Dak Franchise Label and Extension

Stephen Jones always mentions the phrase “talent acquisition is done 365 days a year.” That said, working the salary cap and managing the dollars and cents is also a year-round task.

But for some reason, combine week is the time when things really start to heat up with decision-makers like Jones, who met with reporters for a bit Tuesday in Indianapolis.

Jones said he is well aware that the team has more than 20 free agents, mostly unrestricted, whose contracts expire on March 15.

Those names include Tony Pollard, Dalton Schultz, Donovan Wilson, and Leighton Vander Esch.

Jones said he expects to have meetings with the agents and representatives of most free agents this week in Indy, including Pollard.

There’s been a lot of speculation that Pollard will receive the $10.1 million franchise tag, but Jones didn’t commit to the Cowboys, though he intends to place the tag on one of the players within the next week or so.

“It’s not out of the question, but we haven’t determined whether or not we’ll do it,” Jones said of tagging Pollard. “Most likely, we’ll wear our tag. Not necessarily on Tony, but we’ll wear our tag.”

The Cowboys used the franchise tag on Schultz last year, but re-tagging him would increase the price tag to more than $13 million for one season.

Jones cleared up any issues with Pollard’s injury situation, which included a broken tibia and sprained high ankle that required surgery. Jones said Pollard is making “great” progress and doesn’t see that becoming a factor in contract negotiations.

The Cowboys don’t have to tag and cut a deal with Pollard, but there’s also the dilemma with Ezekiel Elliott and his contract.

“We’re not sure what that (running back) room will look like next year,” Jones said.

As for the quarterback, Jones knows that the centerpiece of that room is going to be Dak Prescott again. Now, the cost against the salary cap is another story.

One way to reduce the $49.1 million that would go against the cap is to give it an extension. When asked about it, Jones didn’t provide much information, but hinted that a deal could be reached without much fanfare.

He said there hasn’t been any conversation with Dak’s agent about an extension.

“No, we haven’t. I don’t know. I bet there won’t be much talk about it,” Jones said of those negotiations. “We’ll wake up one day and it’s done. We have a plan. It doesn’t always help to divulge your plan.

But don’t expect the Cowboys to put that on the back burner. With Dak eating up a large chunk of the salary cap, they need to figure out his plans there before devising a free agency strategy.