The Dallas Cowboys have had anything but a successful 2020 season, but their starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, is regarded as the "prize" of the upcoming free agent class.

Prescott, who was hurt against the New York Giants in week five, was on pace to shatter the all-time regular season passing yards record before his season was abruptly ended. He has improved his mechanics remarkably and was playing like one of the elite quarterbacks in all of football prior to his gruesome ankle injury.

Take it from a writer that covers the NFL Draft and the Philadelphia Eagles, Benjamin Solak of The Draft Network and Bleeding Green Nation:

Perhaps if Prescott didn’t get injured this year, he’d be in the elite tier with Watson. He was on a wicked tear to start the season, taking negative game scripts with clear passing situations and turning them into monster games with somehow still competitive efficiency. Prescott gets the edge over everyone else in this tier because he’s been doing it for longer, and while he’s had some pretty favorable circumstances during his career in Dallas, he’s shown that he can handle adverse contexts as well. A healthy Prescott throwing to Dallas’ wide receivers next year likely pushes for a top-three spot.

With Prescott behind center, the Dallas Cowboys had one of the elite offenses in football. Without Prescott, the offense looks night and day different and struggles to put the ball into the end zone despite the talent at wide receiver.

Dak Prescott is regarded as the top free agent in the 2021 free agent class.

Pro Football Focus recently released a list of the top-50 free agents for the upcoming offseason. Teams all over the league will look towards the free agent market to address needs and upgrade the overall talent level of the roster.

Sitting at the top spot is none other than the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Dak Prescott. Here is what PFF wrote about number four:

The prize of the free agent market, Prescott went down with an unfortunate injury after just four-plus games in 2020. With four full seasons under his belt, Prescott has finished in the top 10 of PFF grades twice while ranking closer to 20th in the other two seasons. However, Prescott’s 85.2 PFF grade this season would’ve been a career-best, and his 2019 and 2020 work is the most productive of his career.

From a macro view, Prescott’s play dipped as his supporting cast took a step back, but a revamped receiving corps has had Dallas’ offense moving the ball efficiently with Prescott at the helm. With solid accuracy, decision making and mobility, he has proven capable of putting up high-end production, and he appeared on his way to establishing himself as an annual “top-eight” quarterback prior to his injury.

Below is PFF's contract analysis:

Contract Analysis: A second franchise tag would be valued at $37.7 million for Prescott, so the two sides finally agree to a long-term extension just below that on an annual basis.

Finally, Pro Football Focus predicts that Prescott and the Cowboys will come to terms on a deal worth as much $150 million.

Prediction: Cowboys sign Prescott for four years, $150 million ($37.5M APY): $115M total guaranteed, $75 million fully guaranteed at signing.

Yes, positional value plays a big role in these rankings. Prescott is the only viable quarterback option for any team looking at addressing the position in free agency, but that should not take away from Prescott in any way.

The fact of the matter is that the Cowboys have one of the game's best signal callers in their own organization right now. Yet, he is still waiting for a new contract after leading Dallas to two NFC East titles, a playoff win over Russell Wilson, and improving in nearly facet of his game each season.

Dallas waiting to pay Prescott is going to bite them financially, but Dak Prescott is worth it. He is one of the bright young stars at the position, is just entering his prime, and appears to be ascending as a player.

There's no number too big for that, and the Cowboys must be prepared to hand out a hefty contract to their star quarterback this offseason. Otherwise, the franchise could be in trouble.

Featured image via Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports