The history of the NFL is often defined by the moves teams didn't make just as much as the ones they did. For the Dallas Cowboys, the Dak Prescott 2016 NFL Draft story remains a masterclass in how draft-day disappointment can occasionally lead to franchise-altering success. While Prescott has become the face of the organization, he was far from the team's first choice as they looked to secure a successor to the aging Tony Romo.
The Search for a Successor to Tony Romo
Heading into the 2016 season, the Dallas Cowboys were at a crossroads. Tony Romo, while still elite, was beginning to struggle with the injuries that would eventually end his career. Owner and General Manager Jerry Jones knew the team needed a developmental quarterback who could eventually take the reins. However, the path to finding that player was fraught with tension and missed opportunities.
The Cowboys initially had their sights set much higher than the fourth round. The draft room was buzzing with the prospect of landing a blue-chip signal-caller, but the board didn't initially fall in their favor. This set the stage for a series of events that nearly saw Prescott land in a different uniform entirely.
Missing Out on Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook
It is no secret that the Cowboys were aggressive in their pursuit of other quarterbacks before the Dak Prescott 2016 NFL Draft selection occurred. Jerry Jones famously lamented missing out on Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch in the first round. The Cowboys attempted to trade back into the end of the first round to snag Lynch, but the Denver Broncos eventually outbid them, leaving Jones visibly frustrated.
The disappointment didn't end there. On day three of the draft, the Cowboys turned their attention to Michigan State’s Connor Cook. They were prepared to take him early in the fourth round, but the Oakland Raiders traded up just one spot ahead of Dallas to select him. At that moment, the Cowboys’ draft board was thinning out, and the pressure was mounting on the scouting department and coaching staff.
Scott Linehan and the Anxiety of the Fourth Round
With Lynch and Cook off the board, the focus shifted to the young quarterback from Mississippi State. Former Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan had become a significant advocate for Prescott throughout the pre-draft process. Linehan saw the leadership qualities and physical tools that others had overlooked, but as the fourth round progressed, he grew increasingly nervous.
As the Cowboys’ pick at 135 approached, Linehan was reportedly holding his breath. The fear in the war room was palpable; after losing out on their first two targets, the coaching staff was terrified that another team would swoop in and take the last remaining quarterback they had a high grade on. "Someone else is going to take him," Linehan thought, according to accounts of the afternoon. The tension only broke when the card was finally turned in.
The 135th Pick: A Franchise-Altering Moment
When the Cowboys finally selected Dak Prescott with the 135th overall pick (a compensatory selection), few realized the magnitude of the moment. Prescott was viewed by many analysts as a project—a dual-threat quarterback who needed to refine his pocket passing. However, the Cowboys’ brass, specifically Linehan and then-head coach Jason Garrett, believed his intangibles would accelerate his development.
The decision proved to be prophetic. Due to a preseason injury to Tony Romo, Prescott was thrust into the starting role as a rookie. Alongside fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott, he led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The player who was effectively the team's third choice at the position ended up becoming one of the most successful statistical quarterbacks in the history of the franchise.
Legacy of the 2016 Draft Class
Looking back, the Dak Prescott 2016 NFL Draft outcome serves as a reminder of the volatility of scouting. While Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook struggled to find footing in the league, Prescott solidified himself as a perennial Pro Bowler and a top-tier starter. The anxiety felt by Scott Linehan and the Cowboys' front office that Saturday afternoon in April eventually transformed into a decade of stability at the game's most important position.
Today, Prescott stands as a testament to the Cowboys' ability to pivot under pressure. While they didn't get the man they wanted in the first round, they got the man they needed in the fourth, forever changing the trajectory of the Dallas Cowboys.
Sources & Original Reporting
