The 15 greatest first-round picks in Dallas Cowboys history

12. Roy Williams, S, 2002

From 1999 through 2001, Roy Williams was a machine for the Oklahoma Sooners. He helped lead them to a National Championship in 2000, which was an undefeated season for Bob Stoops and his squad.

He followed that up by winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Jack Tatum Trophy, the Jim Thorpe Award, and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2001. Following his stellar collegiate career, Williams went eighth overall in 2002 as the Cowboys gladly welcomed him to their team.

Williams began his career as a free safety since Darren Woodson was still on the roster, and despite being better suited playing closer to the line, he still had a phenomenal rookie season. Williams finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after recording 96 tackles, five picks, two defensive touchdowns, and two sacks.

He then made the Pro Bowl in his second season, a feat he would accomplish in each of the next four years. Williams really started to show why Dallas was so enamored with him when Ken Hamlin arrived and took over the deep safety role as he moved to strong safety and continued to deliver monstrous hits in the run game.

Like many players who play with reckless abandon, Williams started to suffer injuries near the end of his career and played just five games in 2008. He then joined the Cincinnati Bengals for his final two years.

As for his seven seasons in Dallas, he finished with 510 tackles, 6.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, 19 interceptions, and scored three defensive touchdowns.