Darren Woodson: Cowboys should pay their 'most important player' Dak

This season hasn't gone to plan for the Dallas Cowboys, who occupy last place in the NFC East and are slumping down the final stretch.

Amid a forgettable campaign, one lingering question hovers over the franchise: how will the Cowboys handle Dak Prescott's contract situation?

Prescott is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the campaign. He signed a franchise tag worth $31.4 million this past offseason.

Dallas can once again tag Prescott should the two sides not come to a long-term agreement, but it's a risky proposition.

One of the people calling for Dallas to lock up Prescott to a long-term deal is legendary Cowboys safety Darren Woodson.

"This guy is, I'm not going to say that he's a top-five quarterback, but he's the franchise quarterback of the organization, and he's the future of this organization," Woodson said on the "The Jake Asman Show" on SportsMap Radio. "So why not, instead of taking care of all the other players that you've paid, pay the most important player on your football team and make him happy."

Prescott suffered a season-ending right ankle injury in Week 5 against the New York Giants. Prior to that, he was on pace for a historic campaign with 1,690 passing yards and 12 total touchdowns - nine passing and three rushing - to three interceptions through his first four full contests.

Woodson believes the Cowboys signal-caller is worthy of a $40-million yearly salary.

"To me, that's a no-brainer. It's a no-brainer," he added. "Look, I often slept at The Star in Frisco that overlooks the Cowboys practice field ... and we look outside every day in the offseason, and you see Dak Prescott ... not just throwing balls to Amari Cooper or Michael Gallup, (but) he's throwing balls to the fifth-, sixth-string guys, the special teams' players."

Woodson believes the team's recent struggles - particularly on offense - further illustrate Prescott's importance and should help him in negotiations.

"Every time they go out there, Dak Prescott gets more money," he said. "He makes more money ... every time Andy Dalton and the rest of the guys go out, because you know his importance."

The Cowboys have just one win this season without Prescott at quarterback. Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci, and Garrett Gilbert have all started in place of the 27-year-old, who remains the team's leading passer.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has suggested he envisions a scenario in which Prescott remains with the team, but there's been no report yet of progress on a deal.

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