Agent's Take: How will Dak Prescott and Cowboys navigate exploding QB market after latest record deals?

It's now or never for the Cowboys to pony up for their pending free agent franchise QB

The top of the quarterback market got more clarity at the end of last week. Tua Tagovailoa became the NFL's third-highest-paid player at $53.1 million per year when he received a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension (worth up to $221.4 million with incentives) from the Miami Dolphins on Friday. The deal has $167.171 million in guarantees, of which $93.171 million was fully guaranteed at signing.

Several hours later, Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers reached an agreement on a four-year, $220 million extension worth a maximum of $221.25 million through incentives and salary escalators. At $55 million per year, Love ties Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence as the NFL's highest-paid player. There are $160.3 million of guarantees in Love's contract where $100.8 million was fully guaranteed at signing. Included in the $100.8 million is an NFL-record $75 million signing bonus.

Neither of these contracts is particularly relevant to Prescott's situation. Prescott, who is in a contract year, is in a unique situation because of the nature of the four-year, $160 million deal, averaging $40 million per year, he signed in March 2021.