NFL world sends a not so subtle reminder to Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys need him to prove it wrong in 2025 NFL season

It's no secret Dak Prescott's 2024 season did not go well.

Not only was the Dallas Cowboys quarterback's year cut short due to a nasty hamstring injury but things weren't going great to begin with as Prescott threw for 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions in eight games.

However, on the heels of an MVP-caliber season in 2023 in which he was the runner up behind Lamar Jackson, it was fair to assume Prescott had some "credit" to draw from. That is seemingly not the case: On Monday, Prescott received a not-so-subtle reminder by the NFL world that it is a "what have you done for me lately?" league. 

NFL decision makers drop Prescott from Top 10 rankings

In a recent article from ESPN ranking players by position via polls to league coaches, executives, and scouts, Prescott was left out of the Top 10 quarterbacks and didn't even receive a honorable mention (C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love did). That means Dak didn't even crack the Top 12. 

In a separate article, ESPN highlighted Prescott as one of the players who dropped out of the yearly rankings and pointed to his quarterback rating, which would've ranked 32nd in the league last year:  

Prescott's 45.3 QBR in a partial season trailed the likes of Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson and Caleb Williams. As is generally the case with any Cowboys quarterback, Prescott's performance will be heavily scrutinized in 2025.

- ESPN

Cowboys need Prescott to prove doubters wrong in 2025

Sure, every NFL team needs its starting quarterback to play well but it's particularly true for the Cowboys as defensive concerns mount at defensive tackle, cornerback, and linebacker. That's probably what the front office had in mind when it traded a third-round pick for WR George Pickens, who is expected to be the best No. 2 target Prescott has had in years. 

With CeeDee Lamb and Pickens leading the receiving core, this could turn out to be the most talented WR duo the Cowboys have had since Prescott arrived at the NFL level in 2016. 

The Cowboys' projected win total is set at 7.5 by oddsmakers. If the team is to beat expectations, it will need Prescott to have a similar year to 2023, when he established himself as a second-team All-Pro quarterback.