FRISCO – After months of anticipation and speculation, the Dallas Cowboys finally agreed on a contract extension Sunday morning. The franchise quarterback signed a four-year, $240 million deal, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
Many wondered whether the deal would be finalized or if He would enter Week 1 without an extension. However, Dallas put those rumors to rest at the last possible moment. Analysts speculated that if a deal hadn’t been reached, He could have entered a highly lucrative free agency. Now, new narratives are emerging, some of which seem far-fetched.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano, for instance, questioned the “free-agency bonanza” narrative, suggesting that His severe ankle injury from 2020 might have deterred potential suitors. “While he’s healthy and there are no long-term concerns, there’s no certainty about how he’ll perform this season behind the Cowboys’ revamped offensive line,” Graziano stated.
However, the Cowboys have closely monitored His ankle and are confident in his health. “Would another team in free agency have felt comfortable guaranteeing four or five years at that price? Maybe, maybe not,” Graziano speculated. This logic is flawed for two reasons. First, while the offensive line has been restructured, it still boasts three first-round picks and a future Hall-of-Famer—components that have long made the Cowboys’ line one of the league’s best. Second, Graziano’s argument contradicts itself by claiming there are “no long-term concerns” about the ankle before suggesting potential issues.
Moreover, until an NFL GM publicly expresses such concerns, there’s no evidence that Prescott’s past injury would have impacted free agency negotiations or his confidence with the Cowboys. Speculations about Him “settling” due to lingering ankle concerns are baseless. According to Yardbarker, “One can’t help but wonder if he would’ve made a different business decision had he not suffered that injury four years ago.” In reality, Prescott’s only missed games since 2020 were due to an unrelated hand injury in 2022.
Since 2020, He has consistently performed at an elite level, recovering fully from his injury and enhancing his game to become an invaluable asset to the Cowboys’ title aspirations. If Dallas hadn’t extended him, He would have likely entered free agency as a highly coveted 31-year-old quarterback in his prime. Ultimately, Prescott’s decision was never about injury security—he’s committed to leading the Cowboys to success.
And as for “settling”? Prescott secured the richest contract in NFL history, with record-breaking figures in annual pay, signing bonuses, and guarantees. It’s hard to argue that the highest-paid player ever could be seen as “settling.”
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