Where Do Dak & Cowboys Rank In NFL Top 100 Free Agents?
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have more than a dozen "name'' free agents, more than a few of whom populate Pro Football Focus' "Top 100 Free Agents'' list for 2021.
READ MORE: Dallas Cowboys List of Free Agents
Most prominent among them? Dak Prescott, of course.
Who is the No. 1 free agent on PFF's list? Dak Prescott, of course.
Writes PFF:
1. QB DAK PRESCOTT
The prize of the free agent market, Prescott went down with an unfortunate injury after just four-plus games in 2020. With four full seasons under his belt, Prescott has finished in the top 10 of PFF grades twice while ranking closer to 20th in the other two seasons. However, Prescott’s 85.2 PFF grade this season would’ve been a career-best, and his 2019 and 2020 work is the most productive of his career.
From a macro view, Prescott’s play dipped as his supporting cast took a step back, but a revamped receiving corps has had Dallas’ offense moving the ball efficiently with Prescott at the helm. With solid accuracy, decision-making and mobility, he has proven capable of putting up high-end production, and he appeared on his way to establishing himself as an annual “top-eight” quarterback prior to his injury.
Contract Analysis: A second franchise tag would be valued at $37.7 million for Prescott, so the two sides finally agree to a long-term extension just above that on an annual basis.
Prediction: Cowboys sign Prescott for four years, $158 million ($39.5M APY): $115M total guaranteed, $75 million fully guaranteed at signing.
SI's MIKE FISHER ANALYSIS/PREDICTION
I say $40 million APY, but maybe we're splitting hairs in a way the Joneses should not bother doing.
The Cowboys can afford to change coordinators, head coaches and even front-office decision-makers - and over the years have done all three - but this franchise has been shown to be uber-dependent on one player ... maybe like never before in its 61-year history.
That arguably speaks to a lack of depth on this roster. But without quarterback Prescott, The Cowboys have shown themselves to be a subpar roster ... or at least a sub-performing one.
Dak fixes all of that.
The Star deflated when Dak went down. Leave him unsigned and then tagged again ... and a dark cloud will hang over the building.
Dallas has been “close” on this for two years. Owner Jerry Jones now concedes all “the leverage” in negotiations.
The Cowboys can “lose” negotiations here by “winning” Dak. And The Star inflates. And the dark cloud floats away. And if that means more than the $106 million guaranteed offer from a year ago, fine. And if it means shrinking the years down, even to three, if that's what Dak wants, fine. Dak isn't just No. 1 on PFF's list; he's No. 1 in this building, in every single way.
The rest of PFF's top 100 is here. ... and again, Dak isn't the only name included. We'll address each of the names in the coming days.
READ MORE: Cowboys' Future in One Word
