Dak Prescott’s time under center in Dallas has produced some of the most dynamic offensive stretches in recent franchise memory. He’s rewritten the record books, sparked MVP conversations, and when the Cowboys give him the right weapons, he’s shown he can light up a scoreboard with the best of them.
Take 2023, for example. Prescott led the NFL in touchdown passes and threw for 4,516 yards - a season that was as efficient as it was electric.
Fast forward to 2025, and he did it again: 4,552 passing yards, 30 touchdowns. When Prescott has a full arsenal at his disposal, he doesn’t just manage the game - he owns it.
But here’s the catch: he can’t do it alone. And history has made that painfully clear.
Let’s rewind to 2018. Before Amari Cooper arrived in a midseason trade, the Cowboys were trying to make a receiver-by-committee approach work.
It didn’t. Prescott was averaging just 202 passing yards per game, completing 62% of his throws with a passer rating of 88.6.
The offense looked stuck in neutral. Then Cooper showed up, and everything changed.
Dak’s production jumped to 274 yards per game, his completion rate climbed to 70%, and his passer rating improved to 96.2. The difference?
A receiver who could consistently get open and make plays.
That trend didn’t go away. In 2022, with Michael Gallup still working his way back from a serious knee injury and Noah Brown unexpectedly elevated to the WR2 role, the passing game sputtered.
Rookie Jalen Tolbert barely made a dent, finishing the season with just two catches for 12 yards. Prescott ended up leading the league in interceptions - 15 in total - many of them the result of trying to force the issue to receivers who simply weren’t creating enough separation.
Even in 2024, when Prescott played just eight games, the lack of depth at receiver was glaring. Brandin Cooks missed time, and the Cowboys turned to the “Two Jalens” - Tolbert and Brooks - to fill the void.
They couldn’t. Prescott threw for just 1,978 yards and 11 touchdowns during that stretch, with eight interceptions and a passer rating of 86.0.
Those numbers weren’t just underwhelming - they were a reflection of an offense searching for answers.
The pattern is clear: when Dak has elite targets, he produces like an elite quarterback. When he doesn’t, the offense stalls, and the blame often lands squarely on his shoulders.
In seasons like 2021 and 2023 - when the supporting cast was healthy and dangerous - he averaged over 35 touchdowns and posted a passer rating north of 104. But strip away the weapons, and his efficiency drops off a cliff.
He’s still the same quarterback, but the results look very different.
Enter George Pickens.
The midseason addition of Pickens last year didn’t just help - it transformed the Cowboys’ offense. He immediately became a game-changer, finishing the year with 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns - all career highs.
He ranked third in the league in receiving yards and earned a second-team All-Pro nod along the way. More importantly, he gave Prescott a legitimate second option alongside CeeDee Lamb - someone who could stretch the field, win contested catches, and demand defensive attention.
With Pickens in the lineup, the offense opened up. Prescott no longer had to lock in on Lamb for four quarters or hope a young receiver would suddenly find his footing. Pickens brought balance, explosiveness, and consistency - all things this offense had been missing.
Which brings us to the offseason.
Keeping Pickens in Dallas isn’t just a good idea - it’s essential. If the Cowboys want to keep Prescott playing at an elite level, they need to ensure he has elite-level help.
Letting a talent like Pickens walk after a breakout season would be a massive misstep, especially when the numbers already tell the story. Prescott plus Pickens equals touchdowns.
It’s that simple.
The front office has some decisions to make. Franchise tag?
Long-term deal? Whatever the route, the end result needs to be the same: George Pickens in a Cowboys uniform next season.
Because if Dallas is serious about contending, they can’t afford to take away one of the few pieces that made their offense dangerous again.
Prescott has shown what he can do with the right weapons. Now it’s up to the Cowboys to make sure he keeps them.