NFL Draft 2016 Scouting Report - QB Dak Prescott, Miss State - Analysis and Prospect Evaluation

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Cipher

NFL Draft 2016 scouting analysis of quarterback Dak Prescott from Mississippi State, arguing he should be considered at fair value primarily as a backup/emergency starter rather than a franchise quarterback. The evaluation highlights efficient play at the position, above-average arm strength and mobility, and pocket steadiness, while questioning deception and pinpoint control on medium-to-deep throws. It emphasizes development needs, time, coaching attention, and the likelihood of improved outcomes if groomed for consistent starter roles.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Prospect Role and Value

Backup vs. Future Starter

Strengths on Tape and With Data

Passing Efficiency and Arm Strength

Pocket Presence and Decision Speed

Mobility and Physical Tools

Limitations and Development Plan

Accuracy on Medium-to-Deep Throws

Need for Pocket Experience and Coaching

Scouting Variability Across Games

Draft Outlook and Comparison

Goff vs. Prescott

NFL Draft 2016 Scouting Report: QB Dak Prescott, Miss State *Our QB grades can and will change as more information comes in from Pro-Day workouts, leaked Wonderlic test results, etc. We will update ratings as new info becomes available. OK, this is going to be a strange scouting ‘take’. I don’t think Dak Prescott is going to be a very good, franchise-type quarterback. However, I absolutely think teams should consider drafting Prescott at fair value, because most every NFL team should want him as their backup/emergency starter. I’m not sure how Iam going to explain my way through this one… Who cares about drafting a drafting a backup quarterback? Who cares about drafting a quarterback if they aren’t ever seen as a future starter? I would retort…(a) I bet the Dallas cowboys would like to respond to the first question, and (b) Have you seen who are the backup QB names for most NFL teams? You have to be kidding me with 20–25 of them. You never need a backup quarterback, until you need one—and then it is the most critical thing in the universe. Why teams still waste draft picks drafting running backs highly, and sign Matt Flynn as their back up, I’ll never understand. The Dallas Cowboys would have been a favorite to go to the Super Bowl ifa backup had helped bridge them to a Tony Romo return. I would argue the best team in the NFL in 2015 was a team whose backup QB situation cost them a chance to show it. So yeah, backup quarterback is important. Why Prescott pigeonholed as a backup? I’ve watched Prescott ’s tape, and looked through his numbers—our computer sees a solid enough QB prospect with more ‘bust ’ data points than ‘star’ ones. I see a quarterback on tape who is a limited passer, but acceptable/plausible for today ’s NFL. He needs more time working on pocket presence and gaining experience. In a few years, he could become a quality starter. He’s not going to re-write record books or go to the Hall of Fame, but he will be solid, possessing above-average physical tools, and comes with several intangibles. He ’s the perfect understudy, who might fare well if thrown into the deep-end due to a starter’s injury. Let me explain what I see on tape/with the data on Prescott with what he is and isn ’t… He is not ‘the next Tom Brady ’. He’s not a surgeon at quarterback, who is manipulating DBs, and firing precise darts in a sophisticated passing game. He’s not Peyton Manning or Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, etc. What Prescott can do is play the position efficiently. He’s not the greatest passer or the fastest runner, but he is a decent passer, and he is a decent runner. His moderate gifts come together for success. He ’s not a surgical striker, but he has a cannon for an arm. What he lacks in deception and pinpoint control—he makes up for with making decent choices, and firing passes quickly, before DBs can react to them. Prescott is unflappable in the pocket…it ’s part of what makes him a solid NFL prospect, and a good-togreat college quarterback. He may not make 2-3-4 reads every pass play, but if he sticks on one…he ’ll hang in to see it through longer than most quarterbacks (sometimes too long and gets sacked too often) . He is gutsy, but he is also thick—he looks like an H-back playing quarterback. He’s not fragile or thinframed. He’s like Jameis Winston without the gut/if he worked out…and with a better arm, character, and leadership skills. If you threw Prescott to the wolves and babied him like the world does with Winston—you’d get a similar better season from Prescott. Prescott is also above-average mobile. He’s not Cam Newton, but he’s better than ‘tubby’Winston (a 5.0 40-time runner). Again, Prescott has the thighs of an NFL running back. He probably has 4.7–4.8 speed. He can move as needed, and take a hit…and dish out a hit. He has run for 100+ yards in a game nine times in his career. He ran for 41 TDs in his college career, but he ’s not a run-first quarterback…he’s balanced. He looks to throw, but he ’ll p

FAQs

Why does the report question Dak Prescott as a franchise quarterback?

The report argues Prescott is not a top-tier, precision-style passer like the cited elite examples and is more likely to deliver efficiency than elite, game-breaking production. It also frames his development needs as significant before he can be relied on as a long-term starter.

What strengths does the report identify in Prescott’s play?

It highlights above-average physical tools, a strong arm, quick decision-making, and composure in the pocket. The analysis also stresses his ability to extend plays with purposeful runs rather than being solely a run-first quarterback.

What development conditions does the report say Prescott needs?

The report emphasizes that Prescott would benefit from time, coaching attention, and an offensive system that leverages his strengths, such as an open/spread approach. It also warns against leaving him without dedicated development support for multiple seasons.

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Cipher