The three largest trades the Cowboys will make this offseason, along with a surprise

The Dallas Cowboys intend to go “all in” this summer to overhaul their roster for the first time in a very long time. Alright, not really. We comprehend. After a time, Jerry Jones repeated some of his earlier remarks, and when you add them all together, reality sets in and this offseason—which was previously thought to be different—begins to feel a lot like the previous ones.

The Cowboys have a strategy, and part of it involves spending money, but the majority of that money will go towards the players they prefer to invest in: their own players. While some of these new contracts will come as no surprise, others may take you by surprise. You may be sure that players who this organisation considers to be key players will receive a large portion of guaranteed money. Don’t expect them to start anytime soon, because despite how it may seem, this front office isn’t in the business of losing draft assets that have turned into game-changers.

THE SIMPLE PHONE CALLS
The outstanding collegiate receiver CeeDee Lamb has wowed the Cowboys ever since he was selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. Every season has seen him get better, and last year he shocked even his most ardent admirers with 135 receptions, 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He quickly became one of the NFL’s best receivers after being questioned by some to be a true alpha.

The Cowboys are aware of his brilliance, and they plan to reward him similarly to their 2020 draft partner Trevon Diggs. Over the last four seasons, Lamb has been one of the best deals in football, averaging just $3.5 million per year in pay. The Cowboys would want to clear some cap space by hammering out an extension for him, as he is currently scheduled to play under the fifth-year option cost of $17.9 million this season.

Prediction of contract: four years, $120 million ($30 million AAV), guaranteed $72 million

THE “PRE DAK” Snack
The Cowboys will announce that one of their players is receiving a new contract extension at a news conference a few weeks prior to the start of the regular season. Osa Odighizuwa, a defensive tackle, will be receiving an extension, despite the fact that fans will be eagerly awaiting this moment in hopes that Dak Prescott will be signing a new contract. That’s not to suggest we won’t be happy; rather, we’ll be taken aback.This is a habit of the Cowboys front office. If—and this is a huge if—they believe they can save some money with a preemptive strike, they will act quickly to sign a young player who is poised to make a splash before they enter the final season of their current contract. Though they have a solid track record of acting early, some people overlook the Cowboys’ practice of doing this since they are perceived as lolligaggers when it comes to contract extensions. Terence Steele, Jaylon Smith, and La’el Collins are a few.

The Cowboys don’t have many defensive line pieces in their future plan outside of Micah Parsons since a few of their young guys provide uncertainty. Over his three-year Dallas tenure, Odighizuwa has started in all but four games, providing some steadiness in the trenches. It would be prudent for the Cowboys to lock him down before Mike Zimmer turns him into a star because he is a talented player who is ready to make an impact.

Prediction for the contract: four years, $64 million ($16 million AAV), guaranteed $36 million

THREATEN LEVEL AFTERNOON
And just when fans were beginning to lose faith, the Cowboys executive office will shatter any belief that Prescott won’t play for this team in the future. Don’t be deceived by any of this; for the following few months, we’ll hear about how far apart the two sides are and the Joneses’ pretence that it’s not their most significant personnel move.Prescott has coolly stated he knows it will be done, and the Cowboys have stated they want him back. There will be some posturing, as previously. The Cowboys will probably try to trigger the automatic conversion and convert the majority of his $29 million basic salary into bonus money that may be distributed over the remaining years of his contract if an extension isn’t arranged this week. More likely, this is merely the next move in the cat-and-mouse game between Team Prescott and the front office. Some may see this as the “beginning of the end” and an indication that negotiations have failed.

There wouldn’t be a rush to finalise Dak’s contract because the Cowboys would have the financial flexibility to complete the other tasks they need to complete this offseason thanks to the automatic conversion. That implies that we will have to worry about whether they will keep him for the following six months. In the end, once things get going, they’ll move swiftly, and a deal including Prescott ought to be finalised before the regular season begins. It’ll be a delightful way to start the new year.

Prediction for the contract: five years, $300 million ($60 million AAV), guaranteed $240 million