Will Dak and the Cowboys ever come to an agreement?

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Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones has said it many times over the years: Deadlines make deals.

If that's the case between the Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott, welcome to at least the fourth deadline in their long-running negotiations that have yet to lead to the multiyear agreement both parties say they want.

Without a long-term deal done by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, the Cowboys will use the franchise tag on Prescott for the second straight year at a cost of $37.7 million.

When the Cowboys and Prescott's agent, Todd France, started these negotiations in 2019, the team's hope was to get Prescott signed during the offseason program, then in training camp and ultimately by the start of the 2019 regular season.

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Which brings us to deadline No. 4 on Tuesday.

There have been discussions between the Cowboys and France that multiple sources have described as "positive," and "good," but it has not closed the gaps to lead to a long-term deal.

Do the Cowboys still insist on five years or would they drop it to four? Does Prescott now want a three-year deal after asking for a four-year agreement last year? The money involved seems clear. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' $45 million a year is at the top end. Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is making $39 million a year.

Does Prescott come in a little ahead or a little behind Watson's deal?

Even still, two more deadlines remain.

Deadline No. 5 is the 2021 NFL draft on April 29. Without a deal by then, the Cowboys would have an obligation to at least consider drafting a quarterback at No. 10 overall because there is no guarantee Prescott will be with them in 2022.

Deadline No. 6 is July 15. Without a deal by then, Prescott would have to play the year on the franchise tag, making it more likely than ever this would be his final year in Dallas, because the franchise tag in 2022 would rise to $54 million.

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