An NFL survey by ESPN has ranked Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott at No. 6 among the NFL's top-10 quarterbacks heading into the 2026 season, based on votes from league executives. However, one AFC coach believes Prescott still has an untapped physical ability.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentioned in his survey article about an AFC offensive coach’s vote of confidence about Prescott’s athleticism that could help the Cowboys reach a higher level.

"I think he can use his athleticism even more and run for first downs," said an AFC offensive coach, referring to Prescott's modest 177 rushing yards last season, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. "That would give [the Cowboys] a new dimension." 

According to the survey published by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler in his July 13 article, the AFC offensive coach believes that Prescott has room to be opportunistic as a runner (after rushing for 177 yards last season).

In every season where he played more than 10 games, Prescott rushed for at least 200 yards. That streak came to an end in 2025, when he finished with just two rushing touchdowns as well.

But Prescott hardly stopped producing. If anything, he answered differently. He led the NFL with 404 completions and ranked third with 220 first-down passes, showing why Fowler still believes in his value.

Fowler believes he can dominate with his “athleticism” in situations where defenses leave open space rather than focusing on taking unnecessary sacks or risky throws.

In the same survey, one NFC coordinator highlighted Prescott’s football IQ, noting his ability to read the entire field, quickly work through progressions and keep the Cowboys' offense under control.

"He's a true, acute progression passer," an NFL coordinator said, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. "There are only so many of those types. He can read the whole field, from pre- to post-snap. He's just really a good commander of the offense." 

As Prescott enters his 11th season with a "Super Bowl or bust" mentality, the confidence shown by the NFL coaches mirrors the belief in the franchise QB inside the franchise.

With the Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones backing Prescott's mindset, the Cowboys will be hoping for Prescott to translate such respect into a long-awaited Super Bowl run.

Jerry Jones backs Dak Prescott's 'Super Bowl or bust' mindset

Jerry Jones has agreed with Prescott's mindset of winning the Super Bowl this season and ending the Cowboys' 30-year Super Bowl title drought, as the franchise last appeared in the Super Bowl in the 1995 season.

"I like the idea that thinking that positive about what we're going to work for," Jones said during the press conference of training camp, per Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com. "We've got a long way to go, having really started in our spring. That's good to me, to be positive especially coming from [them]…So when Dak is that positive about it, that adds some credibility to it."

Jones believes that Prescott's optimism carries weight because teammates are more likely to follow a quarterback who shows confidence in the roster.

That being said, since 1995, the Cowboys haven't even reached the Championship game. Moreover, they have a 2-5 playoff record over the last 10 seasons.

Although Jones admitted the challenge ahead, he expressed confidence that the Cowboys have assembled a roster capable of contending for a Super Bowl.

The Cowboys have high expectations entering 2026. Do you believe Dak Prescott can turn that confidence into a championship season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote