Dak Prescott Shrugs Off Top-10 QB Snub, Focuses on Bigger Goals Ahead of 2025 Season
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has never been one to shy away from criticism — and this offseason is no different. Despite finishing as a 2023 MVP finalist and signing a four-year, $240 million contract extension in 2024, Prescott was noticeably absent from ESPN’s recent rankings of the NFL’s top-10 quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season.
The rankings, compiled through a survey of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, sparked widespread discussion — but Prescott himself didn’t flinch.
“Motivated? That’s temporary,” he told reporters, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. “I don’t think I’ve ever really cared about a list. … The list changes every year. I know who I am. I’m confident in who I am.”
Prescott has every reason to feel confident. In 2023, he posted one of the best statistical seasons of his career. However, 2024 brought a harsh twist of fate. The Cowboys started off shaky and sat at 3–5 when Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9. He finished the season with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions across eight games, ranking 32nd in the league in adjusted QBR (45.3) and 27th in passer rating (86.0), per Pro Football Reference.
A Long Road Back
With the injury behind him, Prescott is now gearing up for a critical season. At 32 years old and entering his 10th NFL campaign, he’s facing growing skepticism — not just from fans or media, but from within the league itself. His 2–5 career playoff record remains a blemish on an otherwise solid résumé, and questions around whether he can lead Dallas to a deep postseason run have only intensified.
Still, Prescott remains focused on what matters: being the best leader he can be for a team with sky-high expectations under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
“It’s about me just continuing to get better, healthy, and grow,” Prescott said. “Make sure I’m the best player, quarterback and leader I can be for this team. That’s the list I care about.”
Cowboys’ Make-or-Break Season
This isn’t just a pivotal year for Prescott — it’s a turning point for the Cowboys as a whole. The franchise hasn’t reached the NFC Championship Game since 1996 and is under mounting pressure to deliver results.
Prescott referenced offensive lineman Tyler Smith’s recent comment about this being a Super Bowl-caliber roster. He also praised Schottenheimer’s no-nonsense leadership and clear belief in the team’s championship potential.
“Yeah, look it in the face, look it in the eyes, and do whatever you can,” Prescott said. “When one thinks something, it’s good, but when two think it, it’s powerful. When we can get a hundred guys to think it, it can happen.”
That kind of collective buy-in could be exactly what Dallas needs to shake its postseason struggles.
Odds and Outlook
Despite the optimism from Prescott and his teammates, betting markets remain skeptical. As of July 29, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Cowboys at -220 odds to miss the playoffs this season — suggesting that public confidence in the team is still shaky.
Dallas kicks off its 2025 campaign with a high-stakes clash against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on September 4. It will be a massive early test for Prescott and his new-look offense under Schottenheimer.
Final Thoughts
Dak Prescott may not be in ESPN’s top 10, but he doesn’t need a ranking to prove his worth — not to himself, and certainly not to the Cowboys. With a healthy body, a clear head, and a locker room that believes in its potential, Prescott is poised to lead a redemption story in Dallas.
Whether it ends in another heartbreak or a long-overdue championship will soon be revealed — but one thing is certain: he’s not backing down from the pressure.