Dak Prescott is the breakout story of the season. Not just for the Dallas Cowboys, but the entire NFL.
No one, not even Jerry Jones, expected him to be doing the things he is doing right now while leading Dallas to a 10-1 record to start the season. Have any of his rookie quarterback peers even come close to doing what he's done out on the field? Here's a quick breakdown.
Note: All stats through 12 weeks of the NFL season.
Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
Drafted: Pick No. 1
Date of first start: Nov. 20 (Week 11)
Games started/won: 2/0
Completions-Attempts: 37-63 (58.7 percent)
Passing yards: 348
Passing touchdowns/Interceptions: 3/1
Miscellaneous stats: QBR of 44.8
What scouting reports said before the draft: "While Goff is a little leaner in the lower body than teams might like, he has good size, an NFL arm, advanced pocket mobility and the field demeanor of a franchise quarterback. His accuracy and decision making will suffer from occasional lapses, but he displays the tools to become a good starting quarterback with time." --
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. His NFL comparison for Goff was Matt Ryan.
Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
Drafted: Pick No. 2
Date of first start: Sept. 11 (Week 1)
Games started/won: 11/5
Completions-Attempts: 249-392 (63.5 percent)
Passing yards: 2,593
Passing touchdowns/Interceptions: 11/8
Miscellaneous stats: Has been sacked 25 times in 11 games.
What scouting reports said before the draft: "With a body type that is as prototypical as they come and a background in reading the entire field and working through progressions, Wentz will immediately check a couple of boxes that many college quarterbacks won't be able to check. While his arm strength is OK, he can still make all the throws and he can make them with accuracy. His ability to escape pressure and pick up first downs with his feet will be yet another check mark in his favor. Wentz is still in a developmental phase after just two years at an FCS program, but has the mental and physical building blocks of a future, franchise quarterback." --
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. He also said Wentz's NFL comparison was Blake Bortles.
Paxton Lynch, Denver Broncos
Drafted: Pick No. 26 (first round)
Date of first start: Oct. 9 (Week 5)
Games started/won: 1/0
Completions-Attempts: 37-59 (62.7 percent)
Passing yards: 393
Passing touchdowns/Interceptions: 2/1
Miscellaneous stats: He also played in one game following an injury to Trevor Siemian. He threw for 170 yards and a touchdown to help beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the lone game he started, he was sacked a whopping six times.
What scouting reports said before the draft: "While the hype around "dual threat" quarterbacks has subsided, Lynch possesses the size and athleticism to make NFL teams take a second look. Unlike other size/speed quarterbacks like Vince Young and Colin Kaepernick, Lynch prefers to extend passing plays with his feet rather than bolting from the pocket, but he is still likely to make plenty of plays with his feet over the long haul. Lynch shows the ability to read defenses and make smart decisions, but not yet at an NFL starting level. While he has the physical tools to start right away, a team who is willing to allow him to sit and study his craft for a year could reap maximum rewards in the future." --
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. His NFL comparison for Lynch was Marcus Mariota.
Christian Hackenberg, New York Jets
Drafted: Pick No. 51 (second round)
Date of first start: He has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Games started/won: N/A
Completions-Attempts: N/A
Passing yards: N/A
Passing touchdowns/Interceptions: N/A
Miscellaneous stats: The Jets have started three different quarterbacks this season: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty and Geno Smith. They're 3-8 and Hackenberg has yet to see the field.
What scouting reports said before the draft: "Hackenberg has the size, athleticism and arm talent of a long-time NFL starter, but his accuracy issues go well beyond just "ball placement" problems. Teams must determine if his inaccuracy is innate or a product of the beatings he's taken, and then determine if he's shell-shocked or able to round back into form. Hackenberg's tools, intelligence and experience under center should make him an eventual starter, but his boom-or-bust potential will either get a coach an extension or fired." --
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. His NFL comparison for Hackenberg was Ryan Mallett.
Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots
Drafted: Pick No. 91 (third round)
Date of first start: Sept. 22 (Week 3)
Games started/won: 2/1
Completions-Attempts: 34-55 (61.8 percent)
Passing yards: 400
Passing touchdowns/Interceptions: 0/0
Miscellaneous stats: He got his first playing time thanks to an injury to Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo, naturally, got his start thanks to Tom Brady's four-game suspension to start the year. When Brissett started his two games, the Patriots had 15 more total rushing attempts than passing attempts.
