There will be very high expectations for Dak Prescott in the 2020 NFL season. The quarterback is coming off the best statistical year of his career, and there’s a good chance he’ll be the league’s highest-paid player in Week 1.

As Prescott negotiates a potentially record-setting contract with the Dallas Cowboys, there are plenty of debates regarding his standing among the NFL’s best quarterbacks. The 26-year-old hasn’t proven to be in the top tier of signal callers. He’s also performed better than most quarterbacks since being drafted in 2016, and the stage is set for him to have another big year in 2020.

Prescott had an impressive 2019 campaign, leading the NFL’s No.1 ranked offense. He finished second in passing yards (4,902), fourth in passing touchdowns (30) and fifth in yards per attempt (8.2). No other quarterback ranked in the top-five in all three categories.

A 99.7 passer rating put Prescott 10th among all starters. He threw 11 interceptions and completed 65.1% of his passes.

New offensive coordinator Kellen Moore gave Prescott the opportunity to be more aggressive and set several career highs. Having Amari Cooper on the team for a full season also didn’t hurt.

He never put up very gaudy stats, but Prescott had plenty of success in his first three seasons. Prescott posted a 104.9 passer rating as a rookie with 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He regressed with a career-worst 13 interceptions and 86.6 passer rating in 2017, though some of that is linked to Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension and offensive line injuries.

Prescott rebounded in 2018 with 3,885 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His 96.9 passer rating just about matched his current career rating (97.0).

Mike McCarthy replacing Jason Garrett as the Cowboys head coach can only help. The same goes for the addition of CeeDee Lamb, arguably the best wide receiver in the 2020 draft.

Dallas missed last year’s playoffs with an 8-8 record. It marked the worst record of Prescott’s career.

The Cowboys are 40-24 with Prescott under center. He’s never missed a start. Carson Wentz is arguably the best quarterback in the NFC East, but Prescott is inarguably the division’s most reliable signal caller.

As long as his playmakers and offensive linemen remain relatively healthy, Prescott should give Dallas its money’s worth next season.

Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after carrying the ball against the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images
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