Dak Prescott already gives the Cowboys plenty as a passer, but one anonymous coach thinks Dallas could unlock another layer if the quarterback starts using his legs more often.
That idea came up in ESPN’s recent quarterback rankings, which are voted on by league executives, coaches and scouts. Prescott landed at No. 6, but the comment that followed was the part that really jumped out. An anonymous AFC offensive coach said:
"I think he can use his athleticism even more and run for first downs. That would give [the Cowboys] a new dimension."
The point wasn’t that Prescott needs to turn into Lamar Jackson or that Dallas should suddenly build a run-heavy quarterback package around him. It was simpler than that: Prescott is more athletic than his 177 rushing yards last season might suggest, and if that part of his game shows up more often, it could make the offense even tougher to defend.
That matters for a Cowboys attack that was already one of the league’s best in 2025. Dallas averaged 391.9 yards per game, second-most in the NFL, and 27.7 points per game, which ranked seventh. Prescott was right in the middle of it, finishing third in the league with 4,552 passing yards and fourth with 30 passing touchdowns.
The bigger team-wide push for improvement is on defense, and the Cowboys’ offseason moves made that clear. But the offense, now led by Brian Schottenheimer, still has room to grow too.
Prescott has never been labeled a dual-threat quarterback, but he’s long shown he can hurt defenses with his feet when needed. In each of his first four seasons, he rushed for more than 270 yards, and in his second and third years he topped 300. Since then, injuries may have changed how much he’s willing to absorb, and he has only gone over 200 rushing yards once outside that early stretch, finishing with 242 in 2023.
At 33 when the season starts, Prescott isn’t about to reinvent himself. But if he can use his mobility more to pick up first downs and escape trouble, the Cowboys’ offense could become even more dangerous.
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