Cowboys' Dak Prescott responds to NFL personnel rankings snub

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler revealed on July 14 that NFL executives, coaches and scouts surveyed by the network did not rank Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys among the league's top-10 quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season. 

Prescott was recently asked if being left off that list had him "motivated" this summer. 

"Motivated? That's temporary," Prescott said, ESPN's Todd Archer shared. "I don't think I've ever really cared about a list. I was, what, the ninth or so guy when I was taken [in the draft]. The list changes [for] every person you ask. The list changes every year." 

Prescott emerged as a 2023 regular-season Most Valuable Player Award finalist, and he received a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $240M with $231M guaranteed ahead of the 2024 campaign. The Cowboys were then an inconsistent side last fall before they fell to 3-5 on the same day that Prescott suffered what became a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9.  

"With injuries, obviously the list should change," Prescott added about ESPN's QB rankings. "As young, new players come in, the list is going to change. It's not something I really give weight to. I know who I am. I'm confident in who I am. It's about me just continuing to get better, healthy, and grow — and make sure I'm the best player, quarterback and leader I can be for this team. That's the list I care about."

According to Pro Football Reference stats, Prescott ended the 2024 season ranked 32nd in the NFL among qualified players with a 45.3 adjusted QBR and 27th with an 86.0 passer rating. He recorded 11 touchdown passes and eight interceptions over his eight games. 

A 2016 fourth-round draft pick, Prescott has a career postseason record of 2-5. Improving upon that mark seems to be his main goal in the final days of July. 

"I'm not only wanting to win for myself, but wanting to win for this organization. It's been well (expletive) long enough," Prescott added during his comments. "...We've got to keep that at the forefront of our mind. That's why I said Tyler Smith saying [the expectation is to win a Super Bowl], [first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer] saying that guy's not backing down from that. Yeah, look it in the face, look it in the eyes, and do whatever you can. 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."

As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Cowboys at -220 betting odds to miss the playoffs this season. Dallas opens the upcoming campaign with a matchup against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.