The Dallas Cowboys are going to have to spend a lot of money in the near future. Ezekiel Elliott is holding out as he looks to become the NFL’s highest-paid running back. Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper are with the team, but both Pro Bowl players want extensions as they enter the final year of their respective contracts.

Fortunately for Dallas, they are in a position to keep their top stars happy. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Cowboys can increase their payroll more than almost any other team before the start of the 2019 season.

Breer reported Tuesday morning that the NFL’s internal report states Dallas has $26.1 million to spend under the salary cap. Only the Cleveland Browns ($34.6 million), Houston Texans ($37 million) and Indianapolis Colts ($56.6 million) can spend more money for the upcoming season.

The Atlanta Falcons ($3.4 million), Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($4.3 million) and Denver Broncos ($4.4 million) have the least amount of cap space.

Rosters must be reduced to 53 players by Aug. 31 at 4 p.m. EDT.

Elliott appears likely to get a new contract before Week 1. He still has two years left on his current deal and has been Dallas’ best player over the last three years. The running back is reportedly looking to sign a contract worth more than the four-year, $57 million deal Todd Gurley landed last offseason.

According to ESPN’s Ed Werder, Dallas’ latest offer would make Elliott one of the league’s two highest-paid running backs. That could mean the Cowboys are offering Elliott less than what Gurley signed for but north of the four-year, $52.5 million contract Le’Veon Bell received from the New York Jets in March.

Prescott isn’t expected to become the NFL’s richest quarterback, though the former fourth-round pick won’t come cheap. He’s unlikely to sign a new deal in 2019 if it doesn’t pay him at least $30 million per year, including a lot of guaranteed money.

Prescott is set to earn just north of $2 million this season.

Cooper has a $13.9 million salary before hitting free agency in 2020. If either Prescott or Cooper doesn’t sign a contract extension this year, they could be forced to play on the franchise tag next season.

Dak Prescott Ezekiel Elliott Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after running for a first down with Dak Prescott #4 in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium on November 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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