Cowboys’ Dak Prescott talks contract situation, says ‘real’ negotiations haven’t started – Jon Machota, The Athletic

Dallas is still taking its time with Dak Prescott’s contract extension.

Dak Prescott said he doesn’t necessarily have to be the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. However, the Dallas Cowboys and their franchise QB have been unable to find common ground on their next deal.

Many thought something would be done before the start of free agency in March, but Prescott now faces the possibility of playing out the final year of his contract and potentially hitting free agency next March.

Speaking at a Children’s Cancer Fund event in Dallas on Friday night, Prescott said he spoke with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones about his contract, but also noted that no “real” negotiations have taken place.

Stephen Jones: Dak Prescott’s contract is a priority – Charean Williams, ProFootballTalk.com

Stephen is not putting his money where his mouth is.

“Dak is certainly a priority in terms of his contract,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “We will certainly take a look at Trey. I know Trey will also look at his situation in terms of what his options are. I’m sure a lot of that will depend on how everything turns out with Dak. Cooper has been a great support here for us. But all those things will have to happen.”

The Cowboys could have good draft shape with injured Texas RB Jonathon Brooks. Is it worth taking the risk? – David Moore, Dallas Morning News

The Cowboys have a history of investing in elite talent coming off injuries.

The Cowboys need to come out of next week’s draft with a running back.

Arguably the best running back in this draft will still be available heading into Day 2, in part because he is recovering from an injury.

This franchise has shown a willingness to draft injured players in the second round over the years, believing those physical issues pushed the player further down the draft board than their talent dictated. And that brings us to…

Jonathan Brooks.

It’s premature to declare that Brooks will find his way to Dallas. There’s no assurance the Texas running back will still be around when the Cowboys are at No. 56.

But it is reasonable to speculate.

Dallas Cowboys’ future hinges on roster decisions yet to be made – Dan Pizzuta, 33rd team

Dallas has a lot of work to do to fix its roster.

“We’ll all be in,” Jerry Jones said in late January about the Dallas Cowboys’ offseason.

Since then, Jones has tried to clarify what he meant. His definition of “all-in” might differ from everyone else’s, but the main sentiment was that the Cowboys would focus on 2024 and not the future.

The Cowboys are not focused on the future because their focus on the 2024 offseason makes next season the most important pivot point for any team in the league.

Dallas isn’t helping itself with the way the franchise has approached the offseason.

With less than a week until the draft, the Cowboys have spent the least in free agency of any NFL team: The 31st-ranked team has spent more than twice what Dallas has in total guarantees.

Spending big in free agency is usually not a good long-term strategy for building a roster, and the Cowboys haven’t done it often in previous years. But Dallas also lost several free agents who contributed to last season’s 12-5 team, which was fourth in DVOA during the regular season.

What does Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith think the franchise needs to return to the Super Bowl? – Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Emmitt Smith talks about how to build a champion.

Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith has an opinion on what the franchise needs to end its long Super Bowl drought.

“I think there needs to be a complete realignment of vision and expectations, not only on the business side, but also on the football side. I think any time you draft a player to come to the Dallas Cowboys, he shouldn’t have to tell him. “You know what to expect,” Smith said after reaching his round at the 2024 Invited Celebrity Classic on Friday.

“You should come with this level of expectation that I’m going to be part of a historic organization and have the opportunity to contribute to that history,” Smith said. “If you don’t look at it from that perspective, if you’re not a big cowboy lover, like a lot of us were back in the day, you don’t need to be in Dallas.”

Hitting some high defensive notes – Mickey Spagnola, DallasCowboys.com

There will be a new defense in 2024.

“I think any time you hire a new coordinator there will be changes,” Stephen said Friday on flagship radio station 105.3 The Fan, “and certainly Mike brings an advantage. He trains in a different way than Dan. Dan had a lot of success the way he did it, but I think Mike has had a lot of success in this league the way he does it.

“And certainly philosophically we’ll have more of a three-linebacker system instead of a two-linebacker, three-safety system that Dan preferred.”

Oh, preach to me, preach.

“And the other thing, I think we’ll probably seem to be bigger and stronger in the middle,” Stephen continued. “I think obviously our Achilles heel the last two or three years has been stopping the run.”

Yes Yes.

“And I think Mike will bring an edge and a philosophy that should help us improve in that area,” Stephen deduced.

More linebackers. Bigger in the middle. Race stop priority.