Over the years, the NFL saw various stars come out of their rookie seasons to become massive names in the league. As such, the best first-year campaign that has emerged from the last decade belongs to no other than Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott.
Prescott was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Initially intended to be a backup, he became the Cowboys’ starting quarterback after Tony Romo was injured in the preseason. The new QB went on to have a standout rookie season, leading the Cowboys to the top seed in the NFC and setting several rookie quarterback records. He was named the 2016 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Over the following seasons, he continued to excel, leading the Cowboys to three additional NFC East division titles and making three Pro Bowl appearances. In 2022, he was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in recognition of his community service and philanthropic efforts off the field.
Through the 2023 season, the Dallas star ranks fourth all-time in NFL completion percentage with at least 1,500 pass attempts and fifth in career passer rating. He has established himself as one of the league’s premier quarterbacks, known for his accuracy, decision-making, and leadership. Despite suffering a significant ankle injury in 2020, he bounced back to have another Pro Bowl season in 2023, leading the NFL in passing touchdowns. At just 31 years old, the QB appears poised to continue his ascent among the league’s elite signal-callers in the years to come.
Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott’s First-Year Campaign Named As Best Rookie Season in Last Decade
As it stands, Prescott’s first year in the league has been heralded as the best in a decade. This can be seen in an analysis by David Kenyon for Bleacher Report.
“Yes, he inherited a favorable situation from an injured Tony Romo. But if Dak Prescott hadn’t played so well, the Dallas Cowboys would’ve promptly turned back to their veteran QB. Instead, it became Prescott’s show.
Dallas lost the opener but rattled off 13 consecutive victories behind the rookie duo of Dak and running back Ezekiel Elliott. Prescott tallied 3,667 passing yards and 23 touchdowns to four interceptions, chipping in 282 yards and six more scores as a runner.
Though the Green Bay Packers knocked the Cowboys out of the playoffs in the Divisional Round, Prescott cemented himself as QB1 and ended Romo’s tenure in Dallas. In addition to a Pro Bowl nod, Prescott earned AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and ended sixth in MVP voting,” Kenyon wrote.
Just last season, the Cowboys star has solidified his place among the top-tier signal-callers in the NFL. According to a recent ranking by PFF, he is the sixth-best quarterback entering the 2024 season, trailing only the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and Justin Herbert.
The QB is coming off an MVP-caliber 2023-24 campaign, setting career highs in completions, completion percentage, and quarterback rating. Of course, this won’t be possible if the Cowboys star didn’t have a stellar rookie season during his first year in the league.
