The Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott in particular had yet another good season which was once again cut short due to their lack of performance in the postseason. Prescott, for his part, was one of the top players and quarterbacks for much of the duration of the season and was on track to bag his first MVP award.
Although Prescott ended up the runner-up behind Lamar Jackson, he had one of the best years of his career leading the league in completions as well as passing touchdowns. Overall, he had a pretty solid year finishing near the top in most categories. In spite of missing out on the MVP in 2023, Prescott has been quite a consistent quarterback throughout his eight seasons in the league.
It should not come as a surprise if he is able to enhance his level of play this year as year-on-year improvement is a quality he is synonymous with.
Thus, let us now discuss why Prescott could win the MVP in the 2024 season.
Dak Prescott is playing on a contract year
Prescott is heading into the 2024 season on his contract year. He last signed a 4-year contract in 2021 which means he will become a free agent by the end of this season if the Cowboys do not extend him.
What exactly is going on in Dallas is difficult to understand with not just Prescott but also CeeDee Lamb who is receiving similar treatment. With Prescott’s future still uncertain, and with QBs such as Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, and Jordan Love all touching $55 million per year, Prescott will have to ball out this season.
Several analysts are of the opinion that Prescott may very well become the first player in the history of the NFL to earn $60 million per year. However, if that is to be the case, Prescott will need to have an MVP-caliber season for a second straight year.
While money is just one aspect of the game, the dream of chasing his first ring is still unfulfilled, and that itself should be the driving factor for Prescott to come out and perform the way he did in 2023.
CeeDee Lamb’s production
CeeDee Lamb is not only the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver, but he is a top five receiver in the entire league. PFF has ranked him at 4 behind Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, and Ja’Marr Chase for the 2024 season which is a fairly accurate ranking based on his overall performance and what he brings to the table for Dallas.
Lamb has been improving by leaps and bounds each year and his connection with Prescott really reached another level last year. He had a career-best year hauling in 135 receptions for 1,749 receiving yards with 12 touchdowns to lead all pass-catchers on the team. Another year of such high quality production will bode well for Prescott as well.
What’s more, Lamb is also on a contract year, and like Prescott, he is still waiting for the right offer. The added motivation will be another reason for him to challenge himself.
Dak Prescott is dedicated to becoming better
The opinion of head coach Mike McCarthy who has been working with Prescott since 2020 is how much his QB has learnt and improved each passing year. Prescott’s desire to work with his receivers even during the offseason shows how much he values the chemistry while also maturing as a leader of the team.
This year Prescott has spent a considerable amount of time during the offseason working with third-year wide receiver Jalen Tolbert who is making waves in training camp. Prescott put in similar work with Lamb a couple of seasons ago of which they are now reaping the benefits.
The wide receiving core for the Cowboys this season consists of CeeDee Lamb, 10-year veteran Brandin Cooks who is a solid No. 2, followed by upcoming talent Jalen Tolbert. Additionally, Dak Prescott will have tight end Jake Ferguson, who had a good season himself in 2023.
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