Dallas Cowboys: Is this a make or break year for Dak Prescott?

Dak Prescott is in the last year of his rookie contract. Is this a make or break season for the Dallas Cowboys quarterback?

For fourth year starting quarterback Dak Prescott, who is also only entering his fourth season in the league, this year may be a very telling one. Although the powers that be say that a contract is definitely eminent for the Dallas Cowboys signal caller, is this season really an audition for his contract?

Based on his performance across his first three seasons, you can almost see why the Cowboys front office seems to believe in him the way they do. Looking at his rookie season, a pro bowl season for Prescott, the team finished with a 13-3 record. He also finished with the third highest quarterback rating that season according to ESPN, only behind Tom Brady and Matt Ryan.

He passed for 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns, while only throwing 4 interceptions. He would also rush for six touchdowns in his rookie season, while also leading his team to the playoffs, even though for only one game. These stats and his performance would set the bar high entering his second year.

Prescott would not be as stunning in his sophomore season, which saw the Cowboys post a record of 9-7.  He passed for less yards at 3,324, less touchdowns with 22, while also more than tripling his interceptions with 13. His completion percentage would also suffer, dropping almost 5 percent from his rookie season where he was near 68 percent to around 63 percent.

After missing the playoffs in his second season, Prescott was expected to bounce back strong in his third season. For the most part he did, leading his team past the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round, before succumbing to the Los Angeles Rams in a divisional match-up.

He passed for the most yards of his career with 3,885, while tying 2017’s touchdown tally with 22, and 8 interceptions. He would bring his completion percentage back up closer to that of his rookie season, at around 68 percent, while also rushing for six touchdowns as he has in all of his first three seasons.

If you look at his profile and resume as a whole, the first thing you notice is the consistency. Although the volatility in the amount of interceptions he’s thrown is a good thing, going back down by 1/3 in his third year compared to his sophomore season, that is the only stat that has fluctuated drastically since his rookie season. Looking at most of his numbers, they have been about the same as his rookie season, a season in which some considered him among the MVP candidates.

With those factors in mind, it shouldn’t be a make or break year for the quarterback. He proved during last season that he is capable of winning during the playoffs. Winning in the NFL playoffs is hard, and while winning a Superbowl is almost impossible, he has proven that he has what it takes to win the games necessary to make that happen.

So, is this year a make or break year for Dak Prescott? If it is, it has nothing to do with his ability to play the position. It would be a preference thing on the behalf of the Cowboys brass.

It would have to be, because if it is about winning football games, this season isn’t make or break at all. Dak Prescott has proven himself worthy of a new contract, and although he isn’t as flashy as some would like, he gets the job done more times than not.

To win a Superbowl is an epic accomplishment that takes all phases of a team coming together for a series of playoff games, but if the Cowboys want to make sure that the QB spot is filled with someone who is capable of such a feat, it shouldn’t be a question at all .