Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts are two quarterbacks who seem destined to be tied to one another. No less divisional rivals, the two men hold the most important position in the sport for two of the biggest franchises in the league, the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Unfortunately, that is where the similarities end for these two, as their play style and performances on the field, so far, have been worlds apart. While one spent most of the season injured, the other raised the Vic Lombardi trophy. Where do the two standouts rank on the Top 100 players list from PFSN ahead of the 2025 season?
Did Jalen Hurts Firmly Overtake Dak Prescott?
Neither player, Prescott nor Hurts, was expected to be the star player for their team. However, circumstances placed them behind center, and the two have excelled in vastly different and unique ways.
The Cowboys’ superstar’s success began early in his career. In 2016, he won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award while posting the highest passer rating for a rookie quarterback in league history (104.9).
On the other hand, Hurts earned the starting job towards the end of his rookie campaign, before coming into his own in the 2022 season. From there, it’s been no looking back for the reigning Super Bowl champion, as he’s developed Philadelphia into a perennial Super Bowl contender.
After their season in 2024Â came on opposite ends of the spectrum, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a difference in their rankings on PFSN’s Top 100 Players in 2025 list. However, the scale of the gap may leave some people shocked.
Prescott’s season-ending hamstring injury made it difficult to rank him accurately. But his numbers through the first eight games weren’t game-changing either.
He tallied under 2,000 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he also averaged an interception per game, leading to his lowest passer rating of his career at 86.0. The list ranked him 98th and pointed to his advanced numbers being worse than usual.
“Prescott’s advanced numbers were worse than we’re used to seeing from him, including a 72.4% adjusted completion rate (34th in NFL) and -0.088 EPA per dropback (26th),” PFSN’s Brandon Austin wrote.
I’m bored so here’s 60 minutes worth of Dak Prescott highlights pic.twitter.com/KFhCj3yN5d
— FergSZN (@FergSZN) June 19, 2024
However, even with a low ranking and the shoddy performance in 2024, PFSN isn’t giving up on Prescott, just one year after he was a leading MVP candidate on a 12-win Cowboys team.
“But the small sample size and Prescott’s play in recent years suggest it’s not time to panic yet,” Austin wrote. “Prescott finished third in PFSN’s QB+ metric in 2023 and was a top-12 quarterback in the metric in the five previous seasons. A top-tier wide receiver duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens could help him get back on track.”
If he does get back on track, as most expect him to, it should help him close the gap with Hurts, who came in 30th on the rankings.
The arguments against the reigning Super Bowl MVP will always be crystal clear. His relatively pedestrian passing numbers, combined with the Eagles’ loaded roster, have continually been a mark against him.
But, as the ranking suggests, the results have to matter at some point. 14-3 and beating the imminent dynasty in the sport, 40-22 in the Super Bowl, is about as good as it gets for making that case.
“Hurts was the fourth-best quarterback in QB+ with a strong combination of advanced metrics,” Austin wrote. “He led the NFL with an 80.4% adjusted completion rate. He ranked fourth in yards per attempt (8.0) and led the league in close game EPA per dropback (+0.52).”
Add in the 630 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, and the numbers start to sway in Hurts’ favor. As a result, PFSN was steadfast in its belief, even as the complaints and skepticism against Hurts continued to rage on.
“Sure, Hurts has benefited from the ‘Tush Push’ and an elite group of weapons, but he’s no slouch,” Austin continued. “He’s maximized the talent around him and become a better all-around quarterback since entering the league.”
Beyond the skewed metrics of the 2024 season, the difference between Prescott and Hurts is ultimately based on a debate between numbers and results. Even though Prescott has put up far superior numbers in the regular season, his work in the postseason hasn’t been up to par.
Unless he can remove that stench from around him, it will get increasingly complex for him to hold a spot over the Philly superstar.
