Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: ‘This is the year we can make a big jump’
It may be the offseason, but that didn’t stop Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott from making his annual appearance at the reveal of the 18 child participants in the 36th annual Children’s Cancer Ball and Gala on Wednesday at NorthPark Mall in Dallas.
It’s his fourth year being a chairman for the event alongside Hall of Fame Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman.
“You feel inspired, and your heart is warm,” Prescott said. “When I came back and was able to be a chair and see some of those kids that got to walk, to see that they’re survivors now and what they’re doing and the journey. To see the full circle of life and to be a part of it is a blessing.”
Prescott also gave his thoughts on what has been a busy offseason so far for the team. Speaking for the first time since the hiring of defensive coordinator Christian Parker, he was excited to see the new hire hit the ground running.
“Super excited about that hire,” he said. “Obviously, I’ve met him. I talked to him briefly, but I’m excited for just the demeanor, the way he carries himself. I met the whole staff, and you go to the Pro Bowl and talk to guys like [Eagles players] Zack Baun and Cooper DeJean, guys that played under him. I’m super pumped.”
Looking forward, the Cowboys could be gearing up for an active free agency period. Owner Jerry Jones has talked about the potential to “bust the budget” in acquiring external players, something that has Prescott excited for what’s to come in building the 2026 roster.
“Heck yeah,” he said about his excitement. “Especially with what he said, ‘No projects. No redshirts.’ We got a coach in his second year. We had some ups-and-downs, sure had some good moments last year, and this is the year that we can make a big jump. Getting good players that can help immediately is a key part of that.”
Speaking of head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Prescott is fine-tuning his game this offseason in an area that Schottenheimer is recommending.
“All those little nuances,” Prescott said. “If there’s one thing, it’s really cementing my footwork. That might be something that people might not even realize or see, but it’s something I want to do to be a perfectionist in the way that we do things. I started doing new things last year with Schotty pointed at the footwork, and some of it is just not to the standard that we want it to be. That’s a big part of it.”
In what is possibly the biggest offseason news around the Cowboys, the team applied the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens last Friday. It’s a situation that Prescott has been in twice, as he had some words of advice for the 25-year-old receiver on how to approach the situation.
“George loves football,” he said. “That’s the one thing about it. I just want him to know, ‘Don’t change your love for football. Don’t get in the business mind of this.’ Last year, he played on a one-year [deal] for not even that much. So, $30 [million] or whatever it is now, that’s the same thing I got when I got franchised. So, hey, go do it. At the end of the day, go bet on yourself. He’s a hell of a player. Hopefully, we can get him long-term and signed. But if not, I think the way he plays the game and the person that he is, he’ll be just fine.”
Having Pickens back on an offense that was second in yards per game across the entire NFL a year ago will be crucial. But even with Pickens back in the fold, how much further can the offense go in 2026 on the field?
“I don’t want to put a limit on it,” Prescott said with a smile.
