NFL Quarterback Tiers 2025: Experts vote on Prescott
The harshest of critics usually have him in the 12 to 16 range, which is around a Tier 3 QB. But, when healthy, his overall body of work entering Year 10 probably puts him in Tier 2, somewhere between six and 10.
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Prescott was asked recently if QB rankings motivate him.
'Motivated? That's temporary,' he responded. 'I don't think I've really ever cared about a list. I was, what, the ninth or so guy taken when I was (drafted)? The list changes every person you ask. The list changes every year. With injuries, obviously, the list should change. As young new players come in, the list is going to change, so not something I really ever give weight to.
'I know who I am. I'm confident in who I am. It's about me just continuing to get better, healthy, and grow, and make sure I'm the best player, quarterback and leader I can be for this team. That's the list I care about.'
In Mike Sando's annual 'QB Tiers' rankings, Prescott ranks on the back end of Tier 2 at No. 12
Dak Prescott
Cowboys
'I'm not necessarily worried about anything when I play him, but he's just solid,' one defensive coordinator told Sando. 'I think he is still good. I started to 2 slash 3 him, but I think he is a 2.'
Another defensive coach was not as positive.
'He has proven when it comes to the big games, he can't win,' the coach said. 'I've had him as a 2 before, but over the years, it is the same thing over and over again.'
Prescott's health is going to be the biggest factor going forward. He recently turned 32 and is set up to have excellent weapons on the perimeter with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin. But will he be available for a full season?
After not missing a start during his first four years as the Cowboys franchise QB, things changed during the 2020 season when he suffered a gruesome compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle. He played in only five games that season. While he bounced back the following year, he's missed notable time every other year. The trend sets him up to have a bounce-back year this season.
It'll be interesting to see how things unfold as he works with a new offensive play caller in new Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Prescott's previous play callers have been Scott Linehan (2016-2018), Kellen Moore (2019-2022) and Mike McCarthy (2023-2024).
Prescott's $60 million average annual salary is tops in NFL history. No other player makes more than $55 million per season. Prescott benefited from having excellent representation, great contract leverage and extreme confidence to bet on himself. There's no question that his contract and being the quarterback of the Cowboys have made the spotlight brighter.
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Like with Tony Romo before him, when Prescott has been on the field, the basement is very high. Dallas has never had a losing record when Prescott plays at least nine games in a season. He's also been the QB during three 12-win seasons and one 13-win season. But the playoff win total is only two in seven games, with both victories coming in the wild-card round.
Also similar to Romo, Prescott has always been good enough to keep the team from going in another direction. Jerry Jones and company could have chosen to move on a year or two ago and maybe be in a better spot today. But there's a greater chance that they'd be worse off, and possibly one of the teams that is constantly trying new options at quarterback and not coming close to what they had in Prescott.
During The Athletic's recent survey of Cowboys fans, Prescott was voted the team's most underrated player (85 votes). He was also voted the team's most overrated player (339 votes). As long as he avoids a major injury, the expectation is that Prescott will remain Dallas' quarterback for at least the next four seasons.
'Obviously we have a lot of confidence that Dak's injury was one of those that was just unfortunate,' Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said in April on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas when asked about continuing to restructure his contract. 'We feel like he's gonna be a healthy, productive quarterback for us that will play at the very top of his game and give us a chance to win championships.'
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