Which Dallas Cowboys remain on the NFL Network's Top 100?

After unveiling forty of their top 100 players for 2017, get ready to see a few more Dallas Cowboys in the coming weeks on the NFL Network’s annual list.

It’s that time of the year again. Each year since 2011, the NFL Network has released it’s list of the Top 100 players. The list is voted on by the players and is (supposedly) based on how well guys performed the following year.

Last year, the Dallas Cowboys finished 13-3 and had the second best record in all of football. You would think they would have a lot of players on such a list for accomplishing such a task.

Yet, so far, through players 61-100, Dallas has only had two selections.

At number eighty-seven, center Travis Frederick made his first ever appearance on such a list.

Now, admittedly, he probably should have been on this before now. I mean, he has been named to three straight Pro-Bowls. He’s also been a second-team All-Pro twice and a first-time choice in 2016.

Still, it’s hard to give anyone who plays the Center position love when comparing it to every other position in the game. In fact, Frederick’s inclusion on the list marks just the tenth time a center has even been a part of this show.

Should he have been higher? Absolutely. I don’t think it’s an egregious oversight though.

Now, linebacker Sean Lee only being ranked 79th is a different story.

Currently, he’s the highest rated linebacker that doesn’t primarily line up as a pass rusher. I’m sure there will be others, however, that come in ahead of him. It will be interesting to see who those players are though.

When healthy, as he was in all of 2016, there aren’t too many better defensive players than Lee, let alone linebackers. His 145 tackles last season put him at fourth overall. Lee’s presence, especially to the Cowboys far outweighs his stats though.

In my opinion, Lee should definitely be higher. I would have expected him to appear somewhere in the 41-50 range.

Speaking of future selections, which Dallas Cowboys will appear in the remaining 60 slots?

I think it’s safe to say that no other defensive players will be on the list. Offensively, it’s highly unlikely for either tight end Jason Witten or receiver Dez Bryant to appear either. Neither had huge statistical seasons and it’s not a career achievement list.

Since Frederick earned a spot, it would be impossible to imagine both tackle Tyron Smith and guard Zack Martin being left out.

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Martin has a chance to be the highest ranking guard ever as the previous best was Jahri Evans at 32nd overall. Smith has made three previous appearances on the list, ranging from 78th to 36th. After battling injuries for most of 2016, will likely fall in the 41-50 range.

The remaining two guys who are almost certain locks are quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Prescott will be hard to gauge. On one hand, he was just responsible for one of the most impressive rookie seasons at the game’s hardest position. On the other hand, a lot of people credit his success to Elliott and the offensive line.

I think a fair range for Prescott would be in that 31-40 range, leaning towards the mid thirties.

As for Elliott, I don’t think there’s any question that he will come in as the highest ranking Cowboys players.

As a point of reference, the 2016 list featured running back Todd Gurley at 25th overall after his rookie campaign. Gurley rushed for just over 1,100 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Elliott had 500+ more yards and five more touchdowns.

Anything outside of the top 20 would be a laughable error. I’m expecting Elliott to land somewhere in the bottom half of the top ten. I’ll settle for somewhere in the 11-15 range.

Next: Which ’90s Cowboys team does the 2017 squad resemble?

Feel free to leave you best guesses as to who and where the remaining Dallas Cowboys will appear in the comments below.

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Which Dallas Cowboys remain on the NFL Network’s Top 100?

By Tyrone Starr | May 16, 2017

After unveiling forty of their top 100 players for 2017, get ready to see a few more Dallas Cowboys in the coming weeks on the NFL Network’s annual list.

More from The Landry Hat