The Landry Hat
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Dallas Cowboys: 15 best first-round picks of all-time

By John Buhler

30 JAN 1994: RUNNING BACK EMMITT SMITH OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS FLASHES THE NUMBER ONE SIGN DURING THE COWBOYS 30-13 VICTORY OVER THE BUFFALO BILLS IN SUPER BOWL XXVIII AT THE GEORGIA DOME IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. SMITH RUSHED FOR TWO TOUCHDOWNS AND WAS SELECT
30 JAN 1994: RUNNING BACK EMMITT SMITH OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS FLASHES THE NUMBER ONE SIGN DURING THE COWBOYS 30-13 VICTORY OVER THE BUFFALO BILLS IN SUPER BOWL XXVIII AT THE GEORGIA DOME IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. SMITH RUSHED FOR TWO TOUCHDOWNS AND WAS SELECT /
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Tony Dorsett, Dallas Cowboys
Tony Dorsett, Dallas Cowboys. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images) /

Best first-round draft picks in Dallas Cowboys history: 7. Tony Dorsett

If you want proof how good the Cowboys have been historically, look no further than Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett. He was a three-time All-American for the Pittsburgh Panthers in college, won the 1976 National Championship and the Heisman Trophy that season.

He is No. 7 on our list for best first-round picks all-time in Cowboys franchise history. Dallas made an excellent choice in the 1977 NFL Draft taking Dorsett No. 2 overall. He would play 11 of this 12 hall of fame seasons with the Cowboys.

As a first-year player in Dallas, Dorsett would win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, as well as Super Bowl XII over the Denver Broncos. That would be the only Lombardi Trophy Dorsett would get to hoist in his NFL career.

Dorsett was a four-time Pro Bowler and earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 1981. In the final regular season game of 1982, Dorsett set an NFL record that will never be broken by rushing for a 99-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. Eight times would Dorsett rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.

Though he would play his final NFL season in Denver, Dorsett cemented his hall of fame legacy in Dallas. In 11 years with the Cowboys, Dorsett rushed for 12,036 yards on 2,755 carries and 72 touchdowns. Dorsett is in the Cowboys Ring of Honor and the College Football Hall of Fame. His No. 33 jersey is retired by Pittsburgh.

In 1994, Dorsett earned Canton enshrinement. His Pro Football Hall of Fame class includes former Cowboys teammate Randy White, Cleveland Browns running back Leroy Kelly and San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmy Johnson.

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