The Dallas Cowboys secured quarterback Dak Prescott for the next four seasons when they agreed to a $240 million contract on Sunday, making it the largest contract in National Football League history.
The Dallas franchise, which recently became the first sports team to reach a value of more than $10 billion dollars according to Forbes magazine , will keep the renowned player in its ranks until the 2028 season when he will be 35 years old.
For Dak Prescott, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by Dallas, this is the second contract extension with the Cowboys who began this season with an important victory against the Cleveland Browns (33-17) this Saturday.
With this juicy agreement, the 31-year-old quarterback, who in 2021 had signed his first extension for $160 million dollars, became the highest-paid player in NFL history, now receiving $60 million dollars for each of the four seasons that his new agreement covers.
In this way, Prescott far surpasses the $55 million that Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars), and Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers) will receive, who had the best salaries so far in the championship.
And when is the Super Bowl?
Despite his star role within the Dallas Cowboys, Dak Prescott has been harshly criticized for not being able to lead his team to a Super Bowl, an instance that the Texas team has not reached since 1995 when it won its fifth, and until now last, NFL title.
The Cowboys have fallen short of the postseason in the past three seasons, largely due to Dak Prescott’s failure to perform in decisive moments. However, Dallas remains confident in its star player.
Since joining the team, the quarterback has a total of 29,459 passing yards, with 202 touchdowns and 74 interceptions. The player has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times and won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in his first season in the league (2016).
In addition to Dak Prescott’s historic contract, the Dallas Cowboys have made important moves with the aim of securing several pieces, among which CeeDee Lamb stands out, who signed for four seasons and $136 million dollars.
Who are the 5 highest paid players in the NFL?
The top 10 highest-paid players in the NFL are all quarterbacks. Although, to the surprise of many, Kansas City star Patrick Mahomes is not in the top 10.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is making $55 million per season. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is also on a five-year, $275 million extension.
At $55 million per year, albeit for four seasons, is Jordan Love, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.
The $55 million annual average for these three quarterbacks, who have not won a Super Bowl, exceeds the $45 million that Patrick Mahomes earns annually, even with his three championship rings.
Fifth place belongs to Miami Dolphins’s Tua Tagovailoa, the NFL leader in passing yards in 2023 with 4,624. He agreed to a four-year deal with his team in July for $212 million, $53.1 million per year.
The first non-quarterback to crack the list of highest-paid players is Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who ranks nineteenth at $35 million annually.
Here is the list of the 5 highest paid players in the NFL:
- Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) – $60 million dollars
- Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) – $55 million
- Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers) – $55 million
- Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) – $55 million dollars
- Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) – $53.1 million
