The Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott continues to land outside the NFL’s top-five quarterback conversations, according to many analysts. Sports analyst Chris Simms points out the exact reason for his drop, and it doesn't involve his production or talent. 

During Episode 880 of Chris Simms Unbuttoned, Chris Simms and Connor Rogers discussed Prescott’s No. 11 ranking in Simms’ QB countdown and reasoned it was based on his physical tools and other traits the top QBs possess.

“Dak has a really good arm, but it's not like what I would call a dynamic, wow, powerful arm, right?” Simms said. "He can throw all the comebacks and the deep corners and all that. But it's not going to be the same as some of the other freaks we talk about throwing a football."

The hosts acknowledged that Prescott can make all the necessary throws to cornerbacks and deep corners. They viewed him as a clear top-10 QB, but felt the gap to the top five comes down to rare arm talent and athletic upside. 

"Where you get into some of those films, and you just go, 'Oh my, I can't believe he got that there,' or 'I can't believe he made that throw with that kind of power and that kind of accuracy," Simms added.

Prescott has recorded 404 of 600 passes attempted (most completions in the league last year) for 4,552 yards, with 30 touchdowns in 2025.

“And again, it's little nitpicky things like that that separate a lot of these guys from 11 to five, or 11 to six, and all that,” Simms added.

Simms pointed out that Prescott doesn't utilize sidearm releases or any creative ways to throw. He lacks that 'wow' factor or a ‘laser-like’ power or accuracy that quarterbacks on top like Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts possess. 

With Brian Schottenheimer entering his second year with the Cowboys as a head coach, a recent ranking for the QB-coach duo ranked them out of the top ten.

Cowboys’ QB-Coach Duo Ranked Middle of the Pack

According to Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated, the Prescott-Schottenheimer QB-coach duo was ranked at No. 17, highlighting that the HC could have performed his duties better last season.

"The Cowboys have plenty of questions, but most center on a defense that ranked 30th a year ago," Verderame noted. "Offensively, the unit was second in yardage primarily because of Prescott and receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, one of the league’s best trios."

He ranked the duo in the No. 22 spot last season and currently ranks Prescott individually at No. 8 and Schottenheimer at No. 24.

He reasons that it is the lack of the HC's push on former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus last year, leading them to rank at the bottom of overall defense in the league.

"After moving off defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus for Christian Parker, did Schottenheimer push the right button?" Verderame added. "That choice will hover over Dallas’s season and potentially determine its fate."

With Schottenheimer entering his second season, the pressure is on him to deliver results and lead the Cowboys to the playoffs after a disappointing 7-9-1 campaign.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote