Jordan Love should be ahead of Dak Prescott among NFL QBs

Last week, ESPN compiled a top-10 ranking of quarterbacks based on analysis from anonymous executives, scouts and coaches around the league. They ranked Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott at No. 10, which was significantly lower than the ranking we had for Prescott at Lone Star Live.

The host of a nationally televised sports talk show believes Prescott was not ranked low enough in ESPN’s rankings.

Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd felt that Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love should be ranked ahead of Prescott among the top 10 quarterbacks. Love was not listed in the top 10 in ESPN’s rankings, which formed the basis for Cowherd’s post.

Cowherd’s reasoning was based on several factors, but was underscored by the only meeting between Love and Prescott last season. The Packers beat the Cowboys 48-32 in a playoff game that wasn’t as close as the score suggested. Love played very well, completing 16 of 21 passes for 272 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Prescott, who was in comeback mode for most of the game, completed 41 of 60 passes for 403 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, including a pick-six that felt grueling in the first half.

“(Love is) more fluid, he has more arm swing, he moves better, he has fewer injuries – I mean, it wasn’t close,” Cowherd said of Love compared to Prescott. “Dak looked nervous in that game, he looked overwhelmed, he wasn’t very accurate, he missed open receivers.”

“You can’t watch this game and tell me Dak is more talented… than Jordan Love.”

Cowherd’s argument then turned to the careers of Love and Prescott. Love just finished his first season as a starter after years of waiting behind Aaron Rodgers. Prescott has been the Cowboys’ starter since 2016. Prescott is currently 2-5 in the postseason.

“How many more years do we have to see Dak play really well in the regular season against bad teams in his division?” Cowherd asked rhetorically. “He doesn’t beat good teams, because against good teams you have to be better and more precise and encourage your teammates.”

The Cowboys were unable to translate their regular season success into the postseason. They became the first team in NFL history to win 12 games in three consecutive seasons and fail to make it to a conference title game. The last time they made it to a conference title game was in the 1995 season, when they won their last Super Bowl.

If the Cowboys want to change that, Prescott will probably have to play like a top-10 quarterback. Some think that’s possible, others clearly don’t.

You can watch Cowherd’s entire segment here.