What scouting reports said before the draft: "With his size, arm and competitiveness, there are times when Brissett will remind you of Jameis Winston, but Winston understood the nuances of the position early in his college career while Brissett is still learning. Brissett's overall ability as a passer is NFL-Âcaliber and he should continue to show rapid improvement on the next level with better weapons and protection. While an NFL staff will need to help him overcome his bad habits and learn to be more consistent with his preÂ-snap recognitions, Brissett has the tools to become an NFL starter." --
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. His NFL comparison for Brissett was Brett Hundley.
Cody Kessler, Cleveland Browns
Drafted: Pick No. 93 (third round)
Date of first start: Sept. 25 (Week 3)
Games started/won: 8/0
Completions-Attempts: 126-192 (65.6 percent)
Passing yards: 1,369
Passing touchdowns/Interceptions: 6/2
Miscellaneous stats: Kessler is one of five different starting quarterbacks for the Browns this season. Of all five, he has the best completion percentage, most passing yards, and best touchdown-to-interception ratio. But like all of the rest, he's still searching for his first win.
What scouting reports said before the draft: "Can orchestrate an offense with confidence and accuracy when operating from a clean pocket, but doesn't appear to have the mentality of a player willing to take the risks necessary to strike with big plays often enough on the pro level. Kessler has moments where it is easy to like him on tape, but the traits and tape look more like those of a good, career backup than playoff starter." --
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. His NFL comparison for Kessler was Aaron Murray.
Connor Cook, Oakland Raiders
Drafted: Pick No. 100 (fourth round)
Date of first start: N/A
Games started/won: N/A
Completions-Attempts: N/A
Passing yards: N/A
Passing touchdowns/Interceptions: N/A
Miscellaneous stats: Derek Carr has the Raiders in first place at 9-2. There's a reason why Cook has yet to see the field in his rookie season.
What scouting reports said before the draft: "As a four-year starter, Cook has the big game experience and the production from a pro-Âstyle attack that should warrant early consideration.The concern is that his short and intermediate accuracy has never shown the improvement and consistency that scouts expected to see. His inability to take over in big games this year could hurt his cause. Cook flashes the potential of an NFL starter, but he has the makeup of game manager over playmaker." --
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. His NFL comparison for Cook was Brian Hoyer.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Drafted: Pick No. 135 (fourth round)
Date of first start: Sept. 11 (Week 1)
Games started/won: 11/10
Completions-Attempts: 231-340 (67.9 percent)
Passing yards: 2,835
Passing touchdowns/Interceptions: 18/2
Miscellaneous stats: He also has 41 carries for 180 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
What scouting reports said before the draft: "Hard to find an NFL comp for Prescott because he's built like Donovan McNabb, but lacks McNabb's ability and polish. Prescott has NFL size, mobility and enough arm, but the tape shows a player who must improve his mechanics, poise and quickness through his progressions if he is to become a fullÂ-time starter in the NFL. There are absolutely draftable traits and upside, but he will need extended work to smooth out his flaws. Until then, a team would be wise to utilize him on short-yardage packages." --
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. His NFL comparison for Prescott was Brett Hundley.
Final look
Player Team Pick overall First start Comp.-Att. Passing yards TDs/INTs Team record in starts
Jared Goff Rams 1 Week 11 37-63 (58.7 percent) 348 3/1 0-2
Carson Wentz Eagles 2 Week 1 249-392 (63.5 percent) 2,593 11/8 5-6rocks contract
Paxton Lynch Broncos 26 Week 5 37-59 (62.7 percent) 393 2/1 0-1
Christian Hackenberg Jets 51 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Jacoby Brissett Patriots 91 Week 3 34-55 (61.8 percent) 400 0/0 1-1
Cody Kessler Browns 93 Week 3 126-192 (65.6 percent) 1,369 6/2 0-8
Connor Cook Raiders 100 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Dak Prescott Cowboys 135 Week 1 231-340 (67.9 percent) 2,835 18/2 10-1
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