Except why offer it then and risk having it taken and everything I said come into play? That also makes no rational sense. There is no good reason for it unless it was not the entire story.
The only rational explanation to that entire story is to believe a Cowboys source put that source out there to try and sucker the fans into turning against Dak temporarily to put public pressure on him to lower his net asking price. Nothing else makes any rational sense. If Dak was not taking 5 years and was 100% sure he wanted 4 then he would not have given a number for a 5th year because all that situation does is make it harder to negotiate a deal which is clearly in his interest to have. The only rational explanation is that the number is right but the structure is a lie.
Goff had two existing years on his contract when he was extended in 2019. The Rams own his rights for six years, where the Cowboys contract puts Dak if he signs. Goff becomes an unrestricted FA in 2025.
If Dak signed for five years, it would be 20-21, 21-22, 22-23, 23-24, 24-25... Like Goff..
Carson Went, exact same... he becomes an unrestricted FA in 25... He was extended 4 years a couple months before Goff...