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NFL Draft: Ranking the Cowboys first-round picks from the last 10 years

By clipscombwilliams

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Micah Parsons poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell onstage after being selected 12th by the Dallas Cowboys during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Micah Parsons poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell onstage after being selected 12th by the Dallas Cowboys during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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With the 2023 NFL Draft a few weeks away and so much uncertainty regarding what the Dallas Cowboys will do with the No. 26 overall pick, it feels like a great time to rank every Cowboys first-round pick from the last 10 years from worst to best.

Incredibly, Dallas has had 24 Pro Bowlers and 18 All-Pro selections in that span from first-round selections alone. The Cowboys are well-established as one of the better drafting teams in the NFL, so this will be a tough list to narrow down.

At least No. 10 is a no-brainer. Any guesses?

NFL Draft: Ranking the Cowboys first-round picks from the last 10 years

Cowboys, Taco Charlton
Aug 19, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Taco Charlton (97) on the sidelines during the game against Indianapolis Colts at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

10.  Taco Charlton 2017-2019

This was an easy choice as Taco Charlton is one of the worst first-round picks in Cowboys history. Considered a pro-ready defensive end out of Michigan, Charlton struggled in Rod Marinelli’s defensive scheme from day one. With just four sacks in 27 games for the Cowboys, Charlton was an easy choice for the last spot.

9. Tyler Smith 2022-present

Tyler Smith was a surprising pick in the 2022 NFL Draft but he lived up to it for the most part. Bouncing around from left tackle and left guard, Smith made tremendous progress throughout his rookie season.

No matter what happens with Tyron Smith, Tyler Smith is the left tackle of the future for the Dallas Cowboys. Time just wasn’t on his side when it came to this list in 2023.

8. Byron Jones 2015-2019

Byron Jones was a defensive back the Cowboys selected out of UConn in the 2015 NFL Draft. Early in his career, he was known as a tight end stopper, he regularly matched up against elite tight ends and was very good at it. In his fourth year, the Cowboys moved him to cornerback where he excelled in Kris Richard’s Cover 3 defense. Jones was a first-team All-Pro with zero interceptions. A feat that is still impressive five years later.

7. Leighton Vander Esch 2018-present

Leighton Vander Esch has had one of the stranger careers, an All-Pro as a rookie, and has struggled to get back to that point in his career. Since his rookie season, he has struggled with numerous neck and back injuries. The Cowboys declined his fifth-year option in 2021 but he has resigned from the team twice since then. He has remained the Cowboy’s best stand-up linebacker since he has been drafted in 2018.

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