​Once upon a time, people across the internet would grab their swords and wage spirited debates about the status, ranking, and merits of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The same was often true for his predecessor, Tony Romo. Wearing the Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Crown is no small burden. Prescott is entering his eleventh season in the role, which means there is a decade’s worth of arguments behind him. Yet whether due to the passage of time or a growing acceptance of his place in the NFL quarterback hierarchy, those fierce debates don’t carry the same heat they once did.
Lately, ESPN has been rolling out its rankings for every position group within football, a practice they’ve adopted more recently. The premise behind these rankings is that they are built on ESPN’s aggregation of input from NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, suggesting the exercise is informed by people who know the league’s landscape well. On Monday, the worldwide leader released its quarterback rankings, and Prescott landed at sixth. He’s in good company among the league’s elite, with a history of strong showings on the ballots and a sizable contingent of voters placing him in the top five. In fact, there was a clear gap between him and the seventh spot, underscoring that his current standing is long overdue for a player of his caliber, who has often settled into the fringes of the top ten.
One evaluator labeled him a “true, acute progression passer.” The coordinator added, “There are only so many of those types. He can read the whole field, from pre-snap to post-snap. He’s really a good commander of the offense.” Prescott’s 2022 season saw him beset by interceptions (15), and in 2024 he missed nine games due to injury. Yet in other recent years—2023 and 2025—he delivered prolific production, totaling 9,068 passing yards and 66 touchdown passes. His four seasons with 4,000 passing yards and 30 TDs apiece tie for the sixth most of all time, trailing only the benchmark figures set by Brees, Manning, Brady, Rodgers, and Rivers. “I think he can unleash his athleticism even more and run for first downs,” a AFC offensive coach observed, noting Prescott’s modest 177 rushing yards last season. “That would give the Cowboys a new dimension.”
There is little to dispute in that assessment. Dak has clearly progressed in recent seasons, building on the foundation of his passing prowess that began to emerge in 2019. It’s refreshing to see a national outlet acknowledge his ability to dissect defenses and carve them up. While different styles can lead to success, Dak embodies a classic quarterback mold in that regard. Many Cowboys fans would still like to see him use his mobility to pick up first downs more often, a recurring topic around Prescott.
For those curious about the top ten, the list includes: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys; Dak is the second-highest-ranked NF—an acknowledgment of his sustained impact and evolving skill set.