The hype train has already taken off for the Dallas Cowboys. Coming out of the 2026 NFL Draft, more national analysts are coming to grips with the idea that America's Team could become legitimate contenders this season.
Jerry Jones and the front office completely rehauled the defense and added some big-time talent, including Caleb Downs, to fix that unit. But a big reason why so many are optimistic about the 2026 Cowboys is the quarterback and the offense that he leads.
Dak Prescott was one of the NFL’s best passers a year ago, despite some unlucky injuries to players like CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Booker, and Cooper Beebe. And yet, the offense was nearly unstoppable for a majority of the season.
It’s taken a while, but it appears that Prescott is finally getting the attention that he deserves for being one of the league’s top quarterbacks.
Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott ranked No. 6 among NFL quarterbacks
In a recent article by ESPN, analyst Jeremy Fowler asked several NFL decision-makers, including head coaches, coordinators, scouts, and general managers, to rank the top-10 quarterbacks heading into the 2026 NFL season. To no one’s surprise, Prescott made the list, coming in at No. 6.
According to Fowler, there was a wide gap between Prescott and the No. 7-ranked quarterback Justin Herbert, as Dak appeared inside the top five on nearly 75 percent of the ballots. It’s also worth mentioning that one voter ranked Prescott as high as the third-best in the league.
Prescott was not ranked in the top 10 during this exercise last season, but a big reason for that could have been injuries, as he missed a significant chunk of the 2024 campaign. However, he found a way to bounce back and earn the respect of NFL coaches last year.
Here is what one NFL coordinator had to say about Prescott coming off a big 2025 campaign:
"He's a true, acute progression passer. There are only so many of those types. He can read the whole field, from pre- to post-snap. He's just really a good commander of the offense."
Prescott entered the NFL as a dual-threat quarterback who was more dangerous with his legs than his arm. But as he’s developed, he’s become one of the league’s best pocket passers. His command of the offense is as good as anyone else’s, and that’s why the Cowboys are routinely one of the best.
While there are certainly questions that still need to be answered regarding Prescott and his postseason success, it appears that he is finally starting to get the credit he deserves as one of the NFL’s best pure throwers.
The next question is, how can Prescott improve and move up in this ranking at this time next season?
Obviously, some legitimate playoff success would certainly help, as that is usually the biggest knock on him compared to his peers. Even winning one game in January would surely improve his status in rankings such as this.
Another way would be for Prescott to prove that he can stay healthy for all 17 games. He has not played back-to-back full seasons since 2018 and 2019, and his lack of durability has been a concern. Availability is always a player's best ability.
Staying on the field and winning in the playoffs are all Prescott needs to do to become a consensus top-five passer in the league. He’s shown that he has the talent to be high on this list, but answering those two questions could vault him even higher.
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