Why a $104,000,000 Problem Could Complicate the Floated Dak Prescott Trade to the Tennessee Titans…

Why a $104,000,000 Problem Could Complicate the Floated Dak Prescott Trade to the Tennessee Titans

 

The NFL world was taken by surprise when rumors surfaced that the Dallas Cowboys might be open to trading their star quarterback, Dak Prescott. With the Cowboys looking to make significant changes in the coming seasons, rumors about trading Prescott to various teams, including the Tennessee Titans, have stirred discussions. However, behind this potential trade is a complex financial obstacle that could make a deal between the Cowboys and Titans difficult to navigate: Prescott’s enormous contract.

 

At the core of this financial challenge is Prescott’s massive contract, which includes a $104 million problem. The term “$104,000,000 problem” refers to the amount of guaranteed money left on Prescott’s deal, as well as his high salary cap hit. The Tennessee Titans, a team in transition with a need for a long-term solution at quarterback, would have to contend with these financial aspects before they could feasibly trade for Prescott. This article will explore the key financial challenges surrounding Dak Prescott’s contract, the potential trade to the Titans, and why this issue is making the trade more complicated than it initially seems.

 

Understanding Dak Prescott’s Contract

 

Dak Prescott signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys in March 2021. This deal was historic, making Prescott one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL at the time. The contract included $126 million in guaranteed money, with $95 million guaranteed at signing, and an average annual value (AAV) of $40 million per year.

 

This high-dollar contract means that Prescott’s financial impact on a potential trade is significant. The most important factors in evaluating the impact of his contract in any trade scenario are his salary, the guaranteed money, and the salary cap hit.

 

1. Salary and Salary Cap Hit: Prescott’s base salary for 2025 will be over $31 million, which is not an insignificant number. However, the bigger issue is his cap hit, which is projected to be more than $59 million in 2025. For any team like the Titans, which has a limited salary cap space, taking on that kind of cap hit is problematic. The salary cap is a vital aspect of team-building in the NFL, and acquiring a quarterback on such a contract would require a massive reallocation of resources.

 

 

2. Guaranteed Money: At the core of the $104 million problem is the guaranteed money left on Prescott’s deal. As of the 2025 season, Prescott will be owed significant guaranteed money on his deal, and any team that acquires him would be responsible for paying that amount. While the Cowboys could potentially absorb some of this guaranteed money in a trade, the reality is that any team looking to trade for Prescott would have to factor in how they will manage this guaranteed money while still building a competitive roster.

 

3. Dead Money and Trade Considerations: If the Cowboys were to trade Prescott, they would have to absorb a significant amount of dead money — a term that refers to salary cap space taken up by a player no longer on the roster. In Prescott’s case, this could be as much as $50 million. For a team like the Cowboys, who are always looking to maintain a healthy salary cap situation, this is a non-trivial factor. The dead money would impact their ability to add other players and build a contender, but for the Titans, it would represent a major obstacle to making a trade.

 

The Titans’ Financial Situation

 

The Tennessee Titans are in a period of transition. After years of competing with veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill at the helm, they have faced a challenge in determining the best path forward at the quarterback position. The team’s most recent efforts, including selecting quarterback Will Levis in the 2023 NFL Draft, show that the Titans are still searching for their long-term solution.

 

However, the Titans’ financial situation makes a potential trade for Prescott even more complicated. As of the 2025 season, the Titans are projected to have just under $50 million in cap space. While that seems like a lot, a substantial chunk of that space would need to be allocated to key players already on the roster and the new players they plan to sign in free agency. Taking on Prescott’s $59 million cap hit for the 2025 season, combined with his guaranteed money, would eat up a large portion of their available cap space, potentially leaving little room for other signings or improvements.

 

The Potential Salary Cap Maneuvering

 

In the event the Titans pursue a trade for Prescott, there are a few salary cap maneuvers that could be made to reduce his initial impact.

 

1. Restructuring the Deal: The Titans could attempt to restructure Prescott’s contract to spread out his cap hit over a longer period, such as by converting some of his base salary into a signing bonus. However, this comes with its own challenges. The restructuring of Prescott’s deal would still likely result in a significant amount of cap space being devoted to him in the near future, which could limit the Titans’ flexibility in other areas. Restructuring would also likely involve some form of compensation to the Cowboys, making the deal more expensive in the long run.

 

2. Trade and Sign a New Extension: Another option is for the Titans to sign Prescott to a new contract that lowers his cap hit in the short term. While this could make the trade more feasible from a salary cap perspective, it would likely involve the Titans offering Prescott a new, lucrative deal. This would increase the financial burden, especially in the long run, and raise concerns about Prescott’s performance and whether he is worth such an investment.

 

3. Cowboys’ Cap Relief: The Cowboys could also take on some of the salary cap burden to facilitate the trade, either by eating part of Prescott’s salary or structuring the deal in a way that provides the Titans with financial relief in the early years of the deal. However, even if the Cowboys agreed to this, it could still leave the Titans with a heavy cap burden that limits their ability to compete in other areas.

 

The Market for Dak Prescott

 

The complexity of Prescott’s contract makes it unclear whether other teams, including the Titans, would be willing to trade for him at this juncture. While Prescott is undoubtedly a talented quarterback with multiple Pro Bowl appearances and a reputation for leadership, his contract significantly reduces his trade market. A quarterback of his caliber is hard to come by, but the combination of his high salary and the dead money his departure would create is a major deterrent.

 

Several teams around the league, including the Titans, could use a quarterback of Prescott’s talent, but they may prefer to go with a cheaper option, either in the form of a rookie or a free-agent quarterback who offers value without the massive contract. The Titans, who have historically been cautious with their salary cap space, might not want to take on a deal that would force them to make significant financial sacrifices in the future.

 

Moreover, Prescott’s recent playoff performance, which has been scrutinized by fans and analysts alike, has created some doubts about his ability to lead a team to a Super Bowl. While Prescott has shown flashes of brilliance, the inability to take the Cowboys to the promised land might cause some teams to hesitate before committing to his massive contract. This hesitation is compounded by the fact that Prescott will be 31 years old by the time the 2025 season begins, leading some to question how much longer he will be able to perform at an elite level.

 

Conclusion: Is a Dak Prescott Trade to the Titans Feasible?

 

In summary, while the notion of trading Dak Prescott to the Tennessee Titans is intriguing, it is weighed down by a significant financial obstacle: his $104 million contract, which includes large amounts of guaranteed money and a hefty salary cap hit. For the Titans, a team already navigating cap constraints, this contract would be a major issue. While there are potential salary cap maneuvers that could make a deal more feasible, they would likely come at the cost of future financial flexibility.

 

Ultimately, the decision to trade for Prescott would depend on a variety of factors, including the Titans’ long-term vision at quarterback, their evaluation of Prescott’s skill set and future prospects, and how they are able to work through the financial complexities of his contract. For now, the $104 million problem remains a significant hurdle in what could otherwise be an attractive trade for both sides.