Star Telegram reported this 3-26-2020:
When the Cowboys put the exclusive franchise tag on Prescott on March 16, it was after he turned down an updated offer of at least $34 million annually. He had turned down a deal for $33 million annually with $105 million in guarantee money last September.
If the above is true then Dak, then his agents definitely did the right thing for better money and length of years. It has nothing to do with Mahomes but Russell Wilson contract.
Russell Wilson's contract was the highest in average annual salary per season and every QB that sign prior got the highest average annual salary per season. So why in the world would you accept a contract less than that bench mark. Kurt Cousin had no playoff wins when he got paid. Dak beat the Rams with Goff at QB in the regular season (soundly), and Wentz has no playoff wins and Dak is the more winning QB. So not getting a match or above Russell Wilson (Dak beat Wilson in the playoffs), is just bad negotiating.
Now enter Mahomes who is a outlander as a QB and contract offer. His agent Leigh Steinberg loves moving the dot in salaries for QBs. So it would have been business smart and known to Jerry Jones that Steinberg would put a big delta between Mahomes' and Wilson's salary. Jerry Jones hands cramped up because he had a lousy Head Coach and now his wallet is going to pay for it. Do you think Dak would be pushing the length of contract shorter with Andy Reid, Sean McVay, Doug Petersen, or Pete Carroll as Head Coach. He had a lousy Head Coach chosen by Jerry Jones who was a lame duck head coach last year. With that uncertainty why sign a long term deal. Troy Aikman signed long term because Jimmy Johnson had a 10 year contract. Steinberg would have advised Mahomes the same way in the same situation with Jason Garrett, lame duck coach, as HC of the Cowboys.
So Jerry is going to have to sign Dak Prescott north of Rusell Wilson's deal and south of Mahomes contract length as M&M last season in the NFL got him fired. If M&M gets Dak and the Cowboys to the NFC Championship game or Super Bowl then there is stability for a long term deal but the money is going to always be more the Russell Wilson and maybe higher than Mahomes after that type of season. So the only losers in this new Dak contract situation is Jerry Dumbo GM Jones bank account and his cramping hands.