Good ol' Dak Prescott is the bane of some fan's entire fandom. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the league to other fans, and they believe the Cowboys will not find anyone better.
One thing I know for sure is Prescott is a top-five quarterback in this league if you go by statistics, during the season.
Regular season vs. post-season
During the regular season, Prescott has a record of 73-41, a career 99.0 quarterback rating, and 202 touchdown passes with 74 interceptions. He had 33 attempts with almost 23 completions and 258 yards per game.
A great quarterback with great in-season statistics.
In the post-season, we see a different quarterback.
The playoffs see a Dallas Cowboys quarterback with two wins and five losses, but we also see his attempts per game (39.4) and his yards per game (280.3) increase.
The increase is not bad, but it also shows Dak Prescott has to do more for his team when it is win or go home.
In the last playoff game alone, we witnessed Prescott throw for over 400 yards in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Prescott will get over the hump in the playoffs, we as a fanbase just have to stick with him.
Ultimately, everything will fall into place, but he must receive support from every aspect, including the coaching staff and defense.
Is Prescott the problem?
Dak Prescott is a phenomenal player and possibly a better person.
He is a three-time Pro Bowl player, Offensive Rookie of the Year, and a Walter Peyton Man of the Year award recipient.
He is consistently one of the top quarterbacks in the league, as talked about earlier, but is he the issue?
Compared to other quarterbacks in the league he is on par statistically and his winning percentage is top-notch. Prescott can lead his team to comeback wins, blowout wins, and head-scratching losses.
Over the last couple of years, the Cowboys have fielded a top passing offense, but the running game has been suspect. Not having a proper running game can lead to decreased time of possession, low red zone percentages, and overall offensive imbalance.
However, if you compare the Cowboys rushing attack to the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs the Cowboys had a better rushing season.
So, that can't be the problem.
Prescott almost led the team to a comeback win against the Packers, but you know who let the team down… it was the defense, not Dak Prescott.
Rayne Dakota Prescott is not the problem, but always seems to be the scapegoat because he is the quarterback of America's Team.
Dak Prescott and the good years?
Dak Prescott has haters who say he can't win games when they matter.
“He can't be the one,” and other narratives that fans copy from national-level Cowboy haters.
One thing is for sure, the Cowboys went through several years of not having good quarterback play. Does anyone remember Quincy Carter, Ryan Leaf, or Clint Stoerner?
These were not good times to be a Cowboys fan.
Now we have a winning quarterback who can lead a team to wins and fans still are not happy.
A big payday is coming in the near future for Prescott whether it be with the Cowboys or another team.
One thing is for sure, he is worth it.
What is Dak Prescott worth?
The simple answer is “a lot,” but let's examine the landscape of other quarterback contracts.
Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals:
Contract: 5 years, $275 million ($219.01 million in guarantees)
Signing bonus: $40 million
Average salary: $55 million
Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions:
Contract: 5 years, $212 million ($170 million in guarantees)
Average salary: $53 million
Justin Herbert of the LA Chargers:
Contract: 5 years, $262.5 million ($218.7 million in guarantees)
Salary (2024): $6 million
Signing bonus: $16.13 million
Average annual salary: $52.5 million
Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens:
Contract: 5 years, $260 million ($185 million in guarantees)
Signing bonus: $72.5 million
Average annual salary: $52 million
Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles:
Contract: 5 years, $255 million ($179.3 million in guarantees)
Signing bonus: $23.29 million
Average annual salary: $51 million
As we can see the annual salary tops out at $55 million with the floor being $51 million. The quarterbacks who have cashed in with a new contract are all around the age of Prescott.
The only player who might enter the debate as a better passer—excluding running abilities, Lamar—is Joe Burrow.
Burrow's recent contract is among the latest, so discussions will likely center on his figures.
Prescott will land a contract in the ballpark of $55 million annually for 5 years.
Not a bad contract for a franchise quarterback.
Get it done
As we sit and wait for the Dak Prescott contract or no contract, the fanbase knows one thing: We get Prescott for at least one more year.
For some, it's a cause for celebration, and for others, it's a nightmare come true, but as fans of the Cowboys, we're all riding down the road created by Jerry Jones.
The condition of this road often rivals that of Oklahoma roads, but with some luck, we might avoid the potholes and arrive at our destination with our emotions intact.
