The 2020 cap was: $198.2 million in 2020, an increase from $188.2 million in 2019. The league has increased its salary cap every year since having an uncapped season in 2010, allowing teams to spend a significant amount in free agency.
If the cap is 180 million in 2021, going down 18.2 million from last year is not good when increasing a QBs salary by 5 million plus other deals like Zeke and Jaylon that increase.
To me, what Dak's number is this year isn't that big a deal.
Why?
1. Dallas has 3 chances of winning the SB this year - slim, fat and none. So the end result of doing the tag, getting long term deal done, etc. doesn't change.
2. Cap as far as we know will be down this year, but very good chance it's back up next year, so this year is one best just not worried about.
3. If he's tagged, won't be next year (unless it's to trade him), so either he gets a long term deal or he's gone. Either way, again this is a "lost" year.
4. So many teams will draft quarterbacks, or have/will trade for/sign free agent quarterbacks, Dallas could have a wide open field to draft a good one.
What matters is next year and beyond...