Emmitt Smith says Cowboys aren’t committed to Dak Prescott

As Dak Prescott enters another offseason of questions, Emmitt Smith isn’t sure the Cowboys are ready to call him the franchise guy. 

There is no bigger storyline coming out of the Dallas Cowboys complex than Dak Prescott‘s contract. In fact, if not for the Deshaun Watson news, there wouldn’t be a bigger story in the NFL.

The Cowboys are expected to keep Prescott back under center for the 2021 season. However, the terms of the agreement are far from finalized. If a deal cannot be reached, many believe that Prescott will be franchise tagged a second time until something can be done.

Prescott has earned the right to play for a lucrative deal. Twice he’s taken the Cowboys to the postseason, including his rookie season in which the team posted a 13-3 record. Before his season-ending ankle injury in 2020, Prescott led the NFL in passing yards with 1856 and scored 12 total touchdowns.

Multiple names have weighed in on the conversation, but few have the right answer on why the Cowboys have yet to come to terms with Prescott. However, Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith might have the simplest, yet the harshest theory of all-time on the Prescott drama.

Dallas isn’t committed to Prescott’s success sustaining for the long haul.

Are the Cowboys scared that Prescott’s success will falter?

“The only answer I can give is the Cowboys are uncertain whether or not he’s the future of the Cowboys,” Smith said on SB Nation’s NFL Show this week. “Outside of that, if he was the complete future of the Dallas Cowboys, they would make no bones about giving him a contract.

“There is not a commitment to Dak Prescott.”

Smith, who leads the NFL in total career rushing yards, made a name for himself as the Cowboys’ frontman in the 1990s. Should he be right, it would be a head-scratching move for a team that doesn’t seem ready to give in and move off the 27-year-old gunslinger.

Since being drafted in the fourth round back in 2016, Prescott has been the definition of consistent for Dallas. Prior to his injury, he made 69 straight starts and compiled a 42-27 record as a starter.

Former No.1 pick in the same class Jared Goff currently has the same record, yet far less production when passing. He recently was traded to the Detroit Lions along with two first-round picks and a third-round selection in favor of Matthew Stafford.

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The Cowboys will need to decide quickly what the future holds with Prescott. A second franchise tag almost all but guarantees he’ll leave in the 2022 offseason and the team will likely be too good to draft his replacement early come that year’s draft.

Smith’s thoughts are what most fans around the NFL are thinking. Then again, Jerry Jones’ mind is one no one truly understands.