As Cowboys Keep Goofing Up Dak Prescott Contract, A Jayden Daniels Lesson for Commanders?

The Dallas Cowboys just let it happen again, as they stand by and see another large contract drop that affects their salary cap. When are they going to understand that the longer they slow-walk signing Dak Prescott, the more expensive it becomes?

No, that's not the Washington Commanders' problem. But avoiding the same pitfall someday? That is a D.C. concern.

As Cowboys Keep Goofing Up Dak Prescott Contract, A Jayden Daniels Lesson for Commanders?

This time, as it relates to Dak and Dallas, it is Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence who receives a new five-year $275 million extension, including $200 million guaranteed with $142 million at signing. It's just another contract to add to the growing list driving up the price for the Cowboys' top three stars, Dak, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons.

And Cowboys bosses Jerry and Stephen Jones keep talking about "waiting for leaves to fall.''

Prescott could play out his current deal and become a free agent a year from now, a bit of football suicide for the Cowboys.

At the same time, they might end up having to make Prescott a $60 Million Man - the highest-paid player in NFL history - and they obviously aren't very much in love with that idea, either.

What is the lesson for Washington and its first-round rookie QB Jayden Daniels? He just signed his first NFL contract, a slotted four-year deal worth ....

That's .... per year - a fraction of what Dak will soon make ... and fraction of what Jayden will probably some day make.

So, two things: One. ... While Daniels represents "cheap labor'' in the form of his cap-friendly deal, Washington should go overboard trying to win now. Daniels eats up relatively nothing of the cap, so there is room in the next few years to add, add, add.

And Two ... Having to recalculate the number you're going to owe your franchise QB for every year and every month that comes and goes, for every other QB deal that comes and goes, is painful and expensive.

In three years, Daniels becomes eligible for an extension. Calculate it. Guesstimate the future. And pay it.

Or ... be the Cowboys, stuck because a Dak and a hard place.