My last article covered five of the Dallas Cowboys best NFL draft picks in history. And while the Cowboys have made some spectacular draft picks over the years, they have made some equally unspectacular draft blunders as well. Whether the Cowboys plain chose badly, or their high-round draft pick ended up exiting his career early due to an unfortunate injury, here are the five-worst NFL draft picks in Dallas Cowboys history.
Robert Shaw, Center (First Round, 27th Pick, 1979)
Robert Shaw, a three-year starting center from Tennessee was the Dallas Cowboys first-round draft pick in 1979. Shaw dazzled in college earning the role as team captain and participating in a Senior Bowl, which indicated that the Cowboys appeared to have drafted wisely.
Sadly, Shaw’s career was cut short due to enduring a couple of serious knee injuries. Shaw played nearly complete seasons in 1979 and 1980, but his 1981 season ended abruptly because he could no longer pass the physical to return to play due to the previous knee damage.
These are some heartbreaking words from Shaw about his career-ending game on a slippery, wet afternoon at Candlestick Park, per Dallasnews.com
I couldn’t get set up. He hit me and tore the hell out of my right knee…I remember lying on the ground — it was a beautiful day — and looking up. I was in horrible pain. I looked up into Jim Cooper’s and Ron Springs’ faces. I didn’t see a look of disgust or fear, but a look of vulnerability, knowing it could happen to them, too. The pain went away after a couple of minutes, but going into the locker room, I knew I was in trouble.
I’ve never looked at that play again. My father-in-law taped the game, and he still has it, supposedly. But I never had the desire to go back and look at it.
What an unfortunate turn of events for Shaw, and for the Cowboys on what started as a worthy draft pick 35 years ago.
Billy Cannon Jr., Linebacker (First Round, 25th Pick, 1984)
Billy Cannon, Jr., was drafted as a linebacker from Texas A&M in 1984 by the Dallas Cowboys. At Texas A&M, during the course of his four years, Cannon played multiple positions ranging from wide receiver, and kick returner, to defensive back and linebacker. He totaled 649 return yards in 86 returns, in the three years filling that role.
The Cowboys apparently liked Cannon’s flexibility, deeming him worthy of that first-round draft pick back in 1984. Unfortunately, for Cannon and the Cowboys, he only played eight games in his rookie year before ending his career early, due to a spinal injury.
Cannon’s father, Billy Sr., was a Heisman trophy winner, and also played professional football from 1960-1970, mainly as a tight end for Houston and Oakland. This was an ill-fated ending for Billy Jr. who didn’t get the opportunity for such a career.
After Cannon’s departure from the Cowboys, a $9.6 million lawsuit was initiated by Cannon in 1986, against the Dallas Cowboys for negligence, and later settled in 1992. Reports are that Cannon claimed of numbness in his back before suiting up to play in his last game, however, Cowboys doctors deny such a claim by Cannon.
David LaFleur, Tight End (First Round, 22nd Pick, 1997)
David LaFleur, a beastly 6’7” tight end from Louisiana State University, was Dallas’ first-round pick, 22nd overall in the 1997 NFL draft. LaFleur’s stats during his four years as a tight end for Dallas are horribly low and certainly unworthy of the high draft pick spent on him. His only standout year was in 1999 where he managed seven touchdowns but only had 322 receiving yards.
In fact over his four-year span with Dallas, he didn’t even break 1000 total receiving yards, as his time as a Cowboy came to an end due to chronic back pain. I’m sure, that just 729 total yards and 12 career touchdowns in four years had just a bit to do with shutting the door on LaFluer as well. LaFleur posted better numbers at Louisiana State, so if Dallas was banking on a winner with their No. 1 draft pick, who they traded up for with the Philadelphia Eagles, they failed miserably.
To think that the Cowboys and Troy Aikman back in 1997, were weighing options between LaFleur and what would be a 14-time Pro Bowler, Tony Gonzalez, prior to deciding on LaFleur must have stung for years on what was ultimately an awful waste of a draft pick.
No matter how much Jerry Jones has this minion above him clean his glasses, the picture doesn’t get any clearer than this next disastrous draft pick.
Quincy Carter, Quarterback (Second Round, 53rd Pick, 2001)
In the 2001 NFL Draft, the Cowboys didn’t have a first-round pick due to a trade made with the Seattle Seahawks. Therefore, Quincy Carter, a quarterback out of the University of Georgia, was the Cowboys first official pick of the draft in round two at No. 53. Carter came from University of Georgia where he was known for his accomplishments on foot as well as through the air. In a game between Georgia and the Kentucky Wildcats, Carter ran for a 49-yard touchdown as Georgia won 28-26.
What seemed to be a potential answer for replacing the retired, legendary quarterback, Troy Aikman, Carter fell short in many areas including ball protection and turnovers. In his three-year tenure with the Dallas Cowboys, his best season, and only complete season was in 2003 where he passed for 3,302 yards and had 17 touchdown passes. Along with just 17 touchdowns came 21 interceptions and 37 sacks. There really are no bragging rights with numbers like this.
Even though Carter managed to get the 10-6 Cowboys to a playoff game in 2003, he was clearly not cutting it and was released prior to the start of the 2004 season. Carter played just one year with the New York Jets who let him go in 2005.
Carter, who was thought to have been a wise choice in draft pick, ended up playing for the Montreal Alouettes who only kept him for a year before cutting him, due to rumors that Carter had some issues with illegal substances.
When your arrests come close in number to your highest touchdown year of 17, it’s time to get a clue. Per Nbcdfw.com
“Carter, who has been arrested a number of times on drug- and alcohol-related charges in recent years, has since been released on $6,596 bond. He played for the Cowboys from 2001 to 2003, leading the team to a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance in his final season with the team.”
All you have to do is search Carter on the internet and multiple arrests all over the U.S. pop up for crimes ranging from drugs to domestic violence, making him an absolute colossal waste of a draft pick by the Cowboys.
Bobby Carpenter, Linebacker (First Round, 18th Pick, 2006)
Bobby Carpenter, a linebacker out of Ohio State, was another first-round, 18th overall draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2006. He played with the Dallas Cowboys for four seasons and since has been bounced around between the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, for where he last played in 2012.
What the Cowboys probably thought they were getting in Carpenter was the athlete who dominated in the 2005 game between Texas and Ohio, surely the best performance he’s had since then. Never really a shining star for the Cowboys, Carpenter’s best year of production while with Dallas was his last year in 2009 where achieved 30 tackles with 10 tackle assists. This pales in comparison to his 49 tackles from 2005 at Ohio State.
The 6’-2” 249 pound linebacker woefully had the nickname “Barbie” because of his sandy blond, flowing shoulder-length hair. Pretty much in my opinion, if you’re being called Barbie on the football field that spells doom. Once again, the Cowboys missed the bus on their first-round pick of Carpenter.
Thanks to everyone who helped with suggestions for the Dallas Cowboys worst NFL Draft picks.
Photo: Nflteamhistory.com