With Dallas Cowboys in ‘Handcuffs’ Due to Dak Prescott, How Has CeeDee Lamb Forced Jerry Jones to Keep His Hands in the Pockets? NFL Exec Reveals

The NFL free agency period is ongoing. But most of the big player signings and trades have already happened. However, the Dallas Cowboys’ situation still seems to be complex, as they did not make a move during this phase.

Soon after the 2023 season ended, owner Jerry Jones mentioned that he would be going to the next season with “all-in.” Probably, that’s the reason why he has made no single move in this free agency period. As per their salary cap, the franchise has been facing some financial limitations because of their quarterback, Dak Prescott. However, CeeDee Lamb, who performed exceptionally well during last season with 135 catches, and 1,749 yards, has led Jones to be cautious with his spending, as per an NFL executive.

The Cowboys will move forward with confusion & financial struggles?

As per Athletic, Cowboys’ Average Per Year (APY) added $3M; APY lost was $42.6M; and APY differential is -$39.6M. Dak Prescott’s hefty contract has limited the Cowboys’ ability to make big moves in free agency. According to Spotrac, Prescott will receive a base salary of $29 million, along with a restructure bonus of $5 million. As a result, his contract will have a significant impact on the Cowboys’ payroll, with a cap hit of $55.455 million and a dead cap value of $66.915 million. This means that a large portion of the team’s salary cap will be allocated to Prescott’s contract, affecting their ability to sign other players or make additional moves in the offseason.

The team has only added linebacker Eric Kendricks, whose $3 million contract is relatively modest compared to others in his position. Additionally, the franchise is cautious about spending because of upcoming extensions for players like CeeDee Lamb. An NFL exec stated, “The quarterback contract has put the handcuffs on them. I get that piece of it. They have a talented roster already. They are going to have some big extensions coming with CeeDee Lamb and others, so I can see why you might want to keep your hands in your pockets.”

Owner Jerry Jones considers Lamb as a value for their team as he set the franchise records for receptions (135) and receiving yards (1,749). Meanwhile, Prescott’s contract is significant, and there’s speculation about him potentially becoming the first player with a $60 million annual salary. Some executives believe that paying such a high amount could harm the team’s competitiveness.

Jones is known for being generous with his players, as seen with Prescott’s contract despite his injury. However, the team’s success, especially in the playoffs, has been questioned. On the defensive side, the addition of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is seen as promising, with expectations for improvements in areas like run defense.

However, the Cowboys have been trying to resolve Prescott’s contract problem.

How are the Cowboys trying to ease the Dak Prescott contract burden?

The Cowboys have been quiet in free agency because they have to prepare for big payments to two of their star players: Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb. They want to keep Dak Prescott beyond the upcoming season to help with these payments. To ease the burden on their salary cap, they have reworked Prescott’s contract.

According to ESPN, they converted a $5 million roster bonus into a signing bonus, reducing Prescott’s cap hit for 2024 by $4 million, making it around $55 million. However, they can create more cap relief if they extend Prescott’s contract. Although team owner Jerry Jones has stated they plan to keep Prescott, he hasn’t been as definitive as he was in 2021 when Prescott signed a big contract (4-year, $160 million).

The reworked contract also added two more voidable years, pushing Prescott’s cap number in 2025 slightly higher to $40 million.

Read more: Amidst Cowboys Salary Cap Issues, Dak Prescott’s Brother Envies Eagles’ “Best Front Office” Over Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown Contracts