Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes rocked the NFL world Wednesday afternoon when he signed the first NFL deal valued at over $500 million. That's half a billion dollars to one of the faces of the league.
Most Cowboys fans will ask: Why is this news here? Well, Mahomes will make a $19 million-per-year raise, which also means Dak Prescott is no longer the highest-paid player in the league, with Mahomes making an annual average value (AAV) of $64 million.
With Prescott making $60 million per year, there's now a question: Can Prescott take a hometown discount to help sign key players like George Pickens? With CeeDee Lamb at the top of the WR market already, it's going to be tough as it is to sign Pickens at $30.6 million a year when Lamb is already making $34 million in AAV.
Patrick Mahomes' new contract is a sign that Dak Prescott should take a hometown discount
Mahomes surpasses Dak in APY at $64M
— Zach Wolchuk (@ZachWolchuk) June 10, 2026
Zach Wolchuk of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas sums it up here, but now that the market just went up for QBs, maybe it's a sign for Prescott to prioritize signing key free agents on the inside and outside.
Don't just take it from here. Cowboys legend and Monday Night Football analyst Troy Aikman hinted that Prescott should take a page out of Tom Brady's book and take a discount. Obviously, this is still someone's livelihood we're talking about, but Brady sacrificed to ensure the defense was up to speed. Spoiler alert: Brady won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
Since Prescott signed his four-year, $240 million contract extension in 2024, he's thrown for 6,530 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. A side note that Prescott only played eight games in 2024. But he's still proven to be one of the best in the league since signing his extension.
The starting QB and two star receivers near the top of the market are a lot to ask for. But It's also not just a matter of a future Pickens extension. It's about Cobie Durant and P.J. Locke, who both signed a one-year, $4 million deal. However, if they shine this season, those respective market values will rise, too. If DeMarvion Overshown stays healthy and backs up his talk, the Cowboys should want to keep him when he becomes a UFA in 2027.
Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark also need to be cared for. Luckily, the Cowboys got rid of Osa Odighizuwa to free up space in the DT room.
As for other QBs who are going to break the market someday, there's also Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, and Caleb Williams who could break Mahomes' bank someday, but that's still a way away.
The pressure is always on an NFL QB to perform at his best, but when we talk about the team as a whole, it's never a bad question to ask if someone is willing to sacrifice.
The captain, the leader, and starting quarterback for more than 10 years now would have to be the one. With Mahomes now surpassing Prescott in numbers, and the Cowboys are trying to keep Pickens for the future, it may be time for Prescott to make the ultimate sacrifice.
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