Being the highest-paid player in NFL history and still considered underrated may sound ridiculous — but that might just be the reality for Dak Prescott.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Dallas Cowboys leader Prescott was ranked as the 17th-best starting quarterback heading into the 2025 season, falling behind several questionable names on the list.

(Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, Brock Purdy, and Trevor Lawrence.)

So why would a quarterback of Prescott’s caliber be ranked so low? There are a few possible reasons.

1 – Injuries. Prescott hasn’t exactly been the most durable option for the Cowboys. Over his career, he has missed 26 games, including two seasons cut short by serious injuries, in 2020 and 2024. In both cases, the Cowboys failed to make the postseason.

That kind of unreliability, even though it’s nobody’s fault, can affect how analysts and fans view a quarterback, especially one under the spotlight in Dallas.

2 – Playoff Performance. Prescott has played in five postseason games, winning just two, and has never advanced past the Divisional Round. For the quarterback of a Super Bowl-hungry franchise, that record naturally draws criticism.

His individual performances in the playoffs have been inconsistent, with key moments, such as the 2022 loss to the 49ers, marred by turnovers and missed opportunities.

Until he delivers in the postseason, doubts about his ability to win when it matters most will remain.

3 – The Cowboys Spotlight. Lastly, there’s just the good old-fashioned hate.

The Dallas Cowboys are a franchise people either love or hate, and there’s rarely an in-between. With the largest and loudest fan bases in the NFL, every win is magnified and every loss is a headline. As the face of the franchise, Prescott takes the brunt of national criticism. Every mistake he makes is amplified, every decision scrutinized.

Being the Cowboys’ quarterback means you’re constantly under the microscope, for better or worse.

So how could Dak Prescott be considered underrated?

On the surface, with his massive contract and title as the highest-paid player in the league, many would label him “overrated.” But when you look at how he’s perceived by analysts, opposing defenses, and a vocal portion of the NFL fanbase, the case for him being underrated becomes clear.

When healthy, Prescott is arguably one of the top quarterbacks in the league, especially in the regular season. He holds a 76–46 career record, has been selected to three Pro Bowls, earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2023, and has competed for multiple individual awards.

He was a Comeback Player of the Year finalist in 2021, a serious Offensive Player of the Year contender in 2023, and has been in the MVP race twice, once as a rookie, and again in 2023, when he finished second in voting.

The Cowboys are a legitimate postseason threat when Prescott is healthy. In his nine seasons, Dallas has made the playoffs five times, and in two of the four missed postseasons, Prescott was sidelined with season-ending injuries. That means with a full season of Dak, the Cowboys are 5-for-7 in reaching the playoffs, a strong ratio by NFL standards.

Lastly as mentioned earlier Prescott has taken his fair share of blame for the Cowboys’ playoff exits — but let’s take a closer look at some of these games:

2016 vs. Packers: In his rookie season, Prescott led a 10-point comeback to tie the game 31–31 with 31 seconds left. But Aaron Rodgers worked his magic, setting up a game-winning field goal by Mason Crosby. Dak finished with 302 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT. Last time we checked a game winning drive in 31 seconds by the opposing QB who is a four-time MVP is out of Dak Prescott’s control.

2018 vs. Rams: The Cowboys lost 30–22 as the Rams rushed for 273 yards and 3 TDs. C.J. Anderson alone ran for 123 yards. It’s tough to win any game when your defense can’t stop the run.

2023 vs. Packers: The most recent playoff loss was a 48–32 blowout to Green Bay — but 41 of those points were allowed by the Cowboys’ defense. Even if Dak wasn’t perfect, no QB can overcome that kind of defensive collapse.
In all three losses mentioned, the opponent scored 30+ points — and in the NFL, teams lose about 75 percent of games when giving up 30 or more.

So instead of placing all the blame on Prescott, it’s time to acknowledge the broader team struggles that have contributed to those losses.

Ultimately, Dak Prescott holds the keys to his own legacy. To prove he’s worth every dollar in that all-time NFL-high $60 million APY contract, and silence the doubters, he’ll need to stay healthy, dominate the regular season, and — most importantly — help lead Dallas to team success in the playoffs.

If he can do that, there will be no more questions about where he ranks — or whether he’s underrated.