NFL Breaking News: Cowboys Tag Prescott, Cousins And Vikings Sign an Extension

It is a busy Monday morning around the NFL. The news started splashing from all over the league, with the biggest ones including Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, and Derrick Henry.

Cousins and Vikings Sign a $66 Million Two-Year Extension

Cousins and Minnesota Vikings struck a deal that would extend his stay in Minneapolis for an additional two years. The Vikes and Captain Kirk signed a two-year extension worth $66 million, which means that over the next three years, Cousins’ income will be $96 million in total.

This move will clear more than $10 million in Minnesota’s cap space for 2020, and make more room for the franchise to come out on the market and go after some additions for their roster. Also, we need to add that $61 million of this money is guaranteed.

Summing up the #Vikings deal for Kirk Cousins: 2 new years worth $66M. So 3 years in all for $96M. He has $61M guaranteed at signing. An additional $35M is guaranteed for injury but converts to a fully at the beginning of the 2021 season. They won’t cut him after 1 year and $61M.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020

The 31-year old QB was about to start the last season of his three-year deal $84 million contracts signed once he landed from Washington. Even though Cousins played solid during the previous campaign, posting 26 TD passes with 6 interceptions and winning his first playoff appearance against the Saints on the road, there was still a substantial amount of those who doubt in his abilities.

Cowboys Put an Exclusive Franchise Tag on Prescott

Dallas and Jerry Jones aren’t going to risk anything, which is why they decided to give Prescott $31.6 million for the upcoming season. The franchise from Texas put an exclusive franchise tag on their starting QB, and they will have the sole right to negotiate with him.

The main problem between the Cowboys and Prescott in their negotiations is the length of the contract. While the player wants a three-year deal, and an opportunity to test the market before he turns 30 years, Jones wants him to sign a multi-year agreement that would keep him in Dallas way longer than that.

The Cowboys focus is now on re-signing 4-time Pro Bowl WR Amari Cooper. He’s an unrestricted free agent. He can sign with any team beginning Wednesday. The Cowboys hope to retain him. They didn’t trade a first-round pick to the Raiders to only have him for a year and a half

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 16, 2020

Prescott recently received an offer worth $34 million per season, but he didn’t respond to it in the way Cowboys wanted. It created a lot of troubles for the franchise, as they had to use the franchise tag on him, and allow Amari Cooper to test the market.

However, there are some strong indications that the fantastic wide receiver wants to stay with the team, and that the deal could be done without too many troubles.

Franchise Tag on Henry Too

After clinching a deal with Ryan Tannehill yesterday, Titans did what everybody anticipated. They would place a franchise tag on Derrick Henry, arguably the best running back in the league during the previous campaign.

Titans placed franchise tag on RB Derrick Henry, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020

Henry was the leading rusher in 2019 with 1,540 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carrying, which was the highest in the league. Although many recognized him as a fantastic RB, Henry’s playoff appearances were something which definitely put the spotlight at the 26-year old.

He became the first player to rush at least 180 yards in three consecutive postseason matches. He had more than two/thirds of Titans’ offense during the run, which saw them eliminating the reigning Super Bowl champion at the time, the New England Patriots, the No.1 favorite for the title, Baltimore Ravens. Eventually, Tennessee lost in the AFC Championship Game to the future NFL champions, Kansas City Chiefs.