Jerry Jones trying to move target away from $240,000,000 Dak Prescott contract as Cowboys deal with 38-point loss: Report

Jerry Jones locked in Dak Prescott just before the 2024 season kicked off. However, the honeymoon phase might already be over for the offense. Following a 38-point loss to the Detroit Lions on Jones' birthday, reporter RJ Ochoa believes Jones is looking for a scapegoat, but he isn't interested in blaming the quarterback.

"Jerry Jones has twice mentioned on @1053thefan that Dak Prescott is the highest-paid player in the NFL and that production can't be low with that being the case. He knows there are people who will cling to that and rally around it. He's moving the target to someone else."

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback completed 17 of 33 passes for 178 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions on Sunday. Quarterback Cooper Rush also threw an interception in his fairly extensive showing after coach Mike McCarthy pulled Prescott.

Per NFL media, Prescott is playing on a new $240 million contract extension. However, despite investing a record amount of money into his offense, Jones is left wondering where it went wrong. Of course, the loss of Tony Pollard and failure to draft and/or sign a replacement has been a common criticism of the team.

Injuries have also not been kind, with wide receiver Brandin Cooks landing on the injured reserve earlier this season.

Jerry Jones left with options in 2025 with Cowboys' cap space

The Dallas Cowboys have the 23rd-most cap space in the league in 2024 and 2025, per Spotrac, at about $25 million. This leaves enough room for multiple notable additions to the team, depending on how Jones looks at his options.

The true luxury for the team is a similar number available in 2024 and 2025. This leaves a seemingly easy at-a-glance way to do negotiations for players in the short term. Jones could wait until 2025 to make moves, but he also has a few weeks to pull the trigger on someone now should he wish.

At 3-3 and still alive for a playoff spot, Jones has plenty of reason to be active before the trade deadline. Will he attempt to make up for lost time in the offseason?