Prescott: ‘We just scratched surface’
Dallas gives Rookie of the Year QB new weapon in Switzer.
— It’s been an incredible 12 months for Dak Prescott.
Fourth-round pick to starting quarterback of the team he grew up rooting for. Thirteen wins, 67.8 completion percentage, 104.9 passer rating and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He sold more officially licensed player-identified products than Tom Brady and acquired sponsorship deals from Adidas, Beats By Dre, Pepsi and Frito-Lay.
So what motivates the 23-year-old going into his second season?
“So many things,” Prescott said during a Friday phone interview. “First and foremost is just losing the playoff game. That’s my first motivation heading into this second year. But there’s a lot that I can get better at. There’s a lot this team can get better at.
“In Year One we just scratched the surface. We’re just getting started. I know we’ve been hitting these [offseason] workouts, and we’re just excited for what we can be as a team.”
Two specific reasons Prescott should be excited about the 2017 offense are the addition of fourth-round pick Ryan Switzer and a four-year contract extension signed by Jason Witten.
Switzer was drafted last Saturday 133rd overall, two spots ahead of where Prescott was selected a year ago. Switzer’s size and ability immediately draw comparisons to Cole Beasley, Prescott’s top target in 2016.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has already called the Switzer pick “Dak-friendly.”
“He’s another weapon,” Prescott said. “It’s so exciting to have a guy that is great in the special teams for one and then comes over to the offensive side. He reminds me of Beasley and the things that he can do.
“Playing in the slot, he had a lot of production there at North Carolina. I watched him while he was in college. So to have him on the team, looking forward to getting comfortable with him as a weapon, I know he’s going to add another dynamic to this offense.”
Witten, who had 95 targets last year, agreed to the extension in late March. Before the deal was signed, some thought 2017 might be the last for the 10-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer.
Prescott called the decision a “no-brainer.”
“He’s a guy that just shows the character and shows everything that the Dallas Cowboys should be,” Prescott said. “He’s a guy that you have to keep around. You sign him to a lifetime deal if you have to.”