NFL Analysis
9/8/24
5 min read
Cowboys Go All-In On Dak Prescott-CeeDee Lamb, But Is It Enough?
The Dallas Cowboys have secured their franchise quarterback, but their Super Bowl window isn't as open as fans expect.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported hours before kickoff that the Cowboys had agreed to a four-year, $240 million extension with Dak Prescott. The deal makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
It was a necessary move for the Cowboys, who needed to secure a long-term deal with their three-time Pro Bowl quarterback. The move comes off the heels of CeeDee Lamb's contract extension, with the star wideout securing a four-year, $136 million extension.
Now that the Cowboys have locked in their two star offensive players, they can turn their attention towards a Super Bowl run in 2024 and beyond.
However, there are some concerns about the team's long-term future as a sustainable contender.
The Cowboys are loaded offensively
With Lamb and Prescott under contract, the Cowboys are in great shape offensively, although there are still a couple of question marks in the trenches.
Prescott is coming off the best year, earning second-team All-Pro honors. He led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns and 410 completions while throwing for 4,516 yards and 7.7 yards per attempt. His 105.9 passer rating was the best of his career and was second in the league behind only Brock Purdy.
A breakout season from Lamb was a big reason for Prescott's success. The former first-round pick out of Oklahoma earned first-team All-Pro honors while leading the NFL with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. According to TruMedia, his 2.80 yards per route run was far and away the most for any pass catcher to run at least 500 routes in 2023.
CeeDee Lamb is poised to REPEAT as the WR1!🔥
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) August 30, 2024
Last year he had 181 targets which is 15th ALL TIME🏆
He also led ALL WRs in⤵️
🟢Receptions
🟢Redzone Targets
🟢Touchdowns
🟢YAC
🟢PPG
🟢Total Route Wins
🟢EPA
With no real target competition added, will he lead the NFL again?📢 pic.twitter.com/uwi1Vqz068
Having a true No. 1 receiver helped transform the Cowboys into a high-powered passing offense. With returning receivers Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert, the passing game could take an even bigger step forward in 2024.
Jake Ferguson is also quickly emerging as one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league. His most recent game came in the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers, where he caught 10 passes for 93 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.
The offense's most significant questions are the ground game and the new-look offensive line. Ezekiel Elliott returned to Dallas this offseason but hasn't looked like the same running back he was during his previous stint with the franchise. He hasn't averaged more than 3.8 yards per carry during the last two seasons, and with more than 2,000 career rushing attempts, he may not have much more left in the tank.
Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn could play more prominent roles in the running game, but the bigger question on the offense is what to expect from the offensive line. Tyron Smith left in free agency, and the Cowboys replaced him with a first-round rookie in Tyler Guyton. Former Kansas State lineman Cooper Beebe is also expected to start.
Two rookies on the offensive line could lead to early-season blemishes for the Cowboys. However, if those two can figure things out in time for a playoff run, the offense could be that much more dangerous this season.
Dallas' long-term cap situation
The Cowboys weren't afraid to spend big money on their two biggest stars, which might make it much harder to keep their other stars under contract in the coming seasons.
Prior to the Prescott extension, the Cowboys had a projected $41 million in cap space for the 2025 season, according to Over the Cap. Prescott's cap hit is likely to alter that number and give the Cowboys a bit more flexibility, but big free agent decisions loom on both sides of the ball.
According to Spotrac, the Cowboys have Cooks, Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Osa Odighizuwa all set to hit the free agent market next offseason. Those are key contributors looking for good money, and the Cowboys will have to make difficult decisions.
That situation gets even trickier in 2026. Two of the Cowboys' top defenders, Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland, will be free agents expecting top-of-market money for their respective positions as All-Pro stars. Other starters like guard Tyler Smith and Ferguson could also expect big paydays after strong starts to their careers.
The salary cap will make things that much trickier for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys after paying top-tier money to Prescott and Lamb. If they can't find great value on cheap rookie (or veteran) deals in the coming seasons, then the Super Bowl window could only be open for another year or two before they have to start thinking about a long-term rebuild.
