Sports

With Dak Prescott's extension, Cowboys heritage gets on the line

.Todd Archer, ESPN Staff WriterSep 8, 2024, 11:50 AM ETCloseTodd Archer is actually an NFL press reporter at ESPN and also covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL given that 1997 and also Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010. You can easily observe him on Twitter at @toddarcher. FRISCO, Texas-- Now that Dak Prescott has authorized one more mega-contract to be the Dallas Cowboys' beginning quarterback, nevertheless several years he has left will certainly have to do with legacy.He has his money. Prior to authorizing one of the most current deal, he moneyed in greater than $160 million, with a little bit greater than $4 million on his rookie bargain (2016-19), $31.4 thousand on the franchise business tag in 2020, and $126 thousand coming from 2021 to 2023. And he may get $240 thousand on his most up-to-date bargain, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.But so as for Prescott to move coming from an excellent statistical quarterback to one of the greatest in Cowboys past history, he needs to perform something he has refrained but: get to a Super Dish. Perhaps even succeed it.It is not completely reasonable, however those are the criteria in Dallas set through Lobby of Famers Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.Prescott has carried out practically every little thing else in his 1st 8 years as the beginning quarterback. He has actually specified the group record for touchdown passes in a season (37 ). By the end of following time, he must go beyond Tony Romo (34,183) as the franchise business leader in passing backyards. He is forty five touchdown passes bashful of Romo's report (247 ). He has won the NFC East 4 times. He has actually been to the Pro Dish. In 2023, he possessed his ideal season as well as was actually named All-Pro and also completed second in MVP voting. He was actually named the winner of the Walter Payton Male of the Year award.Best of NFL Country u2022 Impressive attempt to send Packers, Eagles to South America u2022 Timetable of Goff's outstanding Cougars rebirth u2022 Saints urgent in Year 3 under Dennis Allen u2022 Rams finding vengeance in Detroit u2022 Cowboys, McCarthy see possibility in 2024.Yet he has not surpassed the 2nd round of the playoffs, as well as the stench from the wild-card reduction to the Green Gulf Packers in January still looms the entire organization.To perform what he's not done yet, Prescott can be inquired to accomplish even more with less-- in part, as a result of his deal, although the Cowboys had the ability to authorize CeeDee Lamb to a four-year agreement expansion on Aug. 26. Teams along with high-priced quarterbacks-- such as Buffalo's Josh Allen, Kansas Urban area's Patrick Mahomes, Cincinnati's Joe Lair as well as the Chargers' Justin Herbert-- have actually needed to create organization choices at various other positions.The Cowboys in the beginning inquired Prescott to carry out even more with much less in 2018 without a real No. 1 receiver, as well as when that did certainly not exercise, they traded for wide receiver Amari Cooper, surrendering a first-round choice to the Raiders.Entering his nine season, Prescott is actually a various quarterback than he was when entering his 3rd. He knows the activity much more. He knows his activity more. He recognizes defenses more.In 2024, he'll need to become much better than he has actually been actually, as the Cowboys move to a running-back-by-committee technique as well as the may begin two novices on the repulsive line. He needs to have to become much better while facing a schedule that includes 7 games versus 2023 playoff groups in the first 11 weeks.After this period, the Cowboys could possibly appear completely different.This can be the last years of franchise stalwarts guard Zack Martin, a future Hall of Famer, as well as protective end DeMarcus Lawrence. If they both leave hereafter period, Prescott will definitely be the longest-tenured Cowboy, since fellow 2016 draft selection Ezekiel Elliott took an one-year respite coming from Dallas in 2023 for a stint along with the New England Patriots.This offseason, the Cowboys bid farewell to left take on Tyron Smith, a future Hall of Famer, facility Tyler Biadasz, managing back Tony Pollard and also protective end Dorance Armstrong, and many more, as Dallas prepped for manage Prescott, CeeDee Sheep as well as Micah Parsons. The only significant enhancements were bringing back Elliott and also linebacker Eric Kendricks in free organization, as Jerry Jones' definition of 'all-in' seemed to become different than what several others thought.But Jones is actually no doubt all-in on Prescott right now, even when it took some negotiating time to acquire there.If Prescott, entering his ninth season, plays out the offer, he is going to be actually the longest-tenured starting quarterback in franchise business record. Aikman was the Cowboys' starter for 12 times, Romo started for 9 and Staubach for eight.Since 1980, the only quarterback to hang around longer to visit a Super Bowl for the first time along with the club that composed him was Ken Anderson, who was in his 10th season as Cincinnati's full-time starter. Matt Ryan and also Peyton Manning mosted likely to their initial Super Bowls with Atlanta Ga as well as Indianapolis, specifically, in their 9th seasons as the permanent starters.That's the problem Prescott deals with in determining his legacy on the field.