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Adam Schefter, Senior Author at ESPN
Panthers coach Frank Reich will maintain an in depth eye on Dak Prescott when Carolina performs the Cowboys on Sunday.
However then once more, Reich has been keeping track of Prescott ever for the reason that former Mississippi State quarterback ready to enter the NFL.
Reich revealed final week that within the weeks main as much as the 2016 NFL draft, when he was the Eagles’ offensive coordinator, he thought he rated Prescott a lot larger than most individuals within the league. Reich mentioned he thought Prescott was simply probably the greatest quarterbacks within the 2016 draft class.
The Eagles traded up in that draft to accumulate the second total decide, which they used on quarterback Carson Wentz. Though Reich and the Eagles clearly favored Wentz as their franchise quarterback on the time – given the draft capital they gave as much as transfer as much as No. 2, they seen Prescott as a probably robust backup plan taken into the draft that yr .
Since lacking the chance to work with Prescott, Reich mentioned he has gone out of his technique to comply with the star quarterback intently as a result of he felt emotionally invested in him.
None of Prescott’s success — from profitable the quarterback job in Dallas as a rookie fourth-round decide to touchdown a four-year, $160 million contract in March 2021 to the Cowboys being a Tremendous Bowl contender — has Reich shocked.
“I had a really excessive score for the discharge of Dak,” Reich mentioned final week. “I used to be on a crew that was in search of a quarterback that yr Dak got here out. I had a really excessive score on Dak Prescott – lots larger than different individuals. I’ve all the time adopted his profession intently and have numerous respect for him, and I believe he’s enjoying excellent soccer in the meanwhile.”
On Sunday, Reich will get a better have a look at Prescott, who has been let go in latest weeks. Prescott’s passing yardage totals have elevated each week since Week 6, when he threw for 272 yards in opposition to the Chargers. He returned from the Cowboys’ Week 7 bye to cross for 304 yards in opposition to the Rams in Week 8, after which handed for 374 yards in Dallas’ Week 9 loss to the Eagles earlier than setting his season excessive with 404 yards in opposition to the Giants final Sunday.
Prescott has 10 400-yard passing video games in his profession; all different Cowboys quarterbacks have mixed for 9.
One other irony associated to drafting quarterbacks: If Reich had had his method with the Eagles, Prescott might have been Philadelphia’s quarterback — and Jalen Hurts might probably have been chosen by Dallas three years in the past. Cowboys proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones urged earlier this season that Dallas needed to draft Hurts if he fell within the 2020 draft, however the Eagles drafted Hurts within the second spherical earlier than Dallas had the possibility to pick out the sign caller who would play the was the Jones household. admired.
“We checked out him very intently,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones advised 105.3 The Fan final season. “Clearly our man is Dak, however on the similar time Mike [McCarthy] is an enormous believer in persevering with to observe quarterback.”
