Heading into the ninth season of his NFL career, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has his offseason routine down pat. Now in his second year with Mike McCarthy as the team’s playcaller and throwing to a load of familiar faces, Prescott is having his best offseason yet, according to the head coach.
“I think Dak is having his best offseason program that we’ve had,” McCarthy said on Wednesday during minicamp. “This atmosphere that we’ve practiced in with the quarterback and receivers has really hit the mark. I’ve been very impressed with the quality of work.”
McCarthy’s opinion is high praise for the former fourth-rounder and he’ll take it.
“I agree, because it’s what I put into this game,” Prescott said. “It’s what this game means to me. I talk about it every offseason. My focus is always getting better overall in every aspect that I can and in every aspect of my game and making sure I’m pushing the guys around me. Mike’s comments are a result of us doing that this offseason.”
Prescott, Cowboys feeling the urgency to win
Even as a new father to a baby girl, Prescott is locked in on the team and focused. He’s not only going into the 2024 season as a well-seasoned veteran, he’s also a franchise quarterback chasing a new deal. It’s unclear when or if the Cowboys will extend his contract, but he feels the urgency to play as well as he can – and win – as much as ever, and he’s not the only one.
“It’s just the urgency that you should always have, to be honest,” Prescott said. “So, maybe guys who normally wouldn’t feel it, feel it. So, I don’t mind it. I’ve been in this position before. I’m a gambling man. Will gamble on myself and my guys.”
Prescott signed a four-year, $160 million deal in 2021. Dallas has him locked in for now, but an extension would be financially healthy for the Cowboys. Prescott’s cap hit for the 2024 season is $55.445 million, but by extending him, they could alleviate some of that pressure.
Last season, Prescott put up some of the best numbers of his career. He led the league in passing touchdowns with 36 while throwing just nine interceptions. He also had a completion rate of 69.5%, which was the highest he’s ever posted. The former Bulldog also had 242 rushing yards in 2023, which is the most he’s had since his 2020 ankle injury.
The post Mike McCarthy praises Dak Prescott for ‘best offseason’ ahead of Year 9 appeared first on On3.