Not 'Elite?': ESPN's Dan Orlovsky Leaves Cowboys' Dak Prescott Off Quarterback Rankings

FRISCO — The buzz around extension talks between Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys has settled in recent days.  However, the national talking heads around the NFL have scraped together all means to continue an ignorant narrative of the Cowboys' quarterback.

Dan Orlovsky appeared on the hotbed of Prescott opinions, leaving him off his list of nine elite NFL quarterbacks on ESPN's First Take . He had no issue omitting the Cowboys quarterback, specifically mentioning Jalen Hurts and Jordan Love as the next two in line for consideration.

Meanwhile, Prescott finished second in MVP voting in 2023 and led the NFL in completions and passing touchdowns.

The rhetoric around Prescott has become a combination of confusing and misleading banter. But it all circles back to one item: his 2-5 playoff record.

That remains the central point of attack from his critics and will not change until that mark cleans up. Despite that truth, should the conversation of elite quarterbacks encompass more than playoff records?

Including those figures, Prescott undeniably stands among the NFL's best passers. Perhaps a tier lower than a Patrick Homes but certainly in contention or above all others.

Last season, Prescott had the highest completion percentage (69.5%) among starters who played 16 to 17 games. He also led the league in touchdown passes (36) and finished third in passing yards (4,516).

Additionally, in his eight seasons with the Cowboys, Prescott is 73-41 as a starter. The same number of years prior to his arrival, Dallas totaled a record of 66-62.

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Looking at others stacked against him, many of those names have either less sustained success, measure short of Prescott statistically or a combination of both.

Beyond the on-field numbers and records, Prescott is set to make a record number in his next contract. Whether that comes in the form of an extension with the Cowboys or a free agency signing remains to be seen.

But he will have a line of suitors if his services become available, a distinction befitting an elite NFL quarterback.

Orlovsky's lists and the opinions of fellow Prescott critics will carry on through the season, though the one evaluation that carries significant value is the Cowboys' leadership. A decision will have to come in the future about his prospects to lead the franchise forward.