Dak Prescott and Cowboys fail to reach terms as Garrett inks record $125m deal
Dak Prescott will play whatever becomes of the 2020 season under the one-year franchise tag after the Dallas Cowboys and their star quarterback couldn’t agree on a long-term contract.
Clubs had until Wednesday afternoon to reach multi-year deals with players given the franchise tag. Of the 14 tagged in March, two have agreements, including NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry with Tennessee just before the deadline.
Two more Cincinnati receiver AJ Green and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue of Jacksonville haven’t signed the one-year contract that goes with the tag. They can stay away from team activities without the risk of being fined. Ngakoue has said he won’t play for the Jaguars and wants to be traded.
Prescott signed his $31.4m contract in June. The 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year earned slightly more than $4m total in the four years of his rookie contract after being drafted in the fourth round.
The Cowboys and Prescott have been working for more than a year on a long-term contract for a two-time Pro Bowler who has started every game of his career.
Prescott replaced an injured Tony Romo during the 2016 preseason and led a franchise-record 11-game winning streak that carried the Cowboys to the top seed in the NFC playoffs. Romo, a 10-year starter, never got his job back.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones has said repeatedly he considers Prescott a franchise quarterback for years to come. If so, his fate will be different than the other two QBs who have played under the franchise tag.
Drew Brees won a Super Bowl and became the NFL’s all-time passing leader in New Orleans after playing under the tag with San Diego in 2005. Kirk Cousins went to Minnesota after tagged seasons with Washington in 2016-17.
For now, the third $100m-plus contract in Dallas history Romo had the first will have to wait until at least 2021, when the Cowboys could put the franchise tag on Prescott again at nearly $38m.
Henry and the Titans agreed on a multiyear deal a day after Kansas City secured Pro Bowl defensive end Chris Jones on a four-year contract that could be worth up to $85m. Henry’s deal is reported to be at $50m over four years.
The Bengals used the $17.9m tag on Green despite the seven-time Pro Bowler missing all of last season with an ankle injury.
The move means Green is likely gone after this season, when he will be 32. Cincinnati drafted Tee Higgins in the second round out of Clemson in April, making him the heir apparent as the No 1 receiver.
The Cleveland Browns officially signed defensive end Myles Garrett to a five-year extension worth a reported $125m.
Garrett, who had two years and $19.8m remaining on his rookie deal, is now under contract through 2026. According to multiple reports, the fiveyear extension is worth $25m annually, an all-time record for a defensive player.
The extension reportedly contains $100 million in guarantees – also the most ever for a defensive player – including $50 million at signing.
“Myles’ rare physical gifts in conjunction with his work ethic, intellect and humility have been the catalysts behind an auspicious start to his young career,” general manager Andrew Berry said in a statement. “Despite his early individual successes, Myles maintains the same drive toward greatness that he displayed as a 22-year old rookie. We firmly believe that this intense focus means the best is yet to come.”
Garrett, who the Browns drafted first overall in 2017, added in a statement:
“In 2017, the Cleveland Browns bet on me. This city quickly became my home and these people quickly became my family. I’m eternally grateful for this opportunity, the support of my friends and family, the organization, my teammates, the fans - I could go on forever, but even that wouldn’t be enough time to express my gratitude. I’ll just say this: Keep betting on me, Cleveland, because I won’t let you down. Now, let’s get to work.”
Leonard Williams of the New York Giants is set to play on the $16.1m tag for a defensive tackle, although the union has filed a grievance intended to classify him as a defensive end earning $17.8m.
Williams was acquired from the Jets in October for two draft picks. He has 17 and a half sacks in five seasons, but finished with a career-low half sack last year.
Matthew Judon of Baltimore is set to earn $16.8m as the midpoint between linebacker and defensive end, according to the NFL Network. The 2016 fifth-round pick led the Ravens with a career-high nine and a half sacks last season.
NFL sacks leader Shaquil Barrett of Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh’s Bud Dupree are classified as linebackers ($15.8m), but the NFL Network has reported that both have filed grievances seeking the defensive end salary of $17.8m.
Barrett had 19 and a half sacks in his first season with the Bucs after signing a $4m, one-year contract. In his first five NFL seasons with Denver, Barrett totaled 14 sacks. Dupree broke through in a “prove-it” season with a career-high 11 and a half sacks.
LA Chargers tight end Hunter Henry is set to earn $10.6m. He was one of Philip Rivers’ most reliable targets last season, finishing with 55 catches for 652 yards while missing four games with a knee injury. With Rivers gone to Indianapolis in free agency, Tyrod Taylor is expected to start.
“It’s definitely a blessing to get the tag. It’s only being one year,” Henry said in late April, when he was optimistic that a deal could get done. “I’m excited for this team going into the new stadium and with the new look.”
Anthony Harris of Minnesota and Denver’s Justin Simmons are set to play under the $11.4m tag for a safety. Guards Joe Thuney of New England and Brandon Scherff of Washington are set to earn $14.8m.