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The 20 best draft picks in Dallas Cowboys history

By Brandon Martinez

Apr 26, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell starts the 2018 Draft with (from left) Roger Staubach Jason Witten and Troy Aikman to start the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell starts the 2018 Draft with (from left) Roger Staubach Jason Witten and Troy Aikman to start the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Unknown Date; St Louis, MO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones (72) in action aaginst the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports
Unknown Date; St Louis, MO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones (72) in action aaginst the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports /

Pick Analysis. EdToo Tall Jones. 18. player. 123. Scouting Report. DE. Round 1, Pick 1

This may seem a bit too low for a Cowboy legend in Ed “Too Tall” Jones, however, we must remember that pick value has some impact here as well. Again, this does not take anything away from Jones’s impressive career.

“Too Tall” Jones was selected as the first overall pick in 1974 and immediately impressed recording six sacks in 14 games even though he started none of them. He went on the finish third in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

The Super Bowl-winning DE finished his career with an unofficial 106 sacks (sacks weren’t officially recorded until 1982), three Pro Bowls, a first-team All-Pro selection, and two second-team All-Pro selections. Jones’s longevity may be his most impressive stat, playing with the Cowboys for 15 seasons and over 200 games.

Sep 20, 1987; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett (33) in action against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 1987; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett (33) in action against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright USA TODAY Sports /

Round 1, Pick 2. TonyDorsett. 123. Scouting Report. RB. player. Pick Analysis. 17

This may be a bit of a surprise to some as I’m ranking the best draft picks for a team and one is a No. 2 overall pick running back. In this day and age, it would be crazy to take a running back this high. However, back in the 70’s, it made sense to take a running back like Tony Dorsett at second overall.

Dorsett burst onto the scene in 1977, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year by racking up over 1,000 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He went on to total over 12,000 rushing yards and 77 touchdowns, along with over 3,500 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns.

The Hall of Fame running back played for America’s Team for 11 seasons and managed to collect four Pro Bowls, one AP first-team, and two AP second-team selections. He also helped the team defeat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII.

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