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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is entering a pivotal 2019 campaign that could very well dictate his worth for the future.
Prescott has been engaged with the Cowboys in contract extension talks, but he seems to be asking for more than Dallas is willing to pay at the moment, with some reporting that he is looking for $40 million annually.
Is Prescott deserving of such a massive payday in a vacuum? Maybe not, but based on the current going market for quarterbacks, he may very well end up getting a contract similar to that, and it will be up to the Cowboys to decide if they are the team who wants to give it to him.
So, with the regular season less than two weeks away, here are three last-minute predictions for Prescott going into 2019:
3. He won't Sign an Extension Before the Season
With Week 1 getting closer and closer, it's looking less and less likely that Dallas and Prescott will come to terms before the start of the regular season, and given that players and teams typically don't agree to deals in-season, we will probably have to wait until next spring before the Cowboys and Prescott agree on something.
Plus, the Cowboys have a lot on their plates right now, as they are also dealing with Ezekiel Elliott, who has been holding out. Amari Cooper is also in need of a new deal.
Unless the two sides suddenly begin working very quickly and building momentum, I find it hard to believe that Dallas will be able to extend Prescott before the season opener.
Will that cause problems? I don't think so, as Prescott seems to understand the situation.
2. He'll Throw For 25-30 Touchdowns
Thus far, Prescott's career-high in touchdown passes for a single season is 23, which he achieved during his rookie year in 2016. He finished with 22 touchdown tosses in each of the last two seasons.
Prescott's lack of big numbers is why people are questioning his true worth to the Cowboys. Is he really a franchise quarterback, or is he just a glorified game manager?
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Well, Prescott fully understands his current circumstances and knows that if he does want to become the highest-paid signal-caller in football, he needs to show out this season.
Is he capable of that? It remains to be seen, but regardless of what your opinion on Prescott is, he is certainly no bum, and he should be able to throw at least 25 touchdown passes with the weapons in mind.
Also, keep this in mind: if Elliott holds out through the season (which is a distinct possibility), Dallas will throw the ball more, which will provide more opportunities for Prescott to rack up numbers.
1. He'll Sign a Monster Extension Next Offseason
I honestly don't think the Cowboys have any intention of letting Prescott walk in free agency next offseason.
Right now, it's just a game of chicken, where both sides are posturing and realize that there is still plenty of time to get a deal done. But once the finish line begins to grow closer, things will begin to speed up, which will ultimately result in Dallas paying up for Prescott.
Will he get the $40 million per year that he is looking for? Who knows, but he will surely get a contract that compensates him well, especially if he goes on to have a big year and leads the Cowboys through a playoff run.
Things may seem uncertain at the moment, but Dallas will sign Prescott for the long haul in due time.
