Dak contract-cap experts?

[Hawkeye0202]

There's talk of drafting his backup ( maybe with a high pick ) and possible replacement this year. I wonder what happens if the backup is ready to compete ( push ) Dak for the starting job before the 2027 season. Am I reading OTC numbers right....2027, no guaranteed salary left, and we would save $10M pre-June 1 cut or trade? I know we just restructured but noticed according to OTC that added a cap increase of $9.1M to each of 4 years.

I guess the bottom line question is can we move on from Dak and his contract before the 2027 season and save $10M?

https://overthecap.com/player/dak-prescott/4848

 

[kskboys]

There's talk of drafting his backup ( maybe with a high pick ) and possible replacement this year. I wonder what happens if the backup is ready to compete ( push ) Dak for the starting job before the 2027 season. Am I reading OTC numbers right....2027, no guaranteed salary left, and we would save $10M pre-June 1 cut or trade? I know we just restructured but noticed according to OTC that added a cap increase of $9.1M to each of 4 years.

I guess the bottom line question is can we move on from Dak and his contract before the 2027 season and save $10M?

https://overthecap.com/player/dak-prescott/4848

The cap experts will tell you, but no way that's accurate. Way too much guaranteed money, as well as the cap hit we just pushed further down the road.

 

[big dog cowboy]

There's talk of drafting his backup ( maybe with a high pick ) and possible replacement this year.

Talk is cheap. It's especially true in this case because there is no chance the Cowboys draft a QB with a high pick.

 

[Carson]

He’s here until 2027 minimum.

If released

2026 - $137 million dead cap, $76 million post June
2027 - $60 million dead cap, $25 million post June
2028 - $35 million dead cap, $25 million post June

 

[MoistMayonnaise]

Unfortunately, Jerral sees Dak as the future of the Cowboys even though his best days are in the rear view mirror.

 

[TwentyOne]

Talk is cheap. It's especially true in this case because there is no chance the Cowboys draft a QB with a high pick.

This FO is going to draft a QB high the same way they went All-In last year.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

It’s accurate but you’re not seeing what it means. Yes you can save 10m$ in cap space, but that’s because Dak has a 70m$ cap hit and you take 60m$ in dead money.

So technically you could cut him then, but you’ll be using a cap 60m$ smaller than the rest of the league. Is that worth saving 10m$?

 

[Coogiguy03]

I would love for this to happen, it's not like it hasn't happened in years previously with other teams drafting a backup in the first round when they had a starter. I don't want us to waste a pick on someone who may not play this season with all the holes we have, it would be a wasted pick. If we could get someone on day 3 that could play and be ready that would be awesome!


Maybe the QB is so awesome Dak doesn't get his job back!

 

[Coogiguy03]

It’s accurate but you’re not seeing what it means. Yes you can save 10m$ in cap space, but that’s because Dak has a 70m$ cap hit and you take 60m$ in dead money.

So technically you could cut him then, but you’ll be using a cap 60m$ smaller than the rest of the league. Is that worth saving 10m$?

Ok but if we do that can't we ALSO split the money/cap hit over several years like other players when they're designated as a June 1st cut???

 

[Sydla]

There's talk of drafting his backup ( maybe with a high pick ) and possible replacement this year. I wonder what happens if the backup is ready to compete ( push ) Dak for the starting job before the 2027 season. Am I reading OTC numbers right....2027, no guaranteed salary left, and we would save $10M pre-June 1 cut or trade? I know we just restructured but noticed according to OTC that added a cap increase of $9.1M to each of 4 years.

I guess the bottom line question is can we move on from Dak and his contract before the 2027 season and save $10M?

https://overthecap.com/player/dak-prescott/4848

I think you have to be careful on how to read both Over the Cap and Spotrac because they sometimes cant account for guaranteed salaries that kick in the previous year.

For example, his $45MM salary in 2027 is not guaranteed............. right now. But on the 5th league day of 2026, it does become guaranteed per Spotrac. So if it becomes guaranteed, than I think you might have to add $45MM to the dead money number.

I haven't poked around to see how they are accounting for it but quick math shows that if you add up the signing bonus proration and restructures that gets you to the $60MM dead cap (two years left at $15MM and then the restructures of 10MM, 10MM, 9MM). If that 2027 $45MM base salary becomes guaranteed in 2026, you have to account for it somewhere, I believe.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

We should draft a starting QB instead.

We all know Dak ain’t playing 17 games again.

 

[Sydla]

It’s accurate but you’re not seeing what it means. Yes you can save 10m$ in cap space, but that’s because Dak has a 70m$ cap hit and you take 60m$ in dead money.

So technically you could cut him then, but you’ll be using a cap 60m$ smaller than the rest of the league. Is that worth saving 10m$?

But if that 2027 base salary of $45MM fully guarantees in 2026, don't you have to account for that somewhere?

 

[Coogiguy03]

We should draft a starting QB instead.

We all know Dak ain’t playing 17 games again.

he's going to do it this season and will remind Jerry how great he is, he'll proceed to hold out of camp for more money, again he'll get the bag, and will get injured again!!!! Dak Cousins I mean Dakota!!

