The Dallas Cowboys are likely to use the exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Dak Prescott and will focus on pursuing a long-term extension with wideout Amari Cooper ahead of free agency, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Per that report, the Cowboys are hoping to buy time to negotiate a long-term deal with Prescott by using the tag on him.
That meshes with previous reports regarding the Dallas pair:
The Cowboys could be looking at an expensive offseason. Prescott is going to expect something exceeding the four-year, $134 million extension Jared Goff signed with the Los Angeles Rams in September. That included an NFL-record $110 million in guaranteed money.
Cooper isn't likely to fetch Michael Thomas money (five years, $96.3 million) or Julio Jones money (three-year, $66 million), but he could become one of the NFL's five highest-paid wideouts, which would make him expensive to retain, as well.
But Cooper is reportedly closer to a deal with the Cowboys than Prescott.
Per David Mooreof the Dallas Morning News, "More progress has been made in negotiations with his representatives in recent days than with Prescott, a source said. If the team is able to reach a long-term deal with one of the two by Monday morning, Cooper is the more likely."
Cooper has been excellent in Dallas, registering 132 receptions for 1,914 yards and 14 touchdowns in 25 games over the past two seasons. His arrival revitalized Dallas' pass game and gave it a third offensive building block next to Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys surely don't want him to hit free agency, where a bidding war could break out.
They are running out of time to prevent that from happening, though. At the very least, it seems they won't have the franchise tag at their disposal to buy themselves more negotiating time.
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