Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the lingering contract negotiations with star quarterback Dak Prescott during a candid interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. In the hour-long conversation, released on YouTube, Jones touched on key topics including the CeeDee Lamb contract, Prescott’s future with the team, and the persistent perception that Jones values profit over championships.
This offseason, the Cowboys made headlines over Lamb’s contract extension. After tense negotiations, the star wide receiver signed a four-year, $136 million deal on August 26. Despite the drama, Jones said he never felt pressured about getting Lamb back on the field.
“There was never any doubt about CeeDee’s value or what he brings to this team,” Jones told Smith. “I didn’t feel any urgency about rushing him back to camp.”
However, Prescott’s situation remains unresolved. As the quarterback enters the final year of his contract, both parties face a looming deadline to finalize an extension. Jones expressed confidence in Prescott’s potential, stating that he expects the quarterback to only improve as he matures.
“What he is as a person and a quarterback will age well,” Jones said. “I believe he’ll get better and better over the next five to ten years.”
Jones acknowledged that the contract negotiations with Prescott present a unique challenge. He explained the difficulty of balancing Prescott’s future earnings with the team’s financial commitments, while ensuring the Cowboys can still afford to build a competitive supporting cast.
“We’ve got the challenge of recouping what we’ve already invested in Dak while also paying for his future,” Jones explained. “That’s not Dak’s problem—it’s ours as the Cowboys. We need to ask ourselves if we can succeed at the level Dak, his teammates, and our fans deserve, while also staying within our financial limits. I believe we can.”
The Cowboys have faced significant postseason struggles in recent years, failing to meet expectations, including a disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers in last season’s wild card round. These failures have fueled criticism that Jones is more concerned with the Cowboys’ financial success than winning championships—an accusation he vehemently denied.
“That’s bull,” Jones responded. “Anyone who knows me knows I’d trade a third—or even two-thirds—of what the Cowboys are worth to win one of those Super Bowls.”
With pressure mounting, the Cowboys are looking to break their nearly 30-year Super Bowl drought. Their 2024 season kicks off this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, where both Jones and Cowboys fans hope the team can start the year on a strong note.
