Dak Prescott wanted to be paid like a top-end quarterback in the NFL. After a strong showing in 2023, the Cowboys rewarded him with the deal, not just making him one of the highest-paid players in the league, but making him the highest-paid player in 2024.
The Dallas QB signed a massive four-year contract extension right before the regular season officially began in Week 1 for the Cowboys. It shot him up the rankings of players making the most money this season.
However, three games into the 2024 campaign, Prescott hasn't exactly looked like the million-dollar man he was signed to be. The QB was fine in the Week 1 win over the Browns, throwing for just 179 yards and a touchdown; however, his last two weeks have left more to be desired.
In Week 2, Prescott was picked off twice and found the end zone just once in a 44-19 blowout loss to the Saints. In Week 3, Prescott's stats are impressive, throwing for 379 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, but the majority of those yards came in the fourth quarter when Dallas already found itself down multiple scores to Baltimore en route to the 28-25 loss.
He has a chance to bounce back on Thursday night against the Giants, a team that the Cowboys have enjoyed success against in the Prescott era. The QB owns a 12-2 record against the NFC East rival and aims to pick up another victory over New York in prime time.
Here is more insight on Prescott and his contract.
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Dak Prescott contract details
Prescott and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract extension ahead of Week 1 of the 2024 season.
His previous deal was set to expire following the 2024 season, which would have allowed Prescott to hit the open market. Now, he'll be with the organization through the 2028 season, making a lofty AAV of $60 million.
Dak Prescott guaranteed money
On his new contract, Prescott is guaranteed to make $231 million. He now ranks first among all players in the NFL in guaranteed money, passing the previous mark set by Browns QB Deshaun Watson, who signed a five-year deal guaranteed to make $230 million.
Dak Prescott salary 2024
Prescott's contract carries a base salary of $1.25 million for 2024, but his total cap hit is $43,382,647. That takes up roughly 17 percent of the cap space for the Dallas organization.
His salary spikes way up in 2025, going to $89,882,647.
| Season | Base | Cap hit |
| 2024 | $1,250,000 | $43,382,647 |
| 2025 | $47,750,000 | $89,882,647 |
| 2026 | $40,000,000 | $68,005,000 |
| 2027 | $45,000,000 | $62,000,000 |
| 2028 | $55,000,000 | $72,000,000 |
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How much does Dak Prescott make per game?
Using Prescott's AAV of $60 million, we can calculate how much he makes per game with the Cowboys. Since the NFL has 17 regular-season games, Prescott makes over $3.5 million per contest, coming in at roughly $3,529,411 for a paycheck per game.
NFL highest-paid QBs
NFL's highest-paid quarterbacks by AAV
Bengals QB Joe Burrow entered the 2024 offseason as the NFL's highest-paid quarterback, making $55 million annually as part of his five-year extension with Cincinnati. But Prescott overtook him mere hours before the Cowboys' Week 1 game, as the Dallas star signed a deal worth $60 million in AAV over four years.
| Rank | Player | AAV |
| 1 | Dak Prescott | $60 million |
| 2 | Joe Burrow | $55 million |
| Trevor Lawrence | $55 million | |
| Jordan Love | $55 million | |
| 5 | Tua Tagovailoa | $53.1 million |
| 6 | Jared Goff | $53 million |
| 7 | Patrick Mahomes | $52.65 million |
| 8 | Justin Herbert | $52.5 million |
| 9 | Lamar Jackson | $52 million |
| 10 | Jalen Hurts | $51 million |
NFL quarterback contracts by guaranteed money
Watson signed his massive contract extension with the Browns during the 2022 offseason. He remained atop the list of most guarantees until Prescott's deal bested it by $1 million.
| Rank | Player | Guarantees |
| 1 | Dak Prescott | $231 million |
| 2 | Deshaun Watson | $230 million |
| 3 | Joe Burrow | $219 million |
| 4 | Justin Herbert | $218.7 million |
| 5 | Trevor Lawrence | $200 million |
| 6 | Lamar Jackson | $185 million |
| 7 | Jalen Hurts | $179.399 million |
| 8 | Jared Goff | $170.6 million |
| 9 | Tua Tagovailoa | $167 million |
| 10 | Jordan Love | $160.3 million |
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Top NFL quarterback contracts in total value
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes still has the NFL's largest overall contract, valued at $450 million. No other QB makes more than $300 million in value.
Plenty of other quarterbacks are making at least $230 million in guarantees. That includes Burrow, Watson, Prescott, Chargers QB Justin Herbert, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, Bills QB Josh Allen, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Cardinals QB Kyler Murray.
| Rank | Player | Value |
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes | $450 million |
| 2 | Joe Burrow | $275 million |
| Trevor Lawrence | $275 million | |
| 4 | Justin Herbert | $262.5 million |
| 5 | Lamar Jackson | $260 million |
| 6 | Josh Allen | $258 million |
| 7 | Jalen Hurts | $255 million |
| 8 | Dak Prescott | $240 million |
| 9 | Kyler Murray | $230.5 million |
| 10 | Deshaun Watson | $230 million |
