It’s funny how we look at the Dallas Cowboys now. You see Dak Prescott under center, usually wearing that captain’s patch, and it feels like he’s just always been there. He is the face of the franchise. He is the $240 million man. But if you rewind the tape, his arrival in Arlington wasn't some grand, destiny-filled coronation. Honestly, it was a total accident.
If you’re just looking for the quick answer to what year did Dak Prescott get drafted, it was 2016.
But saying he was drafted in 2016 is like saying the Titanic had a "minor water issue." The context matters way more than the date. He wasn't the first choice. He wasn't the second choice. He was basically the "well, I guess we need someone" choice for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office.
The Draft Class That Almost Didn't Include Dak
The 2016 NFL Draft was supposed to be about the big guns at the top. Jared Goff went number one to the Rams. Carson Wentz went number two to the Eagles. Those were the "sure things."
Meanwhile, the Cowboys were sweating. Tony Romo was getting older, his collarbone was essentially made of glass at that point, and they desperately needed an heir. They didn't want Dak Prescott. Not at first.
Jerry Jones famously tried to trade back into the first round to grab Paxton Lynch from Memphis. He failed. Then, they tried to move up in the fourth round to snag Connor Cook out of Michigan State. The Raiders jumped them and took Cook instead.
So, sitting there at pick number 135 in the fourth round, the Cowboys finally turned to the kid from Mississippi State.
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Why did he fall that far?
It’s wild to think about now, but Dak was viewed as a "project." Scouts loved his leadership, sure, but they hated his footwork. People labeled him a "running quarterback" who couldn't handle a pro-style offense. Plus, there was a DUI arrest in Starkville just weeks before the draft. Even though he was later found not guilty, that kind of thing makes NFL GMs nervous.
He was the 135th pick. A compensatory pick, nonetheless. Basically, a "bonus" selection the NFL gives out to teams who lost free agents.
What Really Happened When Dak Prescott Got Drafted
When the phone rang at a small resort in Toledo Bend, Louisiana, Rayne Dakota Prescott didn't care that he was the eighth quarterback taken in his class.
He grew up a Cowboys fan. He told reporters later that he’d spent his whole life running around the house pretending to be the Dallas QB. But the reality he walked into was a depth chart where he was, at best, third string. He was behind Tony Romo and Kellen Moore.
Then, training camp happened.
- Kellen Moore broke his ankle.
- Tony Romo broke a bone in his back during a preseason game against Seattle.
Suddenly, the fourth-round rookie from the 2016 draft wasn't a project anymore. He was the starter.
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The 2016 Rookie Season Stat Line
Most fourth-rounders are lucky to see the field for a few snaps on special teams. Dak? He put up one of the most efficient rookie seasons in the history of the sport.
- Record: 13-3 (Leading Dallas to the #1 seed)
- Passing Yards: 3,667
- Touchdowns/Interceptions: 23 TDs to only 4 INTs
- Awards: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
He didn't just play; he pushed a legend like Tony Romo into the broadcast booth. That’s the power of what happened in that 2016 draft cycle.
Beyond the Year: Why 2016 Was a Turning Point
The reason we keep asking what year did Dak Prescott get drafted is because it represents one of the biggest "scouting misses" in modern football history.
Think about the names taken before him. Christian Hackenberg? Jacoby Brissett? Cody Kessler? Connor Cook? Most of those guys are footnotes now. Dak is a multi-time Pro Bowler.
Scouts at the time, like Dane Brugler, eventually admitted they simply underestimated his ability to improve. He was a worker. While other guys were out celebrating their draft status, Dak was in Dallas working on his drops and his pocket presence.
The Mississippi State Legacy
Before the 2016 draft, Dak was a legend in Starkville. He held 38 school records. He was the guy who took Mississippi State to the #1 ranking in the country for the first time ever. But the SEC is a different beast than the NFL, and many experts thought his "spread offense" stats wouldn't translate.
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They were wrong.
He brought that same "Starkville Swagger" to Big D. He was 6'2", 238 pounds, and built like a linebacker but played with the poise of a ten-year vet.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans
If you’re following Dak’s career or looking into draft history, there are a few things you should actually keep an eye on to understand his value today:
- Check the Contract Context: Every time Dak signs a new deal, people bring up his draft position. Being a fourth-rounder means he started with a tiny salary compared to first-rounders, which is why his later "mega-deals" are so significant for his career earnings.
- Look at the 2016 Draft "Re-Drafts": If you go back and look at sports sites like ESPN or The Athletic, they almost always have Dak going in the top 3 if teams could do it all over again.
- Watch the "Comp Pick" Trend: Dak is the poster child for why teams value compensatory picks. They aren't just "throwaway" selections; they are opportunities to find franchise cornerstones if you have the right scouting department.
Basically, the 2016 draft wasn't just the year Dak Prescott entered the league. It was the year the Dallas Cowboys' entire trajectory changed because they failed to get the guys they actually wanted. Sometimes, the best moves are the ones you're forced to make.
If you're curious about how he stacks up against the other QBs from that specific year, you can compare his career longevity to Jared Goff—the only other passer from that class who has remained a consistent starter into the mid-2020s.