​Only a few weeks separate the Dallas Cowboys from the start of their 2026 training camp. Dallas will officially report to Oxnard on July 28, with the first practice scheduled for July 29. The Cowboys’ roster looks markedly different from what it was at this point last year, especially on the defensive side of the ball. With that in mind, today we continue our series ranking the top 10 players on the Cowboys’ roster for the 2026 season.
Age: 32
Years Pro: 10
NFL Awards: 4x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro (2023; 2nd Team), 1x Offensive Rookie of the Year
2025 Recap: After a tumultuous 2024 season for both Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, the veteran quarterback faced ample pressure to rebound in a big way in 2025. As he has done throughout his NFL career, the former fourth-round pick did not let adversity derail him, delivering a dominant campaign in 2025. Prescott remained healthy throughout the regular season and emerged as one of the league’s most productive quarterbacks. He finished the year with a 67% completion rate, 30 passing touchdowns, a 99.5 passer rating, and an impressive 70.2 QBR. He also produced two or more touchdown passes in 10 of Dallas’ 17 regular-season games and achieved a passer rating above 100 in eight games. According to Pro Football Focus, Prescott tallied 31 big-time throws—the sixth-most in the NFL—and earned a passing grade of 85.4, the fifth-best in the league and the second-highest mark of his career. By virtually any standard, Dallas’ signal-caller was dominant last season, and his consistency was a major reason the Cowboys’ offense enjoyed such a successful year.
2026 Preview: If Prescott enters 2026 healthy, it’s hard to imagine him not ranking among the league’s elite statistical quarterbacks. The challenge for Dallas is the same that has followed Prescott since 2020: an unfortunate pattern of injuries every other year. In 2020, he played only five games before an brutal ankle injury sidelined him for the rest of the year. The following season, he stayed healthy for all 16 regular-season contests. From 2022 through 2025, the trend persisted—an injury in the even years and full health in the odd years. Prescott will be 33 on July 29. He has absorbed a considerable amount of punishment over his 10-year NFL tenure, including being pressured 233 times last season and being sacked 31 times. That sack total could easily have surpassed 40 if not for his ability to navigate the pocket and escape pressure. While he played exceptionally well, it was clear last season that Prescott took his share of punishment. As he approaches his 33rd birthday, it will be crucial for Dallas to protect him with an improved offensive line to keep him upright and maximize his performance.