Report: Cowboys offering top-5 deals to Prescott, Elliott, Cooper
The Dallas Cowboys have extended "generous" offers to quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott, and wide receiver Amari Cooper that would put each player in the top five at their respective positions, according to Jane Slater of NFL Network.
Elliott has two years remaining on his current contract, while the other two stars have one. The Cowboys are reportedly ready to put pen to paper, but are also willing to let all three play out this season on prove-it deals.
Meanwhile, Elliott continues to hold out from training camp, although Prescott and Cooper are attending.
Last week, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said Dallas was "damn sure not going to be a market-setter" when it came to deals for their three offensive stars.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones later indicated that he was confident Elliott's holdout could be resolved, but added that his team won't hand out a big-money deal that "would disrupt and shake the base of our plans for how to keep the talent we've got here."
Dallas is apparently looking to give Elliott a deal that's closer to Le'Veon Bell's four-year, $52.5-million contract ($27 million guaranteed) than Todd Gurley's four-year, $57.5-million extension ($45 million guaranteed), according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.
Gurley leads all NFL running backs at $14.38 million per season.
Russell Wilson ($35 million per year) tops the quarterback market in terms of annual salary, with Matt Ryan rounding out the top five at $30 million per year (not including Tom Brady's new reportedly voidable contract), according to Spotrac.
Meanwhile, Michael Thomas' recent contract that pays $19.23 million annually made him the NFL's highest-paid receiver, though Julio Jones is all but certain to exceed that mark before the season begins. DeAndre Hopkins and Brandin Cooks are tied for fifth at $16.2 million.
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