Dak Prescott: Cowboys 'Job on the Line' - Or QB's Legacy?

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is under more pressure than most entering next season, with CBS Sports stating Dak's legacy is at stake if he fails to deliver success.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has always divided opinion among the national media, and we say he is held to a higher standard than most.

After coming off back-to-back 12-win seasons and admittedly ugly playoff exits at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, many feel this season is the Cowboys' "best chance" at ending their NFC Championship drought.

This is due to the additions of Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore, coupled with the natural progression of the roster and having a star-studded defense that is the envy of most in the league. But all of that invites pressure to perform at the highest level.

CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr has listed Dak as the quarterback in the NFC who has the most pressure to perform ... oh, and his legacy is at stake as well.

"Prescott's job isn't on the line, but his legacy is," Kerr writes. "How many times are the Cowboys going to win double-digit games, advance to the playoffs, and not get past the divisional round? This occurrence has happened four times under Prescott, and twice in the last two seasons.

"There's a lot at stake for Prescott and the Cowboys in 2023. Prescott's legacy in Dallas will have a much clearer explanation after this season."

Now, to say that Dak's legacy is on the line - teetering on 2023 only - is a stretch, considering that he doesn't even turn 30 years old until the end of this month, and considering that his story still has several chapters left in it (and hopefully more chances for success).

While the notion of Dak being under the most pressure is understandable, due to how the current roster it built and the fact that the NFC is at its weakest in recent memory, the Cowboys feel primed for a serious tilt at a Super Bowl with Prescott leading the charge.

Oddly here, Kerr, first writes (as seen above) that Dak's "job isn't on the line.'' But later in his piece, the writer claims that Dak's job could be on the line if he fails to deliver success next season.

"There isn't a better opportunity for Dallas to advance past the divisional round of the playoffs than the 2023 season," Kerr writes. "If Dallas doesn't, Mike McCarthy and several other coaches may lose their jobs as a result. What about Prescott's future? Can the Cowboys move forward with a soon-to-be 30-year-old quarterback who can't seem to take the franchise back to their Super Bowl glory?."

Now, we know that Prescott isn't going anywhere, regardless of what happens next season. Due to sign an extension at some stage this offseason to ease his salary cap burden going forward, Dak will be the Cowboys' quarterback for the foreseeable future.

So the thought of Prescott no longer being the Cowboys' franchise leader is off the mark, but the sense of urgency to cash in on this talented football team isn't, and it's not lost on anyone, especially Dak.

There have been missteps in the biggest spots for Prescott, there's no doubting that, and while opinions are still divided on exactly if he can deliver that long-awaited Super Bowl, perhaps this season provides him with the best chance to silence those doubters and enhance his apparently ripe-for-tarnish legacy.

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