Is Dak Prescott in Line for an MVP-Caliber Season?
The Dallas Cowboys' star quarterback Dak Prescott is among the most talked-about players in the entire NFL. He was a fourth-round pick in 2016, expected to be a career backup, but was able to carve out a starting role for himself. Dak is now considered one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, but unfortunately, he has battled a large number of injuries and is not consistently on the field. Prescott and the Cowboys have not gotten over the hump in the playoffs but are hoping after a strong offseason that they can make a run in 2025. Dak was an MVP candidate in 2023; can he re-enter the MVP conversation this season?
The Cowboys have had plenty of success over the years with Dak Prescott at the helm of plenty of different-look offenses and schemes, and he has adapted and changed his game over time. Early in Dak’s career, he was a bruising runner who would throw the ball down the field aggressively. After injuries began to add up, he altered his game to be more of a pocket passer, throwing with timing and accuracy across the short and middle areas of the field. He also put an emphasis on diagnosing pre-snap and becoming more aware of defensive schemes. Dak is now considered one of the best ball distributors in the NFL, letting multiple playmakers receive targets in high-volume passing offenses. Prescott has a 98.1 career QBR and has thrown 213 touchdown passes in his career. Prescott often has the spotlight put on him and has been critiqued in the past for a lack of elite playoff performances, but perhaps things could change in 2025 with a new offense and supporting crew.
The Dallas Cowboys have brought in a new coaching staff this offseason, hiring Brian Schottenheimer as head coach, with whom Dak has familiarity, and hiring Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator, who plans to install a new power run offense that heavily incorporates multiple running backs and a powerful offensive line. This allows the offense to be multidimensional and forces defenses to put more players in the box, allowing CeeDee Lamb and company to have more opportunities down the field. This new running game, featuring experienced backs like Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams along with rookie Jaydon Blue, brings a lot of home run hitter ability and is a major upgrade from last season. The Cowboys also recently acquired wide receiver George Pickens, who instantly becomes a bona fide number two receiver and vertical threat with secure hands. Let’s not forget the importance of Jake Ferguson as a safety blanket for Dak Prescott in this offense. Ferguson is a solid receiving threat and was a breakout player in his rookie year, but he took a dip in production when Dak suffered a season-ending injury. Dak will have more time in the pocket due to an improved offensive line, a better running game, and an increased arsenal of weapons to throw to, putting him in a good position to re-enter MVP conversations.
