People really aren't thinking if they believe Dak gets 30m a season. Do the math, that's 150m over 5-years. But right now we have Dak locked away for two-years as follows.
2019 - 800k
2020 - 26m (estimated franchise tag)
Total: 26.8m
So Dak is locked away for two years at 14.4m a season and there's very little he can do about it. For him to get his 30m a season as people are suggesting, on a 5-year contract, he needs to earn 123.2m for his last three years. That's 41.6m a season........not a realistic reflection of the market.
Kirk Cousins was a free agent that had been franchise twice. His situation is very different, he's negotiating with multiple teams, with no restrictions. If Dak demands ridiculous money, and Jerry doesn't pay, he can't go anywhere else for two, maybe three years, and risks a hell of a lot of money by waiting.
So Dak takes a discount, not for altruistic reasons, but because of the situation he is in. The reason Dak takes a discount are:
1. He can only negotiate with Dallas
2. A new contract removes the risk of playing without a long-term contract
3. Money has a time value. Paid today is worth more than paid in 2-3 years
4. Endorsements at Dallas are more than most other markets
5. Texas has no state tax
Dak gets at most 6-years 140m with 50m guaranteed. That's what peak Aaron Rogers would get if in Dak's situation. That works out to be 23.3m per season. Anything more and Dallas is getting massively fleeced.