 

[fivetwos]

I think you have to be careful on how to read both Over the Cap and Spotrac because they sometimes cant account for guaranteed salaries that kick in the previous year.

For example, his $45MM salary in 2027 is not guaranteed............. right now. But on the 5th league day of 2026, it does become guaranteed. So if it becomes guaranteed, than I think you might have to add $45MM to the dead money number.

I haven't poked around to see how they are accounting for it but quick math shows that if you add up the signing bonus proration and restructures that gets you to the $60MM dead cap (two years left at $15MM and then the restructures of 10MM, 10MM, 9MM). If that 2027 $45MM base salary becomes guaranteed in 2026, you have to account for it somewhere, I believe.

The 2026 salary became guaranteed two days ago.

For the 45m base for 2027 to not guarantee, they have to cut him before the fifth day of the league year in 2026….about a year from now….all while the 40m for the upcoming 2026 season is already guaranteed.

That’s cash money paid weekly during the season, not just the cap hit. I can’t see the circumstance under which they just throw away 45m in guaranteed cash and cut him then, so he is here for three seasons at least.

That lightens up a bit at the end, so the likely earliest end of the Dak era is March 2028.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

But if that 2027 base salary of $45MM fully guarantees in 2026, don't you have to account for that somewhere?

Yeah maybe

 

[fivetwos]

But if that 2027 base salary of $45MM fully guarantees in 2026, don't you have to account for that somewhere?

Not if they cut him beforehand, no, but they also have to pay him a 40m salary in weekly game checks…that part is now already guaranteed.

 

[Sydla]

The 2026 salary became guaranteed two days ago.

For the 45m base for 2027 to not guarantee, they have to cut him before the fifth day of the league year in 2026….about a year from now….all while the 40m for the upcoming 2026 season is already guaranteed.

That’s cash money paid weekly during the season, not just the cap hit. I can’t see the circumstance under which they just throw away 45m in guaranteed cash and cut him then, so he is here for three seasons at least.

That lightens up a bit at the end, so the likely earliest end of the Dak era is March 2028.

I don't think you are following the OPs question.

The OP asked if we would save $10MM if we cut him in 2027 because that's what Over the Cap and Spotrac say we would save if we cut him in 2027. What I am saying is Over the Cap and Spotrac sometimes can't account for future guarantees in their calculations.

In other words, in 2027, the dead money hit is $60MM which is simply adding up the two years of remaining prorated bonuses and then the three years of restructures/other bonuses. However, if you cut him in 2027, that means he was on the roster in 2026 and his $45MM was guaranteed so in reality, that dead money isn't just $60MM. You have to account for the guaranteed $45MM now as well.

 

[Sydla]

He’s here until 2027 minimum.

If released

2026 - $137 million dead cap, $76 million post June
2027 - $60 million dead cap, $25 million post June
2028 - $35 million dead cap, $25 million post June

I don't believe this is accurate. Because if he makes it to the 2027 league year and you cut him, his base salary becomes guaranteed and that's $45MM alone you have to account for.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Cap wise you can easily get out of Daks deal after 2027 right now. Two issues pop up though...

1) Will they restructure him again next offseason? He currently has a $76M cap hit for 2026 and they could elect to push more money down the road. This could be one reason they are being tight with the cap despite having a ton of cap space available. Using the carryover money in order to not be forced to restructure Daks deal again.
2) The clauses in Daks deal are listed below. The salaries for his deal become guaranteed if he is on the roster the 5th day of the league year the year prior. What that means is that Jerry will have to eat $45M in game checks for Dak to play for someone else. Possible? yes, but it doesnt sound like a Jerry thing to do either.


Contract Notes

• $129M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2024 salary + 2025 salary)
• $40M 2026 salary fully guarantees March 16, 2025 (injury guaranteed at signing)
• $45M 2027 salary fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2026 (injury guaranteed at signing)
• $17M of 2028 salary fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2027 (injury guaranteed at signing)
• Full No Trade Clause
• No Tag Clause
• 2029-2032 years automatically void 23 days prior to the 2029 league year
• $87.1M of 2024-2027 compensation is insured

 

[fivetwos]

I don't think you are following the OPs question.

The OP asked if we would save $10MM if we cut him in 2027 because that's what Over the Cap and Spotrac say we would save if we cut him in 2027. What I am saying is Over the Cap and Spotrac sometimes can't account for future guarantees in their calculations.

In other words, in 2027, the dead money hit is $60MM which is simply adding up the two years of remaining prorated bonuses and then the three years of restructures/other bonuses. However, if you cut him in 2027, that means his $45MM was guaranteed so in reality, that dead money isn't just $60MM. You have to account for the guaranteed $45MM now as well.

I follow the question, but isn’t it basically moot since if he is not cut in March 2026 (2026 salary already guaranteed as we speak) the 45 million base for 2027 becomes guaranteed? Are they actually going to cut him before the season if that’s the case?

If for some reason the same duo that wouldn’t eat a lousy 5m on McCarthy decide to do that, then yes, I’d think they would have to account for that salary and it would change the cap hit.

People can hope all they like but it’s essentially structured so he is here for at least three years.