The Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott were unable to get a deal in place ahead of Wednesday's deadline, causing many to wonder what the holdup is.

According to an NFL personnel director that spoke to The Athletic, Prescott's stats could be a reason for the contract impasse:

“It’s almost like they are caught,” a personnel director said. “Dak’s stats are such that he could want to be paid like a one (Tier 1 quarterback). They realize he is not a one, and that is the disconnect. It is almost like when Seattle paid Russell Wilson. Russell then has to elevate the players around him who are not up to par, which he has been able to do. If you don’t see Dak in that way, then you are going to come into a very big issue where it is going to set your roster back.”

Dating back to last offseason, Russell Wilson signed a four-year, $140 million extension. At the same time, the Cowboys' star's draftmates — Carson Wentz and Jared Goff — both signed lucrative extensions as well. Of the three, Wilson is the only one that's proven to be a consistent franchise quarterback.

Then, of course, Patrick Mahomes raised the bar by signing a historic 10-year, $503 million extension this offseason. While Prescott is a talented quarterback, he isn't in the same tier as Mahomes or Wilson.

Last season, Prescott threw for a career-high 4,902 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. After betting on himself in 2019, Prescott appears to be doing the same again in 2020.

Still, it remains to be seen if the Cowboys view Prescott as a quarterback that deserves top-tier quarterback money.