Jerry Jones avoids question on whether Cowboys QB Dak Prescott worth more than Jordan Love

The Dallas Cowboys offered updates on a couple of their contract issues on Saturday.

Vice president Stephen Jones said the team gave holdout wide receiver CeeDee Lamb a new offer on Friday and they gave quarterback Dak Prescott a new offer within the last week.

Stephen Jones and owner Jerry Jones said they have had productive and positive talks with the agents of both players.

“Right now, I would characterize both conversations as upbeat,” Jones said. “We’re having good talks back and forth with both Todd (France) and Tory (Dandy). I like where we stand.”

While the Cowboys are lauding Prescott for showing leadership and being in camp in the midst of the contract talks, they do no begrudge Lamb for not showing up.

They fully understand that Lamb is severely underpaid on the fifth-year option, the last of his rookie deal, worth $17.9 million for the 2024 season.

Top NFL receivers are making between $25 million to $35 million annually.

And Lamb, coming off a season in which he led the NFL in catches and set a team record for yards receiving while making first team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl for the third time, is seeking a deal similar to the $35 million annually that the Minnesota Vikings recently gave Jordan Jefferson. Jefferson became the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Stephen Jones said Lamb is not necessarily looking to top Jefferson, but he wants to be in that neighborhood.

Prescott is in the market for at least the $55 million on the deal cemented on Friday when the Green Bay Packers rewarded quarterback Jordan Love with a four-year, $220 contract, tying him for the largest salary in NFL history with Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow.

With a $55.4 million cap hit in 2024 in what is the last year on his deal with Cowboys and a no-tag class, Prescott could command as much a $60 million in free agency.

Jerry Jones said he appreciates Prescott being in camp and practicing with his team.

“I appreciate the dedication Dak has,” Jerry Jones said. “That’s a big deal at his spot. He’s the best leader I’ve ever seen, Dak is, and this is why, frankly, he’s out here practicing. He said that’s what he signed up to do. So that’s one of the reasons why I appreciate Dak.”

However, Jones paused when asked if Prescott deserved a contract that surpassed that of Love, who led the Packers to a 48-32 victory against the Cowboys in his first ever playoff start last January.

Love threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in that game. He had a near-perfect quarterback rating of 157.2 in handing Prescott and the Cowboys one of the most devastating playoff setbacks in franchise history.

Prescott, who is 2-5 in the playoffs in his career, is coming off a career-best season in 2023 when he led the NFL in touchdown passes and finished second in NFL MVP balloting.

“Well, Dak for us is. . . I get in trouble every time I make comparisons,” Jones said. “I do get in trouble. And of course, we saw a head-to-head match with Green Bay last year. ... I’m anxious for Dak to get a chance to show he is the best with a Cowboys’ star on.”

Jones said he believes Prescott can do that without a new deal.

But he said that doesn’t mean the Cowboys aren’t going to do a deal with Prescott to keep him from becoming a free agent after the season.

Jones said he is confident he will come to terms with Prescott’s agent, despite the rising quarterback market.

What gives him confidence?

“Dak’s full body of work,” Jerry Jones said. “We’re proud of what Dak has accomplished. We are proud of what he is. I don’t know anyone who is more so than I am.”

“We’re talking. Make no mistake about it. We’re talking.”