Cowboys’ Dak Prescott ‘confident’ TE Dalton Schultz will sign new deal

Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Dak Prescott played under the franchise tag for the 2020 NFL season that, per Todd Archer of ESPN, carried a $31.4 million salary before the signal-caller and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year contract that could be worth more than $160 million with $126 million guaranteed in March 2021. 

Thus, Prescott can sympathize with teammate and tight end Dalton Schultz. 

Schultz signed the franchise tender worth $10.931 million for 2022 earlier this spring but recently informed the Cowboys he’s skipping the remainder of voluntary organized team activities as he looks to secure a long-term deal. Prescott made it clear in his latest comments on the subject that he has Schultz’s back. 

“I realize that I went through the things that I went through, obviously not just in life but in football as well, to help others,” Prescott explained, per the Cowboys’ website. “Just being able to talk to Dalton, maybe ease his mind through some of this and just understand that I went through this process. A lot of people go through this process. He’s a guy that I feel very comfortable with, have a lot of trust with. He knows that. The team knows that. So I’m confident in that situation.”

Schultz is expected to attend next week’s mandatory minicamp, and Prescott added he believes the 25-year-old will put pen to paper on a new agreement before the July 15 deadline for clubs to sign franchise-tagged players.

“Me and Schultz talk all the time. So I knew what was happening, the team does, and as I said, we’ll handle it,” Prescott remarked. 

Per ESPN stats, Schultz finished last season tied for the team lead with eight touchdown receptions, and he was second among Dallas players with 78 receptions and third with 808 receiving yards. It makes sense Prescott would publicly go to bat for one of his favorite targets to keep the peace ahead of training camp.