See where Cowboys’ Dak Prescott lands in NFL analyst’s QB rankings

Is Dak Prescott a prime 10 NFL quarterback?

One NFL analyst thinks so.

NBC’s Chris Simms has been counting down the highest 40 quarterbacks heading into the 2022 season. On Tuesday, he revealed quarterbacks 12-9. Prescott was listed at No. 9, forward of Arizona’s Kyler Murray (No. 12), Las Vegas’ Derek Carr (No. 11) and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson (No. 10).

“Physical, mental toughness — to me, Dak Prescott is towards the top of football in those departments. His mobility is a real thing. [He is] up there in the discussion as far as being one of the best ‘I’m under pressure and the pocket is collapsing’ quarterbacks in all of football. He’s unaffected by it. That, to me, is where he is special,” Simms mentioned on an episode of his present, Chris Simms Unbuttoned. “Franchise quarterback, difference maker, beautiful deep-ball thrower. But I will say he did not have his best year throwing… out of these quarterbacks we’ve talked about today, [his arm strength] is at the bottom. I would say Derek Carr’s arm is stronger than Dak Prescott’s. But he does a lot of good things on the football field.”

Prescott has endured lots in his final two seasons. In 2020, Prescott suffered a compound ankle fracture and dislocation 5 video games into the season that sidelined him for the remainder of the yr. While he returned and performed effectively early on in the 2021 season, a mid-season calf pressure appeared to gradual Prescott down a bit.

Prior to his calf harm, Prescott led the Cowboys to a 5-1 begin whereas throwing for 302 yards per sport whereas finishing 73.1% of his passes. After his return from the harm, Prescott accomplished 65% of his passes for 263 yards per sport because the Cowboys stumbled to a 6-5 end.

Still, regardless of the harm and lacking a sport, Prescott was seventh in the league final yr with 4,449 passing yards and was tied for third with 37 passing touchdowns.

Prescott’s expertise can be put to the check subsequent season, as he could have much less weapons to work with. The Cowboys traded Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns in the course of the offseason and Cedrick Wilson signed with the Miami Dolphins. However, Prescott will nonetheless have CeeDee Lamb, who had a team-high 1,102 yards final season and is able to embrace the No. 1 receiver function. Michael Gallup additionally returns on a brand new deal, however is coming off an ACL tear late final season. The Cowboys additionally added ex-South Alabama WR Jalen Tolbert to the combo in this yr’s draft.

In a packed NFC, The Dallas Morning News’ Tim Cowlishaw ranked Prescott because the No. 5 quarterback in the convention, one spot behind Murray.

“Although he was never a big runner, Prescott could use his legs to get first downs (and touchdowns) before the knee injury of 2020. That aspect is diminished,” Cowlishaw writes. “He threw 37 touchdown passes last year, but isn’t likely to close in on that number with Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson gone and with at least one rookie or unproven player on the offensive line.

“Dak’s decision making or Kellen Moore’s play-calling? It was a constant debate even for a team with a top-ranked offense. Will 2022 be different? Will it even be as good?”

Fans should wait till the 2022 season to seek out out. But as of now, Simms, a former NFL quarterback himself, thinks Prescott is a top-10 participant at his place.

Comparing 2021 stats for QBs 9-12

Find extra Cowboys protection from The Dallas Morning News right here.