The Buccaneers need to give Dak Prescott what he deserves

Dak Prescott has still failed to receive the major contract extension that he deserves. After the injury yesterday, the Buccaneers have a chance to step up.

Dak Prescott is done for the rest of the 2020 NFL season. The league-leading Cowboys quarterback suffered a gruesome injury during the division matchup with the New York Giants, and the current focus is on a return during 2021.

Prescott is currently one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league on the franchise tag, but Dak is a question mark long term. Dallas and Prescott have tried to get on the same page regarding an extension, but Jerry Jones may have blundered that opportunity away.

Jerry Jones has paid all of the wrong people in Dallas and rarely the right ones, and there is no reason to expect that he will start making the correct analytics decisions at this point. Perhaps another running back or middle linebacker will get paid before a member of the secondary is actually enticed to stay.

Despite his stellar level of play to start the season, Dak’s long-term contract is still off in the distance. For now, the most-likely opportunity is that the Cowboys will sign him to a one-year deal after he regains his health before they are willing to shell out money for the future.

More from The Pewter Plank

• Devin White posts cryptic message to Lavonte David on Twitter
• ESPN predicts surprising outcome to Devin White trade saga
• Updated Buccaneers depth chart after signing two players from rookie minicamp
• Todd Bowles sends clear message about Baker Mayfield’s role with Bucs
• The Athletic is wrong about Bucs one ‘must-watch’ game in 2023

Using Dak’s body of work as a reference and the lack of any significant career-changing ramifications of an injury of this type, Dak should have a triumphant return, and then the Cowboys will be unable to keep their franchise quarterback any longer.

If he showcases a successful return to football in 2021, Dak will immediately become one of the biggest free agents in recent years, and this lines up perfectly for Tampa Bay.

The Bucs have Tom Brady on their roster for the rest of this season and then next year, which will leave the Bucs searching for a new quarterback and Dak Prescott looking for his first major contract at the same time.

After playing with similar personnel in Dallas, Dak was able to show that he can play at a record-setting pace. This high level of play over his career and his age would make Prescott the perfect free agent for the Buccaneers to sign on a massive contract to be their franchise option, ensuring the team remains competitive after Tom Brady departs.

Assuming the Bucs can turn around their recent luck and continue drafting well for the next two years, Tampa Bay will become a desirable free agent destination for quarterbacks, and Prescott would finally get what he deserves.

While the Buccaneers haven’t been as successful recently as the Cowboys, their money situation is far better moving forward, and they will be able to make Dak one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league like he rightfully deserves.