Cowboys’ Dak Prescott included in C.J. Stroud’s rankings of the NFL’s top 5 quarterbacks

CJ Stroud backtracked after revealing his initial list of NFL top five quarterbacks based on the 2023 season. One of the things that remained consistent, however, was Stroud’s inclusion of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

In order, Stroud initially ranked Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, himself, Prescott and Jalen Hurts as the NFL best defenders during an apparition on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast. Stroud later called an audible, however.

In his updated list (which he posted on your Instagram account), Stroud kept the top three quarterbacks the same, but gave the fourth spot to Josh Allen and moved Prescott to the fifth and final spot, omitting Hurts. Stroud added that he feels Joe Burrow is also among those NFL the 5 best defenders. Burrow, though, missed nearly half of the 2023 season due to injury, which was certainly why he was left off Stroud’s roster.

Stroud was criticized on the podcast for including Prescott, who led the NFL last season with 36 touchdown passes. Prescott also led Dallas to a 12-5 record to improve to 73-41 as the Cowboys’ starting quarterback since 2016. Prescott fell to 2-5 as a postseason starter, however, after Dallas was defeated by Jordan Love and the Packers in the NFC wildcard round.

“Dak is that kid,” Stroud said. “You’re not going to say that because he hasn’t won the big one yet.”

Polarizing would be a good word to sum up Prescott’s career thus far. He hit the ground running as a rookie, leading the Cowboys to a 13-3 record en route to the Pro Bowl and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. But his numbers (and the Cowboys’ record) dropped in 2017, largely due to six-game suspension of running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Prescott returned to Pro Bowl form in 2018 while helping lead the Cowboys to their third playoff victory since the franchise’s last Super Bowl triumph. He put up big numbers again in 2019 and was struggling to start the 2020 season before a serious leg injury ended his season after just five games.

Despite the significance of his injury, Prescott returned and was as prolific as ever in 2021, his first season under Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. He threw a career-high 37 touchdowns that year as he led the Cowboys back to the playoffs for the third time since 2016.

Prescott suffered a slight drop in production in 2022, however, as he threw a career-high 15 picks. His and the Cowboys’ offensive problems were compounded when Dallas scored just 12 points in a season-ending loss to the 49ers in the NFC divisional round.

Last season, Prescott again put up big numbers while leading the Cowboys to the playoffs. But the playoff loss to the Packers reinforced the narrative that Prescott is still missing something despite all the success he’s had thus far.

Stroud, however, clearly doesn’t think the Cowboys’ lack of playoff success under Prescott should be held against the team’s quarterback. Stroud also praised a specific aspect of Prescott’s game that may be overlooked by some of his pessimists.

“Dak,” Stroud said, “is one of the most accurate defenders in the world.”

That may be true, but until he has more success in the playoffs, it seems Prescott fans will always have to defend themselves. That list of fans includes Stroud, who will have a chance to share the field with Prescott when the Cowboys host the Texans in Week 11.