Something has to give. (QB Salaries)

Verdict

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I have been critical of NFL GM’s emphasis on QB salaries and perceived “market value.” Right now Mahomes is probably at the top of the pecking order in terms of QBs. His salary averages $45m per year. That’s too much, but at least he is the best in the game.

Let’s say you bring in a journeyman QB placeholder to pair with a draft pick as a bridge to the future. What is the journeyman QB worth?

I would argue if he can’t get you to the SB—- not much. Why pay even half of what Mahomes is being paid, if the QB can’t deliver you a championship?

I have been saying for a long time that NFL coaches were looking for a specific type of player instead of the best football player. Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Drew Brees, Baker Mayfield....none of them (and others) fit the historical QB prototype.

Now that teams are looking outside the standard cookie cutter QB they are starting to find more viable QBs.

Back to salary—-Dak may get paid $40m per year but he is no where nearly as good as Mahomes. I wouldn’t pay Dak more than $35M —-and if he wanted more than that—-I would be looking for a new QB.

Dak can get you to a SB but man, he looked very pedestrian at times, especially against better competition. It’s arguable that he’s not even a top 10QB.

I would like to have Dak playing QB for us for the next 5 years. But $40m per year is stupid money, and I hope the Cowboys dig in and don’t pay it, if that is what Dak as asking for. Flip Dak for picks and move on.
 

88sAndHeartbreak

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The market has went up every year, I'm sure it will level off at some point... but $45m is what its looking like for top qb's looking for an extension next year.

If Dak gets signed to $40m, there are a million ways to manipulate the cap to sign a couple free agents. If not, blame Zeke's contract not Dak's.

Bottom line is if he goes elsewhere, I guess we can watch him win them a SB.
 
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America's Cowboy

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You made a very good argument for not paying Dak more than $35 mil, which I agree, but you lost all credibility when you said Dak is no where near Mahomes or even in the Top 10 best QBs. That's a bunch of bunk, and everyone knows that. Dak is definitely Top 5 - 7 and is pretty good compared to Mahomes. The film and stats don't lie.

Since Dak is being reported to have passed up on $30 mil back in 2018... $35 mil back in 2019... and now demanding between $40 - $45 to become the 2nd highest paid player ever after Mahomes, it is clear Dak is all about the money. He has the audacity to claim he deserves respect? Pfft!

Jerry needs to put the non-exclusive franchise tag on Dak IMMEDIATELY and allow other teams to bid on Dak. If no one offers $35 mil or higher, you have the option to keep Dak at $35 mil or less per year. If someone offers him more, let them have Dak... as long as they compensate the Cowboys with two 1st round picks. From there, Jerry could decide to bring in a veteran QB for much cheaper while drafting another QB for the future. Heck, maybe trade a 2nd and a conditional 4th for Russell Wilson and pick up his remaining much cheaper contract for now.

As for Dak, he can go skate for his ridiculous overpaid riches somewhere else. Your greed lost me, Dak!!!!
 

88sAndHeartbreak

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You made a very good argument for not paying Dak more than $35 mil, which I agree, but you lost all credibility when you said Dak is no where near Mahomes or even in the Top 10 best QBs. That's a bunch of bunk, and everyone knows that. Dak is definitely Top 5 - 7 and is pretty good compared to Mahomes. The film and stats don't lie.

Since Dak is being reported to have passed up on $30 mil back in 2018... $35 mil back in 2019... and now demanding between $40 - $45 to become the 2nd highest paid player ever after Mahomes, it is clear Dak is all about the money. He has the audacity to claim he deserves respect? Pfft!

Jerry needs to put the non-exclusive franchise tag on Dak IMMEDIATELY and allow other teams to bid on Dak. If no one offers $35 mil or higher, you have the option to keep Dak at $35 mil or less per year. If someone offers him more, let them have Dak... as long as they compensate the Cowboys with two 1st round picks. From there, Jerry could decide to bring in a veteran QB for much cheaper while drafting another QB for the future. Heck, maybe trade a 2nd and a conditional 4th for Russell Wilson and pick up his remaining much cheaper contract for now.

