Cowboys get 'scary' Dak Prescott prediction ahead of Week 1

With the start of the 2026 NFL season just around the corner, the usual suspects are drawing most of the eyeballs.

Most people already have their MVP candidates locked in before they play a single game. However, this league can always surprise us, and we've seen some late bloomers like Matthew Stafford crash the podium. According to league execs, Dak Prescott might be this year's Stafford, according to a survey conducted by Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. 

Prescott ranked No. 5 in a survey of the best quarterbacks for the upcoming season, and it was the highest he's ever ranked in this annual survey.

Dak Prescott's Cowboys could have an explosive offense 

"It’s a tribute to how well he played last year, and how he helped the Cowboys get the most out of uber-talented receiver George Pickens, even without CeeDee Lamb, who missed three games," Breer wrote. "One quarterbacks coach called him the consummate field general, and an AFC exec added that he expects a big year with a cast around him now that makes Dallas 'scary every time they get off the bus.'"

The Cowboys offense thrived in the first year of the Brian Schottenheimer era. More than just George Pickens' addition, they finally got the running game going again for the first time since prime Ezekiel Elliott, showcasing the type of balance Prescott needs to not have to do everything on his own.

Prescott has always been a polarizing figure, but he's the Cowboys' best option by a significant margin. He's also developed a strong rapport with Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. With a speedy playmaker like Ryan Flournoy proving that he also deserves to be a part of the equation, this offense could be among the best in the game again in 2026.

Whether Prescott will live up to the hype or fall short of expectations remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure. For better or worse, this can be a legacy-defining campaign for the Cowboys quarterback.