FRISCO, Texas — Time flies, as the saying goes, and that feels especially true when considering it feels as if it were just yesterday when the Dallas Cowboys gave Dak Prescott the call to join their room of quarterbacks as the fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Yes, Prescott has gone from being a compensatory pick and the fourth quarterback on the Cowboys' depth chart — behind Tony Romo, Kellen Moore and Jameill Showers — to being the face of the franchise entering his 10th year in the league under a second multi-year contract.
"Very fast," Prescott said of the time that's already flown by in his career, now also a father of two daughters, his newborn having arrived only recently.
Having now self-admittedly found his dad groove, the work begins regaining his groove on the field.
As Prescott begins work on wrapping up a full decade in the league, this time with head coach Brian Schottenheimer calling the …ahem … shots … and the organization having made sweeping changes to how they build their roster, e.g., the blockbuster trade for wide receiver George Pickens, Prescott loves the direction of the club following rounds of tectonic shifts.
"It starts with personnel," said the former MVP runner-up. "The changes we've made and not just on offense, but on defense as well — bringing in people, obviously, George really opens up things for all those other receivers [alongside CeeDee Lamb]. I think it just gives them a safety net to go earn, and to play free, and to go make a huge jump. Guys like [Jonathan] Mingo and [Jalen] Tolbert, and the way the [running] backs have approached this thing, I'm super excited.
"… I think Schotty's done a great job in minicamp of putting guys in places, putting guys in space and allowing guys to see how he's gonna use them."
He also had plenty to say about Pickens' character, something that was under scrutiny before he landed in North Texas.
"I think that's why you should never really listen to what somebody else says about somebody," Prescott said of his new, additional superstar receiver. "I think you should find out for yourself who they are and allow them to reveal their character to you. The guy's been great. He's been phenomenal.
"It's a guy that loves football, loves his teammates, and he's been excited every day that he's been there. He's been early, too, so no concerns on the personal matters of G.P. or anything about it. I'm just super excited that he's on our team. He's one of us, and he's our brother, and he's all about continuing to grow and making sure he's putting the best out there; and that's his approach."
Prescott was also unequivocal in what his goal is for the 2025 season and, spoiler, it's not to simply improve on a 7-11 season and/or to make the playoffs, either.
"I wanna win a championship," he said. "The legacy and the things, and whatever comes after I finish playing, will take care of itself. I wanna win a championship. Be damned if it's just for my legacy, for this team, for my personal being, for my sanity — the legacy will take care of itself. I have to stay where my feet are."
A huge key to that remaining a possible outcome will be the health of Prescott, having missed several games last season following a hamstring that was torn off of the bone in the Cowboys' loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9.
In his absence, Dallas' offense was wildly disjointed, and for reasons that included struggles in the run game, but the last time a healthy Prescott had firepower equal to the tandem of Lamb and Pickens, it was Lamb and Amari Cooper helping the Cowboys' quarterback nearly surpassing Romo's single-season passing record.
Exiting minicamp, Prescott was able to do everything the position requires, including scramble plays, with no restrictions.
Given the speed at every and ability atop every skill position on offense, and a rebuilt offensive line that features three first-round picks from the last four NFL Drafts, there is a lot of potential for the Cowboys to take the next step in 2025.
And what exactly is Schottenheimer using to gauge success in the year to come? Is it the individual progress of Prescott and the other eventual 53 players on the active roster? Is it the combined progress of position groups? And/or would it be the acclimation of the new coaching staff to the organization?
"Wins," said Schottenheimer.
Up next: training camp.
