Dallas Cowboys Chief Playing ‘Houdini’ as Team Tries to Rope Dak Prescott and Co-Stars Ahead of NFL Season

The Dallas Cowboys front office is taking on the difficult task of negotiating not one, not two, but three major deals at once.

Quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons are nearing the end of their current contracts.

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Prescott and Lamb will hit free agency after next season, while Parsons will have one more year remaining on his rookie contract.

Now, with training camp quickly approaching, the Cowboys appear ready to go with those big question marks hanging over their heads — not to mention the uncertainty surrounding head coach Mike McCarthy.

Cowboys COO and co-owner Stephen Jones recently admitted he is facing an uphill battle as he tries to maintain control of his biggest stars.

“Well, these things take time,” he told The Athletics’ Spoon City.

“And we’re talking business here. You know when you’re talking about CeeDee and Dak and you know someone like Micah coming up.

“I mean, you’re talking about two players who aren’t defenders and who think they should be a bit like [Justin] Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings receiver) – highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the league.”

Jefferson’s new four-year contract, signed in June, is worth a whopping $140 million — $35 million annually.

That makes him the highest-earning non-quarterback in the NFL.

As for Prescott, Jones said “his resume speaks for itself,” noting that he was runner-up in MVP voting in 2023, adding to what has already been “an extraordinary career here in Dallas.”

“These things take time when you talk about the amount of money involved,” he added.

“And, of course, we’re trying to play a little bit of Houdini on how to keep all these guys around Dak and keep these players that we were fortunate enough to recruit.”

Jones described the situation as “a challenge,” noting that that didn’t mean it wasn’t possible: “But you have to give and take.”

He pointed out that they also have hefty salary bills elsewhere to work around — specifically looking at Zack Martin, Trevon Diggs and DeMarcus Lawrence.

Despite these obstacles, Jones was “optimistic” that deals could be reached, mentioning that they are continually negotiating with Prescott and his team.

However, in a perhaps ominous twist, he compared their situation to that of the Kansas City Chiefs with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Jones cited how they opted to part ways with high-priced receiver Tyreek Hill and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed due to cap restrictions.

As things stand, Prescott is expected to pocket just under $55.5 million this upcoming season.

Lamb will earn $17.9 million in the final year of his rookie contract, while Parsons is expected to earn $5.4 million.

The Cowboys will begin training camp on July 24, with their first preseason game scheduled for August 11 at the Los Angeles Rams.

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