Jerry Jones Talks Possible Dak Prescott, Tony Pollard Cowboys Contract Extensions

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has two years left on his contract, while running back Tony Pollard is set to play the 2023 season on the franchise tag.

But team owner Jerry Jones told reporters Monday that there's no rush to sign either to an extension before this summer's training camp:

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said "it is not imperative" to ramp up contract extension discussions with players before training camp. Does Dak Prescott deal need to be done before others, given its scale? "Not necessarily. …Pollard has nothing to do with Dak." <a href="https://t.co/QaecRZoGID">pic.twitter.com/QaecRZoGID</a>

There's little doubt that Prescott will get his extension at some point. Teams very rarely let franchise quarterbacks hit free agency, and the Cowboys have two seasons before that will happen.

The bigger question is whether Prescott will sign a precedent-setting deal like Jalen Hurts (five years, $255 million) and Lamar Jackson (five years, $260 million) did this offseason, or if he'll settle somewhere below the top earners at the position.

With Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow likely to reset the quarterback market once again when they inevitably sign upcoming extensions, the Cowboys may not want to wait too long.

Pollard is an interesting situation as well, as the Cowboys not only used the franchise tag to keep him away from free agency but also cut veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott this offseason, clearing the way for Pollard to serve as the featured back.

"We got a great stable of backs here, but it's a great feeling personally when they look at you as the lead back in the room," Pollard told reporters this month. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity, and I'm ready to make the most of it."

Pollard had a career year in 2022 (1,007 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns), justifying his ascension to the top of the depth chart. But the running back position has also been devalued in general around the NFL and the Cowboys are familiar with how extensions at the position can age, having freed themselves from the final four years of Elliott's six-year, $90 million extension by cutting him this offseason.

And Pollard's isn't the only extension looming in Dallas. There is Prescott, offensive tackle Terence Steele, cornerback Trevon Diggs and wideout CeeDee Lamb to consider in the future as well.

Teams with franchise quarterbacks on lucrative deals have to very carefully allocate financial resources. The running back position, for many teams, has been an area where they cut closer to the margins, relying on younger players on rookie deals.

That leaves the Cowboys in an interesting position. On one hand, if Pollard plays like a star this season, the team could see his value increase significantly in free agency next year, pricing them out of his services unless they use the franchise tag a second time (itself a very expensive option).

On the other hand, signing him to an extension before he's played a single season as the lead back is a risk of its own, especially with other extensions on the horizon. Do they want to risk another running back contract aging poorly and hamstringing their cap flexibility?

Prescott's eventual extension is inevitable. Pollard's situation is far less cut and dried.