Prescott is coming off one of the best years of his career, but could he do something in 2026 that he's never done before?
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will be looking to add another Pro Bowl to his resume this upcoming year, coming off a season that was one of the better ones of his career.
Dak was masterful, throwing for 4,552 yards, 30 TDs and 10 interceptions, as the Cowboys once again had a top offense when Prescott is healthy for the entire season.
And as we look ahead to Brian Schottenheimer's second season in the big silver and blue chair, all of his starters return along the offensive line and at the skill-position groups.
Continuity is underrated, my friends.
When it comes to what we can expect from Prescott when he's healthy, we know what we'll get. Plus, when we add who his weapons are for a second straight season, there's even a chance Dak can have another Pro Bowl-caliber season.
But can he do something he's never done before?
Can he throw for 5,000 yards?
That is Ben Solak's bold prediction for ESPN. Dak doing something only nine other players have done in NFL history.
So, can Prescott do it? Let's take a look.
He came close in 2019, throwing for 4,902 yards as Dallas went 8-8 (Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup over 1,000 yards, Randall Cobb 800+, Jason Witten 500+, Zeke Elliott 400+ and Blake Jarwin 365 yards), and in two of his last three seasons, Prescott has thrown for over 4,500 yards.
So, it isn't like he's been nowhere near that mark before. He's gotten close.
But in 2026, there could be a reason that we see Dak regress, if you want to call it that from a pure statistical standpoint, and it's to do with Christian Parker and the defense.
If that unit can become just competent and not be downright horrific, then Dak and the offense won't be forced to put up 30+ points each week to win a game. Meaning fewer times Prescott has to throw his team to a win.
Yes, he has George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb, and Jake Ferguson, who I'd imagine will be the big three who will see most of the targets. But then we have Javonte Williams, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, and Brevyn Spann-Ford as other receiving options, so Dak has the weapons to do it.
I just think that if he does surpass 5,000 passing yards, it will be because the defense has failed him again, not because the offense has been that good for the entire season.
Of the four times Dak has thrown for 4,400+ yards, the team's record has been good twice and bad twice, so if he is to air it out again, what sort of team will the Cowboys be in 2026?
Legend Troy Aikman is hoping Dak's numbers go down because that will mean the defense is doing its job, and if he is to throw for 5,000 yards, what that might mean for Parker and his unit isn't great.
Could Dak still hit that mark if Pickens and CeeDee do the heavy lifting (both over 1,200 yards), and Ferguson and others have 500+ yards? Mahomes did it in 2022, with only Travis Kelce surpassing 1,000 yards.
But he had three other players post 500+ (Juju Smith-Schuster 933), and another four had 250+ yards.
Can the Cowboys get a similar return from their offense? Color me skeptical on that.
But it isn't out of realm of possibility for Dak to throw for over 5,000 yards in 2026.
