Determining Dak Prescott’s standing among NFL quarterbacks proves challenging.
Statistically, Prescott’s performance during the 2023 regular season positioned him among the top two or three quarterbacks in the league.
However, we all know that “playoff Dak” is far different than “regular season Dak.”
Despite a standout 2023, which saw him finish second in the MVP race, Prescott’s ranking in ESPN’s recent quarterback list surprised many Cowboys fans.
He fell to 10th place from the previous year’s 9th position, a move that some found surprising.
ESPN’s complete top 10 list goes as follows…
#1. Patrick Mahomes
“The gatekeepers of NFL greatness have begun chiseling Mahomes’ likeness onto their Mount Rushmore of quarterbacks … Mahomes’ work is so undeniable that all but one voter considered him the league’s best quarterback. He’s one of three players in NFL history with three Super Bowls and two MVPs, joining Tom Brady and Joe Montana, quarterbacks who needed 11 and 12 years, respectively, to reach the feat.”
#2. Joe Burrow
“Burrow hasn’t exactly hurt his standing in the pantheon since last year’s voting — he’s still considered one of the game’s very best and won a close race for No. 2 — but his growing injury file has planted a seed of doubt. … There’s little debate about Burrow’s greatness when he’s healthy and spinning it. His career completion percentage of 68% is the highest in NFL history through a player’s first four seasons (minimum 1,000 attempts).“
#3. Josh Allen
“Allen’s blend of brilliance and inconsistency has left voters with mixed feelings … He received the only first-place vote that didn’t go to Mahomes — yet was outside of the top five for several voters … He is Mahomes’ neighbor in style of play but lives on a different street of accomplishment. He’s been in the top five for four consecutive seasons but hasn’t cracked the top two. Most agree Allen should have experienced more playoff success by now.“
#4. Lamar Jackson
“It took far too long, but NFL circles are finally giving Jackson respect as a top-tier passer. He nearly snagged the No. 2 spot but got slightly outpaced by Burrow and Allen in the voting. And there’s a wide gulf in the voting between the top four and the rest of the field … Jackson is undeniable after winning a second MVP. After five seasons as a dual-threat quarterback in Greg Roman’s system, the Ravens reversed course, bringing in playcaller Todd Monken to help maximize Jackson’s game from the pocket.“
#5. Matthew Stafford
“Some evaluators see Stafford as a bit of a kingmaker … ‘He elevates the play of those around him,’ a high-ranking official with an NFL team said. ‘Puka Nacua is a good player — but he’s not the same guy without Stafford. He helps those guys reach their potential.'”
#6. Justin Herbert
“Herbert critics are quick to point out his pedestrian 30-32 career record as a starter. But most agree that the weight of the Chargers’ struggles doesn’t fall squarely on Herbert, an otherworldly talent who helped that record more than he hurt it … And then there’s this: He’s on the short list of best pure arm talents, possibly the best when you consider strength and the ability to reach all parts of the field.“
#7. C.J. Stroud
“Stroud appeared on nearly 90% of the ballots, and a few of the voters believe he’s top-three already … ‘He’s as good as anybody, honestly,’ a veteran NFC scout said. ‘He’s got to do it again, but the arm talent combined with taking care of the ball and the ability to process was impressive.'”
#8. Aaron Rodgers
“Old and injured is not the typical description of a top-10 quarterback … Rodgers’ presence feels like a mild upset after a pedestrian (for his standards) 2022 in Green Bay and the Achilles tear heard ’round the world on his fourth snap as a New York Jet … Rodgers, the oldest active quarterback in the NFL, is set to become the sixth in history to start 10-plus games at age 40 or older, joining Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Warren Moon and Vinny Testaverde … No matter. Still elite … ‘He’s probably fringe top 10 at this point, but he still has the rare ability to throw the football,’ an AFC exec said. ‘That hasn’t gone away. I think he’s got a major opportunity to lift the Jets and show what he can still do.'”
#9. Jared Goff
“Goff’s two-year run in Detroit is one of the league’s best success stories in recent years. In 2021, he was discarded by the Rams for Matthew Stafford, then suffered career lows in passing for a three-win Lions team. Voters didn’t see him as even a top-15 option at that point … But since 2022, he ranks second in passing yards (9,013) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.1).”
#10. Dak Prescott
The Dak Dilemma persists: He’s consistently very good but outside of the top tier, despite huge numbers … For the second consecutive year, Prescott appeared on the majority of ballots — 63%, a slight improvement from the year before. But he’s the only quarterback in the top 10 without a single top-six vote … ‘He’s lacking that high-end ceiling, plays the position really well, but not an elite athlete and passer [that] Mahomes and Allen are,’ an NFL personnel director said. ‘They need to support him in those big matchups. He’s really good but not quite good enough to elevate the entire team in those matchups.'”
Former quarterback and current NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms took things a step further by revealing his top 40 quarterbacks in the NFL.
Interestingly, Prescott came in 8th on Simms’ list.
Here’s a look at his complete rankings…
- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
- Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
- Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
- Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
- Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
- C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
- Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
- Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
- Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
- Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
- Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
- Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
- Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
- Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
- Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
- Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
- Daniel Jones, NY Giants
- Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
- Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
- Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
- Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
- Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
- J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
- Ryan Tannehill (Free Agent)
- Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
- Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
- Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
- Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
- Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots
- Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts
- Kenny Pickett, Philadelphia Eagles
- Gardner Minshew, Las Vegas Raiders
- Jarrett Stidham, Denver Broncos
What are your thoughts on both lists? … Which do you agree with more?
As far as Prescott, where do you stand on him? … Is he just simply a very good regular season quarterback who will always shrink in the playoffs? … Or do you think it’s only a matter of time before he gets over the hump?
What does YOUR top quarterback list look like???