In a recent interview with 96.7 The Ticket, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones talked about the team’s continuing contract talks with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott.
Jones noted that quarterback pay have been rising recently, with Joe Burrow’s contract establishing a new standard at $55 million annually.
But he thinks the market might be leveling down, given Patrick Mahomes’s apparent willingness to put winning ahead of maximizing his profits.
Jones also emphasized the financial advantages of playing in Texas, which include cheaper living expenses than other big cities and no state income tax.
“One of the great things about Texas is, you don’t have state income taxes, companies like to move here because it’s a lower cost of living than it is in some of these other big cities,” Jones stated.
We’re attempting to convince our players of all of those things so that we can surround Dak, CeeDee, Micah, Diggs, and Steele with additional players. We want to be able to surround them with guys at some point.
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on @dfwticket while talking about Dallas' current contract situations with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb:
"(The top of the QB market with Joe Burrow at $55 million per season) has stopped. Obviously a guy like (Patrick) Mahomes, all he has to do is raise…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 29, 2024
Jones underlined the significance of striking a balance between individual contracts and the team’s overall financial stability, while appreciating the players’ desire to be compensated for their merits.
He reaffirmed the team’s determination to surround its core players—Prescott, Lamb, Micah Parsons, and Trevon Diggs—with a competitive roster.
“At the same time, I totally understand that they want to be paid and it’s their time to be paid,” Jones stated. “And we also honor that.
They most definitely deserve it. Whether you’re talking about CeeDee, Dak, Micah, or Diggs, they perform their duties just as effectively as anybody else in the league.
Those guys are all excellent players who ought to be compensated. The Cowboys and Prescott are still negotiating a mutually beneficial contract; both parties are looking for an agreement.
Jones’ remarks illuminated the difficulties and factors that must be taken into account to keep a competitive club in the always changing world of NFL contracts, even while the team continues to work through these difficult conversations.
