Dallas Cowboys: Why does everyone hate on Dak Prescott?

A total of 15 quarterbacks were drafted from the 2016 NFL Draft class. Of these 15 quarterbacks, only one was not traded, cut, or benched. The nomination nod goes to yours truly: Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Dak Prescott.

How do you like that math? How do you like him now? And yet despite the calculation, Prescott is still public enemy number one. I don’t get it. I really don’t.

How much more does one need of convincing? When does luck pass the threshold into the “really lucky” neighborhood for one to realize that the Dallas Cowboys absolutely lucked out in the 2016 quarterback sweepstakes? Speaking of luck, are we even reading the same dictionary?

Let’s cue the videotape of quarterback Paxton Lynch balling his eyes out, happy to jet over to the Denver Broncos as a first-round choice. Selected 26th overall, the Broncos and John Elway, president of football operations, thought they masterminded the future.

Meanwhile, owner and general manager Jerry Jones was kicking himself. He wanted Lynch. Lynch was the answer to the quarterback carousel circus that was sure to follow after Tony Romo retired. Lynch had to be that guy.

Jones knew it. He blew it. He lost out on a chance at the future. His future legacy. A future without Romo.

Of course, it was Jared Goff and Carson Wentz who kicked off the 2016 NFL Draft, to begin with. Goff, 21 years young at the time, was drafted first overall. Fast forward to today, he is heading off to Detriot. In other words, Goff is playing for the Lions, a place where football dreams go to die. Goff turns 27 in October.

As for Wentz, you have to assume his days in the City of Brotherly Love is set to zero. Philadelphia loved their man so much they drafted Jalen Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Wentz was even benched in favor of the rookie quarterback.

So much for the brotherly love tale. So much for mortgaging your firepower around the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Maybe we should call it a tale of “brotherly betrayal.” Who knows where Wentz will land next, but you got to expect it’s outside of Philly for 2021.

Oh, remember Christian Hackenberg? He went to the Jets. And then the Jets gave him the jet. As in jet out of New York City. There goes a second-round pick. Hackenberg was selected 51st overall. Along with Lynch, he is out of the NFL and looking for work.

And then, there’s our guy. The last man standing. The lottery winner. The boy holding the Willie Wonka Golden Ticket.

I write this all while understanding the irony that this same dude still hasn’t got paid. So, there’s that. But there you have it, folks, the saga of Dak Prescott continues.

I ask again, why does everyone hate Dak Prescott? Dallas is counting their lucky stars Lynch was not an option, that Jones and company didn’t mortgage their future away over a phone call. Count your lucky stars that Prescott slid down to the fourth round, ripe for the 135th overall pick.

The Dallas Cowboys might have a payment problem with Dak, but if you ask me, that’s a terrific problem to have when you consider the Goff and Wentz math. Prescott is the last soldier standing, and he deserves the coin that goes in that direction.

The debate over who the best quarterback in the 2016 NFL Draft has concluded. Look, the Cowboys got 99 problems. But you know what, the quarterback ain’t one. Be thankful. Be proud. And you know what else, just pay the man so he can get back to work to fix problem number six in Big D.