Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: 'It's Now Or Never!' New Roster Moves Mean More Pressure to Win?
"It's now or never.''
That is the recent take from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who enters next season with a lot of pressure on his shoulders. After another campaign that saw the Cowboys' NFC Championship drought extend another year, along with his league-leading interception total, Dak has much to prove.
So did the front office. ... which we can argue is doing its part.
The Cowboys knew what they had to address this offseason and have gone about their business with aplomb. CeeDee Lamb needed help, so Brandin Cooks was brought in via trade.
Additionally, coordinator Dan Quinn benefits from the team bringing back a host of starters, including Leighton Vander Esch and Donovan Wilson, while adding All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore via trade, so the Dallas defense will at least be, on paper, as good as last year's unit.
Head coach Mike McCarthy is now calling the plays as he brings his West Coast Offense to Dallas. That will also help alleviate the pressure on Dak, as McCarthy's offense is about quick, crisp passes to receivers and letting them get big yards after the catch.
CowboysSI.com has already given a complete breakdown of how McCarthy's offense will be more "Dak-friendly," and with the addition of Cooks, Prescott has another tool needed to take Dallas where it wants to go.
Remember, this is without what the Cowboys do in the draft. Such was their business during free agency, Dallas doesn't "have" to draft for a specific need, instead going after the BPA (best player available), which could give Dak another weapon.
Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson is a name being mentioned (although unlikely he lasts until pick 26), along with Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid. If either is added on draft night, the Cowboys' offense goes up a level ... and so will the pressure on Prescott to perform next season.
Dak is no stranger to pressure, and after another failed playoff campaign that saw the media come for blood, the Cowboys signal-caller will again have to prove himself.
"It's now or never''? Not really; the "urgency'' Dak talks about is a state of mind. If the Cowboys don't contend for a Super Bowl "now,'' it doesn't mean they "never'' will.
But in terms of "state of mind''? If there is one player inside The Star with the mental fortitude and drive to succeed amid the current media storm, it's Dak Prescott, and as next season is shaping up as a defining one at The Star, he aims to match his intangibles with victories.
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