Skip to main content

Michael Irvin says Cowboys should pay Dak Prescott

Count Michael Irvin among the group of Dak Prescott supporters.

After a report from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram claiming that Prescott's agent has "broached" a deal in the range of $34 million per year, Irvin loudly voiced his support for Prescott.

"Every minute you wait, it's costing money," Irvin said, via 105.3 The Fan. "This is an asset that's trending in the right direction. You got to pay him this money."

The Prescott contract talk has intensified since Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz -- a fellow 2016 draftee -- signed a four-year extension worth an average annual value of $32 million (contract worth up to $144 million, $66 million guaranteed). Now, Prescott and Rams quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in 2016, are waiting on their own extensions.

Irvin believes Prescott will command more than Wentz -- and if the Cowboys don't oblige, the team is in trouble.

"Dak's agents aren't gonna let you come in under Carson Wentz," Irvin said. "If they don't pay Dak, we can all pack it up and go home. It's over. How are you going to get anything out of the other guys if they're seeing that you aren't taking care of the top guy? Why should I give you all I got? You got to be smart about this, and this is a no-brainer."

Prescott is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season because he was a fourth-round pick. Goff and Wentz -- the top two overall picks in the 2016 draft, respectively -- have similar four-year rookie deals, but first-round picks have a fifth-year team option as well. This makes the sense of urgency with Prescott higher than Goff.

Prescott has publicly stated his desire to work out a deal, but notes that he "can't really say" how close an agreement is because his agent is handling negotiations.

"I want to be a Cowboy forever," Prescott said in May, via DallasCowboys.com. "I think the people that are doing the deal feel the same way. So to me, it's no rush. I know it will get done."

In his first three seasons with Dallas, Prescott has started all 48 games (32-16 record), throwing 67 touchdowns to 25 interceptions and leading the Cowboys to the playoffs twice. He is a two-time Pro Bowler.