{"id":159780,"date":"2026-03-04T23:23:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T23:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159780"},"modified":"2026-03-04T23:23:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T23:23:49","slug":"%f0%9f%94%a5-breaking-cowboys-restructure-prescott-lamb-smith-contracts-to-clear-major-cap-space-what-this-means-for-the-roster-could-turn-the-entire-season-upside-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159780","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udd25 BREAKING: Cowboys Restructure Prescott, Lamb &#038; Smith Contracts to Clear Major Cap Space \u2014 What This Means for the Roster Could Turn the Entire Season Upside\u2011Down! \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"87\"><strong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"87\">Cowboys Restructure Prescott, Lamb, and Smith Contracts to Free Up Salary Cap Space<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"87\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdnph.upi.com\/ph\/st\/th\/7471772646634\/2026\/upi\/2c3af5c87dbc7d30ec4258139197b06c\/v2.1\/Cowboys-rework-Prescott-Lamb-Smith-contracts-to-get-under-salary-cap.jpg?lg=4\" alt=\"Cowboys rework Prescott, Lamb, Smith contracts to get under salary cap -  UPI.com\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"89\" data-end=\"517\">The Dallas Cowboys have taken significant steps to ensure they are compliant with the NFL\u2019s 2026 salary cap by restructuring the contracts of three key players \u2014 quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and offensive lineman Tyler Smith. This move has freed up approximately <strong data-start=\"376\" data-end=\"391\">$66 million<\/strong> in salary cap space, helping the team get under the cap with just one week to spare before the start of the 2026 league year.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"519\" data-end=\"548\"><strong data-start=\"519\" data-end=\"548\">How the Restructures Work<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"550\" data-end=\"950\">Before the restructuring, the Cowboys were approximately <strong data-start=\"607\" data-end=\"622\">$55 million<\/strong> over the cap, a difficult position to be in just days before the new league year begins on March 11. To create cap space, the Cowboys restructured the contracts of their star players by converting a large portion of their base salaries into signing bonuses. This allowed the team to spread the salary cap hit over future years.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"952\" data-end=\"997\">Here\u2019s a breakdown of the new contract terms:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1491\">\n<li data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1215\">\n<p data-start=\"1001\" data-end=\"1215\"><strong data-start=\"1001\" data-end=\"1017\">Dak Prescott<\/strong>: Prescott\u2019s base salary for 2026 dropped from <strong data-start=\"1064\" data-end=\"1079\">$40 million<\/strong> to just <strong data-start=\"1088\" data-end=\"1104\">$1.8 million<\/strong>, significantly reducing his cap hit. His 2026 cap hit is now <strong data-start=\"1166\" data-end=\"1183\">$43.7 million<\/strong>, down from the previous figure.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1219\" data-end=\"1348\">\n<p data-start=\"1221\" data-end=\"1348\"><strong data-start=\"1221\" data-end=\"1236\">CeeDee Lamb<\/strong>: Lamb\u2019s base salary also decreased to about <strong data-start=\"1281\" data-end=\"1297\">$1.7 million<\/strong>, lowering his cap hit for 2026 to <strong data-start=\"1332\" data-end=\"1347\">$20 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1350\" data-end=\"1491\">\n<p data-start=\"1352\" data-end=\"1491\"><strong data-start=\"1352\" data-end=\"1367\">Tyler Smith<\/strong>: Smith\u2019s base salary was similarly reduced to around <strong data-start=\"1421\" data-end=\"1437\">$1.7 million<\/strong>, bringing his 2026 cap hit down to <strong data-start=\"1473\" data-end=\"1490\">$11.2 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1493\" data-end=\"1519\"><strong data-start=\"1493\" data-end=\"1519\">Long-Term Implications<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1521\" data-end=\"1821\">While these moves have provided immediate salary cap relief for the Cowboys in 2026, they have also pushed more significant cap hits into future years. In 2027, Prescott\u2019s cap hit will jump to nearly <strong data-start=\"1721\" data-end=\"1736\">$76 million<\/strong>, Lamb\u2019s will rise to <strong data-start=\"1758\" data-end=\"1775\">$46.2 million<\/strong>, and Smith\u2019s will climb to <strong data-start=\"1803\" data-end=\"1820\">$19.5 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1823\" data-end=\"2012\">These increased cap hits in 2027 mean that the Cowboys will have to manage their cap carefully in the coming years, especially as they continue to build their roster for a championship run.