Dallas Cowboys: Jerry Jones makes strong statement regarding Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones kicked off training camp in Oxnard with a press conference on Tuesday. After expressing his complete support for head coach Mike McCarthy, Jones also made a strong statement about quarterback Dak Prescott, as a player and as a person.

“I feel like we have one of the best people at that position,” Jones said, via Jon Machota. “And one of the best people (period). He’s a big reason for my optimism.”

The 79-year-old general manager espoused that the Cowboys can reach the playoffs and more this season, despite the losses of Amari Cooper, Cedrick Wilson, and Randy Gregory in the offseason.

Dak Prescott is back, along with Ezekiel Elliott, Dalton Schultz and CeeDee Lamb, not to mention the elite duo of Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs on the defense.

Prescott has led the Cowboys to a 53-32 record with him under center in six seasons. He has thrown for 143 touchdowns compared to 50 interceptions over his 85 games as well as a career 66.6% completion percentage. In 2021, he threw a career-high 37 touchdowns with another career-high in completion percentage at 68%.

However, one aspect of the former Mississippi State quarterback’s resume keeping him from the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks is his playoff history.

Dak Prescott is a top-10 quarterback, according to NFL personnel

The argument for best quarterback in the NFL is one that can get you lost down a rabbit hole in a hurry. While not listed at the top of Jeremy Fowler’s article at ESPN listing the NFL’s Top 10 QBs in 2022 from coaches, executives, and players, Dak Prescott was a “fixture” in their Top 10s.

Prescott landed at No. 10 on Fowler’s composite list. He says the Cowboy quarterback’s consistent position in the back half of the list earned him the spot.

“Voters pointed to Prescott’s consistency, helping him beat out other top-tier passers here,” said Fowler. “Though the Cowboys quarterback did not receive a single top-five vote, he was a fixture in the Nos. 7 to 10 range, helping him outdistance Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson for the last spot in the composite rankings.”

The consistent quality that was used to label Prescott was “good”. One NFC executive told Fowler that Prescott needs to show more in the postseason to reach the top tier.

“A good but not great QB; he has to play well in the playoffs. Has to prove (he) can take them to the next level. He’s not in the top echelon,” said the exec.

The Cowboys have only made the playoffs three times in Prescott’s six years and haven’t advanced past the Divisional Round.

On3’s Sam Gillenwater contributed to this report.