Cowboys’ Jerry Jones: Dak Prescott could have Brady-like ability to be impactful as cap hit grows

Jerry Jones is more confident than ever in the success of the Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott.

The extent to which the team makes it right will depend on whether Prescott takes on more of the burden of moving forward.

“I really felt for a long time that Duck had the ability,” Jones said Friday at the NFL Scouting Association. “I don’t want to dare to do this with Duck or me or anyone, but I think that as (Tom) Brady has become, in my opinion, better and better and more influential in how [his team] won when he started his career, I think Duck really has those qualities. I think he can get better.”

The emphasis on Prescott’s influence is a natural side effect of him being a signal player for the Cowboys, but there’s added pressure given QB’s recent play and a pending cap shot.

Despite missing five games in 2022, Prescott led the league in steals with 15. He also failed to clear the divisional round for the second consecutive postseason, a barrier the organization had not cleared since 1995.

Now, after a year of too many forced throws and too few results, Prescott’s cap has jumped from $19.7 million to $49.1 million, 21.5% of Dallas’ salary cap. for a cap.

Jones also addressed impending spending cuts.

“You can’t pay this position at that level, take that many available dollars, and then charge it exactly the same amount,” he said. “When Duck first got here, we had, in my opinion, one of the best offensive lines that have been on the field in a long time. And he had it. So we had skill next to him, especially in attack.”

“Well, when you do what you do today and invest in a quarterback the same way you invest in these premium quarterbacks, it should automatically decrease. supporting cast as he did when he started his career.”

Even if the Cowboys’ offensive line didn’t earn three Pro Bowl nods in 2022, as it did in 2019, when Prescott was in the last year of his rookie contract, it still allowed him to finish fourth in sacks last season and paved the way for victory. a fast-moving attack in eighth place in the league. And for now, he still has stalwarts Zach Martin and Tyrone Smith, who have 2023 contracts worth $19.8 million and $17.6 million, respectively.

However, Smith could be a candidate for the chopping block. The team will save $9.6 million if cut through June 1, or $13.6 million if cut through June 1. then parted ways. Such a move as firing the eight-time Pro Bowler is in line with Jones’ concerns, just as wide receiver Amari Cooper was traded in the previous offseason to avoid a bloated contract for the skills positions.

There is also the rising cost of the backfield. Tony Pollard is expected to receive a $10.1 million franchise label, while Ezekiel Elliott is expected to receive a $16.7 million 2023 cap.

With rising guards like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs rapidly closing in on second contracts, something has to give way somewhere. The Cowboys will eventually have to rely on cheaper or unproven talent in their former strong positions.

Prescott will be one of the main figures expected to catch up in 2023, as well as in upcoming seasons for the foreseeable future, if Jones gets his way.

“When I see something on the field that logically tells you that you need to start looking forward after Duck, I don’t see that happening in the coming years,” Jones said. “And I say years.”