As for Dak, he can go skate for his ridiculous overpaid riches somewhere else. Your greed lost me, Dak!!!!
It was reported that he accepted the $35m but the wanted 4 years instead of 5. Yet yall still call him greedy lol...
 

Jipper

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I haven’t seen it but someone should do a year over year comparison of the top five qb salaries as a % of the total cap.

while I agree that the salaries are ridiculous, I think we would all be surprised at the ratio
 

Rayman70

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this cannot continue. The more money you pay them, the more power and control they want and believe they have. Cannot have the employee owning the company in a defacto way...or calling the player moves. That is ridiculous. It will destroy the league.Just look at Wilson and Watson right now. Look at Aaron Rodgers..how many times has he basically threatened to walk if A,B AND C doesn't happen? OWNERS own...sign checks, players get paid very well TO PLAY...they are the employee. Dak has been told by Todd France a bunch of lies. He has poisoned his mind into thinking HE is calling the shots. Jerry will respond in kind very soon. Promise you that.
 

USArmyVet

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It was reported that he accepted the $35m but the wanted 4 years instead of 5. Yet yall still call him greedy lol...

One can argue he was greedy in the sense that he declined the contract due to it being 5 years instead of 4 years in order to again capitalize on another possible big contract.....therefore if he was about being a Cowboy for life and helping to win a Super Bowl then why would he not accept the 5th year?
 

America's Cowboy

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It was reported that he accepted the $35m but the wanted 4 years instead of 5. Yet yall still call him greedy lol...
I've covered up for Dak but not anymore. That wanting a 4 year instead of 5 that was offered holds no water. Why not? Because everyone knows had Dak kept playing very well, Jerry would have gladly given Dak a second big contract extension with at least still a year left. In other words, a 2nd big contract offer after 4 years instead of the full 5 year contract. Dak is simply being greedy. Super greedy.
 

Sandyf

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The Jones's will have a figure that they believe Dak is worth and won't exceed it. Dak's position is not as strong as many think.
Many fans say Jerry has a price and will stick to it yet that has never happened i.e. Zeke and Lawrence are two examples. If Jerry really wants to keep Dak then he will negotiate and most likely it will be a bit more than he wants to pay but the alternative is not bright. Out of the 5 or 6 QBs that will be drafted in the 1st round and the 14+ drafted in the whole draft, the odds are pretty high that only one or two will ever be a full time starting QB that carries a team, those are just facts not speculation. So if Jerry wants to go Dakless then he needs to know the late 90s and early 2000s (1998 to 2008)will be upon again.
 

Mr_437

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The QB market needs a reset, and the phrase "this is the going market rate" or something similar needs to be buried. Just because it a certain QBs time for a contract doesn't mean he gets paid top tier money i.e. Carr, Cousins n Garrapollo.

I don't think the Cowboys can afford Dak, at this point...they should've paid years ago if they wanted him. Now it's get what you can for him or not a team built around him that can win.
 

USArmyVet

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Many fans say Jerry has a price and will stick to it yet that has never happened i.e. Zeke and Lawrence are two examples. If Jerry really wants to keep Dak then he will negotiate and most likely it will be a bit more than he wants to pay but the alternative is not bright. Out of the 5 or 6 QBs that will be drafted in the 1st round and the 14+ drafted in the whole draft, the odds are pretty high that only one or two will ever be a full time starting QB that carries a team, those are just facts not speculation. So if Jerry wants to go Dakless then he needs to know the late 90s and early 2000s (1998 to 2008)will be upon again.

While statistically your prediction may have merit one never knows as Dak himself could be used as an example wherein Dallas hit on a 4th round drafted QB....much like NE hit on 6th rounder Brady.....so while again statistically there is some merit you never know what could happen in free agency or in the draft so you can't simply give Dak what he wants based solely on the 'fear' of what may or may not happen.
 

