Could Dak Prescott finally breakthrough and win MVP? ESPN host puts Cowboys QB ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen

Dak Prescott has never lacked big numbers. What he has lacked is the MVP season that turns those numbers into a bigger conversation. Now, ESPN’s Steven Ruiz believes 2026 could finally be that year. He has picked the Dallas Cowboys quarterback as his MVP choice ahead of regular contenders Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.The prediction sounds bold after Dallas finished 7-9-1 in 2025. But Prescott still delivered 4,552 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in 17 games. That production gives Ruiz a reason to believe Prescott can take another step. Could Dak Prescott finally make his MVP breakthrough?Ruiz made the case for Prescott on ESPN’s “This Is Football” while discussing his predictions for the 2026 season.“I think this is the year that Dak Prescott finally breaks through and we have that Prescott MVP pick,” Ruiz said on "This Is Football".Ruiz expects Prescott to push beyond the 5,000-yard mark. He also pointed to the talent around him and believes Dallas’ offense can be even better than it was last season.“The case is he’s going to throw for 5,000 yards,” Ruiz said on the show. “Playing in that offense, playing with those two receivers… I think it’s going to be better than last year.”There is some history behind that prediction. Prescott came close to 5,000 yards in 2019, finishing that season with 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns. He now enters 2026 after another 4,500-plus-yard campaign.Ruiz also thinks Prescott’s MVP case could come down to how Dallas finishes the year.“If they just improve marginally and the Cowboys are in the playoff race… I think Dak has a chance to do that,” Ruiz said on "This Is Football". He argued that recent MVP races often favor quarterbacks who finish the season with their strongest stretch.That could give Prescott a clear path. He does not necessarily need to dominate every week. If the Cowboys are winning when the MVP race heats up, his numbers could carry more weight.Can Dallas’ defense turn Dak Prescott’s numbers into wins?This is where the Cowboys need to help their quarterback. Dallas had the NFL’s top offense in total yards per game in 2025, averaging 403.1. Yet the team still missed the playoffs. Prescott’s 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns could not overcome the problems on defense.The Cowboys entered the 2026 offseason looking to fix that weakness. They hired Christian Parker as defensive coordinator and added Quinnen Williams, Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark.Prescott also enters the season with a clear target. During his August 2026 appearance on “Up & Adams”, he discussed using “Super Bowl 61” as a daily reminder of his ultimate goal.Mahomes and Allen remain major obstacles. Mahomes already has two MVP awards, while Allen won his first in 2024. Prescott has the numbers to join that group. Now, he needs the Cowboys to give those numbers a winning backdrop.If Dallas improves enough to stay in the playoff race, Ruiz’s prediction may become much harder to dismiss.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.