Nailed it. Leaked by Jerruh to build the bad press.
Hope still there for Dak to leave the most psychotic fan base on earth!!!
Just reading between the lines, it seems pretty clear to me what is going on.
What Dak wants:
1) To average something like $30-$32 million per year in total compensation over the next 5-6 years (including 2019 season). Fair request, based on recent other contracts.
2) To have most of that money be guaranteed. Again, fair request.
What Dallas wants:
1) To NOT rip up the final year of Dak’s rookie contract. They are getting him at an absolute bargain basement price for one more year. If they jump straight from $2.3 million to $30 million against this year’s cap, it’s a huge bottom line hit that affects getting deals done with multiple other players this year. From a business side, this is fair on their end.
2) To give the PERCEPTION, based on dollars per year in the contract, that Dak is getting a good deal (not overpaid or underpaid), while saving as much money as possible. This is where the problem lies. $30 million per year for 5 years on an extension sounds fair at first glance, but really is only a $25 million per year over 6 years. That’s well below his market value. A 5 year / $35 million extension sounds completely outlandish given that Dak hasn’t exactly been super duper elite. But again, that’s only $29.5 million per year over 6 years with the $2.3 million in 2019 factored in. That’s just a smidge above Kirk Cousins money. Would anyone think Dak isn’t at least worth as much as Cousins?
Bottom line...Dallas is trying to have their cake and eat it too. They don’t want to start the new deal right away, but for PR purposes they also don’t want to give a record contract extension to a very good, but not yet elite QB (even though it’s not record money at all when you factor in his 2019 salary). Dak’s situation is probably one of the most unique in history, as there hasn’t been a guy drafted as late as he was that turned around and had as much success as he has had since Tom Brady. And that was way before the QB salary explosion. Dak is playing it the right way and telling the Jones’ to pay me now or pay me more later. He’s charging a premium for deferred compensation, as he should.