CONTRACT SAGA: Cowboys Star Insist to leave as his contract demands are not met.

The Dallas Cowboys have put themselves in a tough position.

Dallas has become one of the strangest anomalies in the NFL since Dak Prescott took over as the starting QB in 2016.

Season after season, Prescott performs as well as the top quarterbacks in the NFL for the first 17 games, but chokes in the playoffs and the Cowboys have an early exit.

But last year felt different.

Mike McCarthy took over play calling after parting ways with Kellen Moore and the offense exploded. Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb — who earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2023 — emerged as the top QB/WR in the NFL.

several key categories with 4,516 passing yards (third), 36 touchdowns (1st), nine interceptions and a QBR of 72.7 (second in the NFL).

So when the end of the season came, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys brass found themselves in an all-too familiar position. With Prescott nearing the end of his last major contract extension, Dallas has to either sign him to a new long-term deal or let him play out the final year of his contract giving him all the leverage following the 2024 campaign.

Despite his postseason struggles, Prescott is ranked by PFF as the No. 6 QB In the NFL heading into 2024. Only Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are ranked ahead of him.

His 89.8 passing grade in the regular season ranked second only to Tua Tagovailoa. His 73.5 passing grade under pressure was No. 1. His 37 big-time throws in the regular season were the most in the NFL, and his 2.0% turnover-worthy play rate was the lowest among quarterbacks with at least 400 dropbacks.

Prescott was efficient, aggressive and accurate, albeit with a poor showing to end the year.

So now, Jerry Jones and the Dallas decision makers have a massive decision on their hands but Prescott holds all the power. Now that Trevor Lawrence just inked a deal that is paying him the same kind of money Joe Burrow is getting, Prescott’s price tag only got higher.