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There’s one clear Dallas Cowboys player who is consistently underrated, and he’s starting to get the respect he deserves.
The Dallas Cowboys watched the Super Bowl at home, like every other NFL team that didn’t make the cut, but they’re working to change that for the 2026-27 season. Quarterback Dak Prescott and a handful of Cowboys players participated in Super Bowl week, though, in San Francisco, by participating in the 2026 Pro Bowl, so they weren’t completely left out of the action.
Now, though, it’s time to take a hard look at this team and see what needs to be worked on for next season. In a Monday, February 9, feature for The Athletic that dropped hours before Super Bowl LX wrapped up, NFL analyst Jon Machota share the results of the publication’s annual Dallas Cowboys fan survey, which received a total of 1,314 responses.
One of the most interesting questions was, “Which player is the Cowboys’ most underrated?” Well, the voters have spoken, and there’s one clear Dallas Cowboys player who is consistently underrated, in their view.
Cowboys’ Most Underrated Player Is a No-Brainer
In the poll heading into the 2026-27 season, Prescott received the most votes for the most underrated player on the squad. He got 140 write-in votes, while Ryan Flournoy was next at 111. It was the second year in a row that Prescott was voted the most underrated.
“Prescott also received the most votes here a year ago, edging out Bland 85-81 of the 845 total responses,” Machota states in the piece. “Prescott was again at the top among the 914 responses this time.”
He adds, “A breakout season from wide receiver Ryan Flournoy makes him a deserving No. 2 candidate. The voting was too close after that to cut it off at a top 5.”
Voters also believe the Cowboys will end up No. 2 in the NFC East next season. When it comes to Prescott’s time with the team, nearly 37% of voters believe he’ll be the franchise quarterback for three years.
“Health is the only real question here,” Machota notes. “Prescott has shown that his play continues to be at a high level. If healthy, the 32-year-old could be the Cowboys quarterback well into his late 30s. If injuries start to add up, the timeline would change.”
Where Do the Dallas Cowboys Fit in NFL Power Rankings?
It’s too early to do power rankings for the 2026-27 season, or is it? NFL analysts NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kris Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report is already on it, and he published power rankings in a Tuesday, February 10 feature for the publication.
In the feature, Knox has the Cowboys ranked No. 18 in the NFL. “The Dallas Cowboys have a lot to sort out this offseason if they hope to return to relevance in 2026,” he notes.
“Replacing defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was a good start, though it remains to be seen if Christian Parker will be an upgrade,” he adds. ” Dallas also needs to clear cap space, figure out a way to re-sign or replace George Pickens and Javonte Williams, and find more defensive help.”
If all goes well, he believes the Cowboys “can take a step closer to being a complete team. However, they’re likely a year or two away from challenging the NFC’s best.”
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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