Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Remains No. 1 After Historic $265 Million QB Deal
The Dallas Cowboys locked in franchise quarterback Dak Prescott at the last possible moment last season, finalizing a massive contract extension just as the new season began. Prescott agreed to a four-year, $240 million deal that made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time. The extension included an $80 million signing bonus, $231 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $60 million. In March, the Cowboys restructured the contract to create additional cap space.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defended the team’s approach to signing players late, saying, “We get criticized because we wait until the end or what you would call the end, and that is lining up for the first game. It just happens that way. I’ve been one of the earliest out there on several contracts in my 35 years.”
Franchise quarterbacks continue to land enormous contracts in today’s NFL, where dependable passers are rare. On Friday, May 16, the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy agreed to a massive five-year, $265 million extension. So, where does that leave Prescott?
Prescott Still Holds the Top Spot Among NFL Quarterbacks
Despite Purdy’s new deal, he now sits tied with Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff for the 7th highest quarterback salary in the NFL, each earning $53 million annually. Purdy had been heading into the final year of his rookie contract in 2025.
Several quarterbacks still earn more per year than Purdy. Those include Prescott ($60 million), Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals, $55 million), Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills, $55 million), Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers, $55 million), Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars, $55 million), and Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins, $53.1 million).
Since taking over in 2022, Purdy has led the 49ers to the playoffs twice in three seasons. He ended his rookie year with a loss and an injury in the NFC Championship game in January 2023 but returned to guide the team to the Super Bowl in his second year. Over that span, Purdy completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 9,518 yards, 64 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. He also finished fourth in NFL MVP voting in 2023.
Pundits Weigh in on the Purdy Contract
In a May 17 article analyzing the deal, Niners Nation’s Patrick Holloway commented on the financial details and brought up Prescott. “Purdy gets above $50 million. He could have held out for Dak Prescott or Trevor Lawrence money, but he didn’t. Is he a better quarterback than either? If his resume indicates anything, he is.”
Holloway added, “If the 49ers are humming and have weapons for him to utilize rather than an injured roster and a defense that can’t hold onto a lead (you know, that thing most NFL teams need to be effective), Purdy has shown he can run that offense efficiently. That $2–$7 million can be utilized elsewhere, maybe an offensive line, or to keep his wide receivers happy.”
