Dak Prescott is the real winner of Ryan Tannehill’s new deal
Ryan Tannehill is definitely happy with his new contract, but the real winner has to be Dak Prescott.
Dak Prescott has not bent to the idea he should take a relative discount based on the novel value in being the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback, and a reported recent offer apparently was close to one he turned down last September. The vote to approve a new CBA has come, and now there will be real movement on contracts as the new league year starts.
After a report they were out on Tom Brady, the Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on a new deal with quarterback Ryan Tannehill. According to multiple reports it’s a four-year, $118 million deal, with $91 million in total possible guaranteed money ($62 million fully guaranteed at signing). That $29.5 million per year average makes him the seventh-highest paid quarterback in the league, for now anyway.
But as always with NFL contracts, the devil is in the details.
Here’s more numbers on Ryan Tannehill’s deal, per source:
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) March 15, 2020
2020 is $17.5m fully guaranteed.
2021 is $24.5m fully guaranteed.
2022 is $29m guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed on 5th day of 2021 league year.
2023 is $27.5m base.
Jeff’s numbers indicate a $20M signing bonus is included with Tannehill’s deal. $37.5M in 2020, $62M thru 2021, fully guaranteed, with another $29M guaranteeing next March. Strong deal for a backup QB this time last year. https://t.co/qybQKOgokc
— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 15, 2020
In any case, Tannehill getting deal with up to $91 million in guarantees sets Prescott up with great leverage in ongoing contract talks with the Cowboys on the precipice of free agency. Dallas’ recent offer reportedly included $105 million in guaranteed money. That already felt a little light, independent of how the guarantees are structured, as Jared Goff set a record with $110 million guaranteed in his deal.
Now, with the over $90 million in guaranteed money Tannehill can get to, Prescott can ramp up the version of hardball he’s already been playing. The Cowboys can always franchise tag him, but the situation would be right back here a year from now with the cost only going higher in every respect.
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Prescott bet on himself going into the final year of his rookie contract, and he answered with the best season of his career. The Cowboys could have secured him long-term months ago, and they were already in line to pay the piper big time for waiting. In the wake of Tannehill’s deal, Prescott can now ride that wave and realistically seek at least $110 million guaranteed.