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1823\" data-end=\"2012\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gsp-image-cdn.wmsports.io\/cms\/prod\/bleacher-report\/ap_images\/2026-03\/efa85b24456346cbab7439d1c9f667d8\/Chargers_Cowboys_Football_35205_3183x1791_(0,166).jpg\" alt=\"Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Smith Reportedly Restructure Cowboys Contracts,  Updated NFL Salary Cap\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2014\" data-end=\"2052\"><strong data-start=\"2014\" data-end=\"2052\">Further Moves to Free Up Cap Space<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2054\" data-end=\"2391\">Cowboys owner and general manager <strong data-start=\"2088\" data-end=\"2103\">Jerry Jones<\/strong> has indicated that this won\u2019t be the end of their cap restructuring efforts. Jones mentioned that the team plans to restructure contracts for <strong data-start=\"2246\" data-end=\"2296\">defensive tackles Kenny Clark, Osa Odighizuwa,<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"2301\" data-end=\"2321\">Quinnen Williams<\/strong> in the coming days to create even more cap space for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2393\" data-end=\"2685\">Jones also made it clear that the team plans to be active in free agency, saying, \u201cI would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have. I want you to know that the only way to push more is for me to go borrow some of my future, OK? Expect me to go borrow some of my future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2687\" data-end=\"2727\"><strong data-start=\"2687\" data-end=\"2727\">George Pickens and the Franchise Tag<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2729\" data-end=\"3044\">The Cowboys also placed the <strong data-start=\"2757\" data-end=\"2774\">franchise tag<\/strong> on <strong data-start=\"2778\" data-end=\"2796\">George Pickens<\/strong> this offseason, which currently accounts for <strong data-start=\"2842\" data-end=\"2859\">$27.3 million<\/strong> against their 2026 salary cap. However, that figure could be reduced if the Cowboys manage to negotiate a long-term extension with Pickens, which would help create additional cap room.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3046\" data-end=\"3081\"><strong data-start=\"3046\" data-end=\"3081\">Current and Projected Cap Space<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3411\">As of March 4, the Cowboys have <strong data-start=\"3115\" data-end=\"3131\">$8.5 million<\/strong> in available cap space, ranking <strong data-start=\"3164\" data-end=\"3172\">18th<\/strong> in the league in terms of salary cap space heading into the new season. With the start of free agency fast approaching, the team has a narrow window to finalize its moves and ensure it is well-positioned to make a splash in the offseason.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3411\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/on3static.com\/uploads\/dev\/assets\/cms\/2026\/03\/04091953\/dallas-cowboys-restructure-dak-prescott-tyler-smith-contracts-to-make-salary-cap-room.jpg\" alt=\"Report: Dallas Cowboys restructure Dak Prescott, Tyler Smith contracts to  make salary cap room\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3413\" data-end=\"3473\"><strong data-start=\"3413\" data-end=\"3473\">Conclusion: A Short-Term Fix with Long-Term Consequences<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3475\" data-end=\"4032\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">While the Cowboys\u2019 decision to restructure the contracts of Prescott, Lamb, and Smith provides essential salary cap flexibility for the 2026 season, it also sets up major financial challenges down the road, particularly in 2027. The team will need to balance its short-term needs with long-term cap management as it prepares to make additional moves in free agency and the draft. For now, the Cowboys have secured the space they need to stay competitive in 2026, but the road ahead will require careful planning to manage their future financial commitments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cowboys Restructure Prescott, Lamb, and Smith Contracts to Free Up Salary Cap Space The Dallas Cowboys have taken significant steps to ensure they are compliant with the&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":159781,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-159780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\ud83d\udd25 BREAKING: Cowboys Restructure Prescott, Lamb &amp; Smith Contracts to Clear Major Cap Space \u2014 What This Means for the Roster Could Turn the Entire Season Upside\u2011Down! 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