Dak Prescott not worried about TE Dalton Schultz contract impasse with Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback Dak Prescott is not concerned about the contract impasse between Dalton Schultz and the Dallas Cowboys that prompted the tight end to skip the final week of organized team activities.
Schultz is frustrated that the Cowboys have not made any progress towards giving him a long-term extension since he signed the franchise tag of $10.9 million in March.
The two sides must come to terms by July 15 or he will have to play the 2022 season on a franchise tag.
Schultz, who has participated in the voluntary offseason program since it began in April 18, hoped skipping OTAs might jump start talks.
His resolve will be tested next week when the Cowboys hold a mandatory three-day minicamp. If he doesn’t show up, he could be fined $15,515 for the first missed day, $31,030 for the second and $46,540 for the third (up to $93,085 total).
Not only does Prescott count Schultz as one of his most trusted pass-catchers but he is also his confidant and adviser. He knew about Schultz’ plan to miss the final week of OTAs.
“Me and Schultz talk all the time,” Prescott said Tuesday during the Reliant Home Run Derby. “I knew what was happening.”
What Prescott also knows and believes is that these things usually get worked out, just like it did with him.
He held out of the entire offseason program in 2020 and played one year on the franchise tag before signing in the richest contract in franchise history before the 2021 season.
“I went through this process,” Prescott said. “A lot of people go through this process. He’s a guy that I feel very confident with.”
The baseline for any deal with Schultz is Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku’s recent four-year, $56.75 million deal that averages to just over $14 million per season.
The Cowboys have not shown a willingness to pay that much for Schultz.
Cowboys sign rookie TE Jake Ferguson
Coincidentally or not, the Cowboys signed tight end Jake Ferguson to his rookie contract on Wednesday.
Ferguson, picked in the fourth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft to back up Dalton Schultz and develop as his future replacement, signed a four-year deal with the Cowboys.
The Cowboys now have all of their 2022 NFL draft picks under contract.
Ferguson got getting extra reps with the first team this week with Schultz skipping the final week of OTAs in a contract dispute.
This story was originally published June 8, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
