Wentz and Goff are under the control of the Eagles and Rams for 5 years...their rookie deal was 4 years plus a team option for a 5th year...The Eagles and Rams then have 2 years worth of franchise tags...so Wentz and Goff are essentially under control for 7 years...because they are 1st round picks.
Dak, not selected in the 1st round...has a 4 year deal too...but the team does not get that 5th year option...therefore the Cowboys control Dak for 4 years...and they have 2 years worth of franchise tags...so the Cowboys have 6 years of control (and 7).
The drawback/tradeoff of the 5th year option is financial vs control. The Cowboys do not get that extra year of control HOWEVER they also don't have to pay Dak nearly as much because he wasn't a 1st rounder. What is that difference? $26 million dollars...so one could argue that extra year of control is worth $26 million dollars.
And that is my point...The leverage Dak has is his extra year...The Cowboys are essentially asking him to give up that extra year for nothing. If I were Dak, I would say, fine, you want an extra year deal like Wentz and Goff...PAY ME for that extra extra of control: $26 million extra dollars.
Otherwise, I am not signing a deal where, Goff and Wentz and I all become free agents in 2024 but they have made upwards of $26 million dollars more than I have.