Praise hits a little differently when it’s coming from a player who’s in a franchise’s Ring of Honor and a three-time Super Bowl Champion.

Current ESPN color commentator and Cowboys great Troy Aikman believes current Dallas signal caller Dak Prescott’s ability to throw the ball is on an elite level. So much so that Aikman compared Prescott’s skill level with that of former Texas Tech legend and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets.

In an interview with Sportsradio 96.7 FM/1310 The Ticket (KTCK-AM) on Thursday Aikman was asked whether he thinks a QB should be responsible for raising the level of his wide receivers or that a QB is only as good as the players around him.

Aikman responded, “It’s both. Just like good coaching elevates the level of play for a team, quality quarterback play elevates the level of play of the players around them. And I think I think Dak does all of that.”

He went on to elaborate on Prescott’s ability to raise the level of those around him.

“A quarterback can put the ball in places [where] you don’t have to be a great receiver in order to be able to make the play, or you’re able to get into plays that gives your team the best chance. We’ve seen it from Patrick Mahomes. We’ve seen it from Aaron Rodgers. Over the years. We’ve seen it from a lot of guys. I believe we’ve seen it from Dak as well,” Aikman said.

Prescott finished the 2023-24 season second in MVP voting behind the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. His career passing rating is 98.8, while Mahomes’ is 102.9 and Rodgers’ is 103.0.

The key difference, between the three, besides the six MVPs between Rodgers and Mahomes, is the playoff success of the two that Aikman compared the two quarterbacking titans with. Prescott has never made it past the divisional round of the playoffs while a member of the Cowboys, despite the nine-year veteran’s impressive throwing ability.