Pompey-Cowboy

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Many fans say Jerry has a price and will stick to it yet that has never happened i.e. Zeke and Lawrence are two examples. If Jerry really wants to keep Dak then he will negotiate and most likely it will be a bit more than he wants to pay but the alternative is not bright. Out of the 5 or 6 QBs that will be drafted in the 1st round and the 14+ drafted in the whole draft, the odds are pretty high that only one or two will ever be a full time starting QB that carries a team, those are just facts not speculation. So if Jerry wants to go Dakless then he needs to know the late 90s and early 2000s (1998 to 2008)will be upon again.
Ordinarily I would completely agree with you but this year particularly the numbers have to add up if they are to get everything done. I believe Jerry thinks Dak is the present and future but think he realises that there are boundries that didn't apply when he handed Zeke his contract. Also, the Zeke contract itself was probably a lesson.
 

PJTHEDOORS

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Dak can get you to a SB but man, he looked very pedestrian at times, especially against better competition
. It’s arguable that he’s not even a top 10QB.

I would like to have Dak playing QB for us for the next 5 years. But $40m per year is stupid money, and I hope the Cowboys dig in and don’t pay it, if that is what Dak as asking for. Flip Dak for picks and move on.

Amazing, Dak complainers never bring up Zeke against better competition. Zeke got paid to be elite. No one whines about him not showing up vs good defenses, only Dak. Dak as we know needs a consistent run game vs good defenses.
 

Flamma

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The market has went up every year, I'm sure it will level off at some point... but $45m is what its looking like for top qb's looking for an extension next year.

If Dak gets signed to $40m, there are a million ways to manipulate the cap to sign a couple free agents. If not, blame Zeke's contract not Dak's.

Bottom line is if he goes elsewhere, I guess we can watch him win them a SB.

There's really not a million ways on this Cowboys roster. They can restructure Cooper. But you don't want to do that with Zeke and Jaylon Smith. Probably better off moving on from them in the next two years. Tyrone Smith is on his way out. They can clear up space there. Then maybe dump DLaw in 2 years. Now they have plenty of space. Good luck.
 

nightrain

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The market will continue to be set by the Owner willing to pay the most. There is always going to be a team with a lot of cap space desperate to make a splash and get that cherished player. It happens with all the marquis positions.
 

Rayman70

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I have been critical of NFL GM’s emphasis on QB salaries and perceived “market value.” Right now Mahomes is probably at the top of the pecking order in terms of QBs. His salary averages $45m per year. That’s too much, but at least he is the best in the game.

Let’s say you bring in a journeyman QB placeholder to pair with a draft pick as a bridge to the future. What is the journeyman QB worth?

I would argue if he can’t get you to the SB—- not much. Why pay even half of what Mahomes is being paid, if the QB can’t deliver you a championship?

I have been saying for a long time that NFL coaches were looking for a specific type of player instead of the best football player. Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Drew Brees, Baker Mayfield....none of them (and others) fit the historical QB prototype.

Now that teams are looking outside the standard cookie cutter QB they are starting to find more viable QBs.

Back to salary—-Dak may get paid $40m per year but he is no where nearly as good as Mahomes. I wouldn’t pay Dak more than $35M —-and if he wanted more than that—-I would be looking for a new QB.

Dak can get you to a SB but man, he looked very pedestrian at times, especially against better competition. It’s arguable that he’s not even a top 10QB.

I would like to have Dak playing QB for us for the next 5 years. But $40m per year is stupid money, and I hope the Cowboys dig in and don’t pay it, if that is what Dak as asking for. Flip Dak for picks and move on.
at some point the market falls back down to Earth and crashes.Just the nature of it. Live by the sword, die by the sword as they say.
 

MountaineerCowboy

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I hear all the time from Cowboys fans about how good they are at evaluating talent and drafting talent.

Why is all that thrown out the window when it comes to Dak? If those same guys that get praised by you for their player evaluation all are telling Jerry that there's no way Dak is worth that kind of money why not trust it? I think anybody that isn't delusional can see that Dak isn't worth what he's asking.
 
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