FRISCO - A few years ago, some ESPN clown took to ranking the QB's in the NFC East. And the gimmick was pretty clear: The whole point was to garner attention for their list by placing the biggest name (Dak Prescott) from the biggest team (the Dallas Cowboys) in last place.
There is no TV traction to be gained, you see, by placing Prescott in second or third place. The viewers come rolling in (even as the credibility goes rolling out) when you rank him below a bunch of Daniel Joneses or Carson Wentzes or whomever.
Here ... can we take such a list a bit more responsible?
Our East Coast colleague Nick Faria has taken the task of ranking the starting QBs in the division ... and the list is plenty interesting but not very controversial as it relates to Dak.
Note that there are no non-entities or failures here, with the biggest real question being, "Is Washington Commanders second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels among the NFL's very best, or just on his way there?''
Nick's list, in reverse order, with his quickie remarks ...
4. Russell Wilson Wilson's body of work may be the best of all the quarterbacks on the list, but he's nowhere near the signal-caller he once was. The new Giants QB could very well be benched at some point this season to make way for first-round pick in Jaxson Dart as well.
3. Dak Prescott Prescott's overall numbers have been good enough to put among the elite signal-callers in the game. But Prescott's playoff numbers are easily the worst of any quarterback here. It's why he can't be considered the top QB in the East.
2. Jayden Daniels It took just one playoff run for Daniels to match the playoff win total of Prescott's entire career. That isn't a good look for the Cowboys' signal-caller. It does, however, show just how special Daniels has been in his single season with the team.
1. Jalen Hurts Hurts isn't the most talented on this list. He isn't the best thrower on this list.
But he is the best winner.
Hurts is coming off a Super Bowl MVP award last year, and has won 46 games in his first four years as a starter. No other quarterback on this list has been able to accomplish that. Until those wins stop, Hurts will continue to be the best quarterback on this ranking. ... though Jayden is chasing him and though Dallas needs Dak to be doing the same.