The Five Best NFL Draft Picks in Dallas Cowboys History
The Dallas Cowboys, also known as “America’s Team,” is one of the most popular, highly spotlighted NFL teams of all time. During its franchise history, Dallas, despite everyone’s constant criticism of the team, has make some top-notch draft picks over the years. The five-best NFL draft picks in Dallas Cowboys history.
Robert Lewis Lilly, Defensive Line (First Round, 13th Pick in 1961)
One of the Dallas Cowboys finest draft picks in history, is Robert Lewis Lilly, also known as “Tiger” and “Mr. Cowboy”, a defensive lineman from Texas Christian University, (TCU). Lilly was the first official draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 1961 and the 13th overall draft pick.
At a burly 6’5”, Lilly played all 14 games of every season while with the Cowboys from 1961 through 1974. Of his 14 years as a Dallas Cowboy, Lilly participated in 11 Pro Bowls, and has earned awards for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 1960’s and 1970’s teams and the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor.
Lilly is also a two-time NFL champion and a Super Bowl VI champion. Creating havoc for opposing quarterbacks, and had 18 fumble recoveries, three of which he returned for touchdowns.
Not only did Lilly play football with the Cowboys, he had a passion for photography, taking photos before and after games of various stadiums and teams. He was also a photographer for the Texas Air National Guard.
According to Pro Football Reference…
Landry said that Bob Lilly was the most talented football player that he ever coached.
Lilly was a seven-time All-Pro with 11 pro bowl appearances. The Sporting News called him the greatest defensive tackle in NFL history. This is why Lilly makes my list of one of the top-five NFL draft picks in Dallas Cowboys history.
Roger Staubach, Quarterback (10th Round, 129th Pick in 1964)
As Dallas Cowboys quarterback from 1969-1979, Roger Staubach out of the Navy, certainly earns a spot in Dallas’ best draft picks. Not chosen until Round 10 in 1964, he led the Dallas Cowboys to championship in both Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII. Because of his commitment to the Navy, Staubach didn’t debut for the Cowboys until 1969.
Staubach, also a former Naval Officer, who served in the Vietnam War, was Heisman Trophy award recipient in 1963 and earned NFL awards for 1971 Player of the Year, NFL Super Bowl MVP in 1971, and the Walter Payton Man Of The Year in 1978.
Over Staubach’s 11-year career with the Dallas Cowboys, he achieved on overall quarterback passer rating of 83.4, passed for 22,700 yards and threw 153 touchdowns along with 20 rushing touchdowns. That’s quite mobile for back in the day. Staubach, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, earned the name “Captain Comeback” for being able to turn games around which were on the brink of defeat.
Post NFL, according to his IMDB, “He was a writer and producer, known for Blue Angels in Razor Sharp (1982), 1981 Cotton Bowl (1981) and NFL Monday Night Football (1970).
Staubach’s name is proudly displayed in the “Ring of Honor”
Clearly one of the most successful quarterbacks for the Dallas Cowboys, is why Staubach earns a spot in the top five best draft picks for the team.
Troy Aikman, Quarterback (First Round, First Pick in 1989)
Keeping on a roll with amazing Dallas quarterbacks, Troy Aikman must be included in the five-best NFL draft picks in Dallas Cowboys history. Selected with the first overall pick out of UCLA in 1989, Aikman played for the Cowboys from 1989- 2000.
During his 165 games as a Dallas Cowboy, Aikman earned a laundry list of achievements including 1992 Super Bowl MVP and 1997 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year. He participated in six Pro Bowls and is a three time Super Bowl Champion for the Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX.
12 years of play is rough on a quarterback, and Aikman, who had suffered 10 career concussions, announced his retirement in April of 2001 just after the team waived him and before he would have signed a seven-year contract extension. The term “quit while you’re ahead” certainly fits Aikman’s decision to retire. During his 12 seasons, Aikman passed for 32,942 yards, had 165 touchdowns and earned a career passer rating of 81.6. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Just recently, Aikman earned the 2014 NCAA award which is given out each year to six past college athletes, 25 years after playing graduating from their college sports.
Cowboys fans longing for the Aikman days will have to suffer it out with Tony Romo for at least a couple more seasons. Aikman’s achievements and multiple Super Bowl championships make him one of the five-best NFL draft picks in Dallas Cowboys history.
Emmitt Smith, Running Back (First Round, 17th Pick in 1990)
Former running back for the Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith out of Florida, was a first round draft pick from 1990. And, boy did the Cowboys pick well with Hall of Famer Smith, who played in eight Pro Bowls during his 15-year career with the team.
Smith earned multiple awards and achievements during his time as a Cowboy, including: Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1990, an NFL MVP award in 1993 and Super Bowl XXVIII MVP.
Also the leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and 100-plus yard games, Smith was nearly unstoppable on the field and he has been featured multiple times on the Sports Illustrated magazine cover.
With three Super Bowl championships XXVII, XXVIII and XXX under his belt and earning the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor, makes Smith a no-brainer as one of the five-best NFL draft picks in Dallas Cowboys history.
Smith also showed his fans even more awesomeness as he won “Dancing With The Stars” in 2006, beating out Mario Lopez. Did you vote for him to win?
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DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker/Defensive End (First Round, 11th Pick in 2005)
Ware, who was a first round draft pick from Troy, played for defensive end for the team from 2005 through 2013. He earned seven Pro Bowl appearances during that time.
With the Dallas Cowboys facing salary cap issues and a deadline to get their financials in order, Ware found himself a casualty of Jerry Jones budget juggling. Since being cut by the Cowboys, Ware was quickly signed by the Denver Broncos, where he will likely finish out his NFL career.
His accomplishments during his tenure as a Cowboy must not go unheard, however. Ware is a four-time First-Team All Pro, a three-time Second-Team All Pro, an NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, a two-time recipient of the NFL Butkus Award and a four-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He leads current NFL players in sacks with 117 and has had 445 tackles in his career.
Ware is starting his 10th year in the NFL, and is coming off of a career low six sacks in 2013, as he joins the Denver Broncos in 2014. There’s still fire left in Ware, who was ranked sixth on the “NFL Top 100” in 2012, and apparently the Broncos believe in this gem of a defensive end and all-around top draft pick by the Cowboys from 2005.
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