Cowboys' Dak Prescott needs bounce-back season more than any other QB

Quarterback Dak Prescott has indicated he plans to lead the Dallas Cowboys on a deep playoff run this season. He'd better. 

It's easy to argue no QB needs a postseason run more than the Cowboys star.

The Athletic's Mike Sando published his annual QB tiers Monday. The survey featured thoughts from anonymous coaches and executives. The tiers are numbered one through five, with one being the best and five being the worst. 

Sando placed Prescott in Tier 2 and tabbed him No. 12 among 34 QBs, his lowest ranking since 2019. Per Sando, a Tier 2 QB can carry his team, but "not as consistently" as a Tier 1 QB. He also "has a hole or two in his game." 

Prescott's inability to win big games is one reason he's never been in Tier 1.

"He has proven when it comes to the big games, he can't win," a defensive coach said, via Sando. "I've had him as a 2 before, but over the years, it is the same thing over and over again."

Prescott threw the franchise's second-most touchdown passes (213) in his first nine seasons with Dallas. However, he has a 2-5 record in the playoffs and has yet to lead the Cowboys to an NFC Championship Game. 

An offensive coach believes the 2016 fourth-round pick simply doesn't have the talent needed to end the Cowboys' 29-year Super Bowl drought.

"Dak has been fantastic for what he is," the offensive coach said. "He plays past his draft status all the time. He plays past his physical abilities most of the time. And then it catches up to him when it really matters the most." 

Prescott became the league's highest-paid player in September 2024, which that has limited the Cowboys' financial flexibility. Spotrac estimates they have just $6.59M in cap space in 2026. 

That has possibly contributed to the contract standoff with EDGE Micah Parsons. The 26-year-old pass-rusher is entering the final year of his rookie deal and has requested a trade.  

The Cowboys went 7-10 in 2024, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Prescott missed nine games after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9. Before that, he went 3-5 in eight starts and logged a below-average 45.3 QBR. 

Another underwhelming season could make paying the good but not great QB look like a bigger mistake for Dallas.