes in a season. Goff has had 60 landing passes over the past two seasons and threw for four,688 yards final season, when he helped the Rams to the Tremendous Bowl. Wentz was having an MVP-type season in 2017 earlier than struggling a knee damage.

Prescott’s focus, nonetheless, just isn’t on the contract. It’s on the Giants and the upcoming season.

“Clearly I need to see it finished,” Prescott mentioned. “To place a timeframe on it, I believe I’ve mentioned this earlier than, I am not going to do this. At this level my focus is all on the Giants and the Giants protection and what this group must do to win the sport. And subsequent week it’s going to roll to the following opponent. I do not need to blur my thoughts or distract myself any with desirous about these talks or desirous about what is going on on after I’ve obtained sufficient on my plate to deal with. So I am simply centered on the Giants and I’ve obtained folks to handle [the contract].”

As for seeing Elliott’s contract scenario get resolved, Prescott was comfortable to know he may have his backfield mate subsequent to him on Sunday.

Elliott desires the Prescott deal to get finished, too.

“I need to play with him for the remainder of my profession,” Elliott mentioned. “I am excited to see what comes.”

The Cowboys signed Lawrence to a five-year, $105 million deal in April with $65 million assured. Earlier than signing Elliott, they reached contracts with Smith ($35.5 million assured) and Collins ($35 million assured).

The Cowboys’ design was to “hold a very good younger soccer group collectively,” Stephen Jones mentioned.

“As I’ve mentioned, we spent loads of work on our monetary fashions for the following three years. Definitely staring down a labor settlement within the eyes, we hope. We do not have one, obtained work to do, however you are factoring all these issues in. However clearly we’re making strikes that each step of the best way we expect that we can’t solely do what we have finished, but in addition, as we have mentioned, signal Dak and signal Amari.”