Dallas Cowboys reach decision on Dak Prescott future after playoffs nightmare

02 February 2023 , 15:47

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Dak Prescott threw 15 interceptions in just 12 appearances during the 2022 regular season (Image: Godofredo A Vásquez/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

The Dallas Cowboys are set to commit to Dak Prescott as their starting quarterback going forwards despite his disappointing performance in the NFL playoffs.

In the Divisional Round of the postseason, the Cowboys fell 19-12 to the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. The result ensured Dallas continued their streak of failing to reach the NFC Championship Game, with their last appearance in the contest coming back in 1995.

The result in the revived classic rivalry between two iconic franchises also meant the Cowboys will have to wait to add a sixth championship. Since winning Super Bowl XXX in the 1995 season, the iconic franchise have had 12 playoff appearances but just five wins.

Dallas boasted a dominant defence heading into the postseason, but offensive struggles proved to be their undoing in 2022. Prescott threw for 206 yards and a touchdown, but he also tossed two interceptions as the 49ers did enough to see off the Cowboys.

While the franchise decided to drop offensive coordinator Kellen Moore - who was quickly picked up by the Los Angeles Chargers - the Cowboys are reportedly not considering a change at quarterback. On Wednesday, Dallas’ executive Vice President Stephen Jones spoke to reporters about Prescott’s future at the Senior Bowl.

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Jones insisted the team is fully committed to Prescott, who led the NFL in interceptions with 15 despite missing time due to injury. Jones suggested Prescott could be the quarterback of the Cowboys for the ‘next 10 years’, per Nick Eatman of the team’s website.

Dak Prescott won the Dallas Cowboys starting job from an injured Tony Romo as a rookie back in 2016 (Getty Images)

Prescott has been with the Cowboys since they selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. His contract only runs for the next two seasons, but Jones said the team is open to an extension in order to lower the current cap hit.

A new agreement between Prescott and the Cowboys would highlight the belief the franchise has in the 29-year-old, while they could also lower his cap hit over the next few seasons to help the team add weapons and strengthen the roster. Prescott is projected to have a hit of just over $49 million in 2023 and above $52m in 2024.

In 2022, Prescott passed for 2,860 yards and threw 23 touchdowns as well as his league-leading picks. He also defeated Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs, ensuring he inflicted the final loss on the iconic quarterback before he announced his retirement after 23 years and seven Super Bowl titles.

Andrew Gamble