Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Cowboys will likely use the exclusive franchise tag on QB Dak Prescott before the upcoming deadline.
This would cost Dallas roughly $33 million fully guaranteed for the 2020 season, but would also buy them additional time work out a long-term deal.
Tagging Prescott paves the way for WR Amari Cooper and CB Byron Jones to hit the open market in the coming weeks.
Regarding Jones, Rapoport expects him to reach free agency and possibly end up being the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
“This is really not a surprise,” Rapoport said. “The Cowboys like to keep all of their players. They just have a lot of other financial responsibilities here. Dak is one. Amari Cooper is another. Byron Jones is expected to be a highly paid corner and could end up as the highest-paid corner in the NFL when it’s all said and done.”
Prescott, 26, is a former fourth-round pick of the Cowboys back in 2016. He’s entering the final year of his four-year, $2.72 million contract and is in line to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
In 2019, Prescott appeared in all 16 games and completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 4,902 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He has also rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns for Dallas. Pro Football Focus rated him as the No. 10 quarterback out of 37 qualifying players.
Jones, 27, is a former first-round pick out of Connecticut by the Cowboys in the 2015 NFL Draft. He played out the final year of his four-year, $8.601 million rookie contract, but the Cowboys elected to pick up his fifth-year option last year.
Jones now stands to make a base salary of $6.17 million for the 2019 season. He’s in line to be an unrestricted free agent next year.
In 2019, Jones appeared in 15 games and recorded 46 tackles, no interceptions, a forced fumble and six passes defended. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 14 cornerback out of 113 qualifying players.
We have them included in our Top 100 – 2020 Free Agents list.
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