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Dallas Cowboys: 15 best draft-day steals of all-time

By Brad Weiss

Dallas Cowboys. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Dallas Cowboys. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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CANTON, OH – AUGUST 8: Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach speaks about former teammate Bob Hayes Sr. at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CANTON, OH – AUGUST 8: Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach speaks about former teammate Bob Hayes Sr. at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Best draft-day steals by the Dallas Cowboys of all-time: 1. Roger Staubach

1964 NFL Draft: Round 10, Pick No. 129

The No. 1 draft-day steal in the history of the Cowboys franchise is a no-brainer, as it brought the organization the best quarterback they have ever had. During his time with the Cowboys, Roger Staubach led the team to a ton of wins, some Super Bowl rings and proved himself to be one of the best to ever do it at the quarterback position.

Staubach won the Heisman Trophy while playing for the Naval Academy, going down in history as one of the better college football players of all-time. He had to wait to make his NFL debut due to his Navy status, though the Cowboys did select him with a future pick in the 10th round of the 1964 NFL Draft.

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The Kansas City Chiefs also took a flier on Staubach, selecting him in the 16th round of the AFL Draft, but Staubach would end up playing his entire professional career with America’s Team.

Staubach did not make his NFL debut until he was 27 years old, but he still played 11 seasons with Dallas, leading them to two Super Bowl victories.

In Super Bowl VI, Staubach was the Most Valuable Player of the game, throwing for 119 yards and two  touchdowns against a very tough Miami Dolphins defense. The Cowboys won that game, 24-3.

When Staubach decided to hang up his cleats after the 1979 NFL season, he was the second-highest rated passer in NFL history.

Next. Dallas Cowboys: 15 best first-round picks of all-time. dark

Staubach in total went to six Pro Bowls, was the NFL’s Man of the Year and four times led the league in passer rating. In addition, he was named to the Pro Football and College Hall of Fame, is a member of the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor and was named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team. Not bad for a 10th-round pick coming out of Navy.

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