Dak Prescott selected first overall in SI.com 2016 Re-Draft
Despite being selected in the fourth round, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was the first overall selection in a re-draft by Sports Illustrated.
To land the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in the fourth round of the NFL Draft is truly a gift. And for that first-year player to become your franchise quarterback during his rookie campaign is almost unheard of. But that’s exactly what happen last season when Dak Prescott took the helm of America’s Team.
Leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 13-3 regular season record and the divisional round of the playoffs, Prescott shocked the football world in his first season in Dallas. Displaying the poise and patience of a much more mature player, the rookie completed 67.8% of his passes, the fourth best completion percentage in the NFL last year.
The 23-year old threw for 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns and only four interceptions starting in all 16 regular season games for the Cowboys in 2016. Prescott also rushed for 282 yards and six more scores.
But due to the Cowboys stellar offensive line and the excellent play of fellow rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott, whom led the league in rushing yardage (1,631 yards), some still seemed to be devaluing Prescott’s impressive debut season. They claim other rookie quarterbacks could have fared similarly as well in his fortunate same situation.
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So naysayers may be shocked to find out Sports Illustrated recently made Prescott the number one overall selection in their 2016 NFL Re-Draft.
"“This spot went to Carson Wentz at the season’s midpoint, but the stretch run revealed [Dak] Prescott’s polish and Wentz’s inconsistencies. Plug in the Offensive Rookie of the Year next to Todd Gurley (who won the award in 2015) and Sean McVay gets to open his Los Angeles coaching tenure at the helm of a dynamic backfield without writing off another season in the name of Goff’s NFL acclimation process.” – via SI.com, Sports Illustrated"
Basically, SI.com is saying Prescott, even under center for one of the worst offenses in the NFL, would still be preferred over quarterback Jared Goff, the player actually taken with the number one overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. And that they’d select this fourth round pick even over Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Carson Wentz, the second overall player drafted.
Ironically, Philly’s Wentz, San Diego Charger defensive end Joey Bosa, the Cowboys’ Elliott and Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive back Jalen Ramsey all remained in their original draft positions in SI.com’s Re-Draft. Prescott rose 134 spots, all the way to number one.
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This means in the eyes of Sports Illustrated, the Dallas Cowboys landed two of the top four players in the NFL Draft last season. And if the Cowboys second round selection, Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith, fully recovers from his knee injury, that number may go up to as many as three of the top four.