Dak Prescott has been a bargain for the Dallas Cowboys. He has been an excellent quarterback at a very low price. On the other hand, Baker Mayfield is heading into just his third year in the NFL, and after having success in his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns, he struggled last season. Despite his struggles, though, Mayfield has already made over four times the amount of money in his career than Prescott has in his.

Dak Prescott has been a bargain for the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys got a steal in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft when they selected Dak Prescott out of Mississippi State. 

Prescott was excellent in his first season with the Cowboys. He helped lead them to a 13-3 record, and he threw for 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. Prescott also earned his first Pro Bowl selection that season and was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

In 2017, Prescott took a slight step back production-wise. He threw for 3,324 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. The Cowboys ultimately went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. 

During the 2018 season, though, Prescott earned his second Pro Bowl selection. He threw for 3,885 yards, 22 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The Cowboys ultimately went 10-6 that season too, and Prescott led them to a playoff win. 

Last season, the Cowboys went 8-8 and missed the playoffs, but Prescott had a massive year. He threw for 4,902 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

Baker Mayfield has had highs and lows with the Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns drafted Baker Mayfield No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL draft with expectations that he could turn the franchise around.

He had a great deal of success in his rookie season too. The Browns went 0-16 the season before they drafted Mayfield. They, however, went 7-8-1 in 2018. It was the most games the team had won since 2014, and only the second time the team had won six games or more since 2008. 

Mayfield threw for 3,725 yards that season, to go with 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in 14 games and 13 starts. 

In 2019, however, the Browns had high expectations after the team improved its roster significantly. Mayfield struggled immensely, though, as he threw for 3,827 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions in 16 starts. The team went 6-10 and missed the playoffs. 

Baker Mayfield has earned a lot more money than Dak Prescott has, even with his struggles

Prescott has not thrown over 13 interceptions in any of his four seasons with the Cowboys. Mayfield threw 21 just last season, and already has 35 picks in two seasons, compared to Prescott’s 36 in four. 

However, Prescott has earned a lot less money in his four seasons than Mayfield has in his two seasons. This has to do with Mayfield being a No. 1 overall pick, and Prescott being a fourth-round selection, but the difference between the two is still remarkable.

In his first two seasons, Mayfield earned an estimated $24.3 million with the Browns, according to Spotrac. In Prescott’s first four seasons, he only made an estimated $4.9 million, according to Spotrac. Mayfield’s total career earnings are actually 4.9 times larger than Prescott’s. That’s incredible.

Prescott will, however, make over $30 million this season as the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on him in March, according to the Cowboys’ team site. Prescott and the Cowboys have also been trying to come to an agreement for a new long-term deal this offseason.

So, Prescott’s career earnings won’t be lower than Mayfield’s for much longer, but he has been a massive bargain for the Cowboys in his first four seasons. Mayfield, on the other hand, will need to play much better in 2020 to prove that he has not been overpaid.

Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference