With the main free agency period, the draft, OTAs, and minicamp now all in the rearview mirror, we've hit that point of the NFL offseason where all that's really left to look forward to is the start of training camp, which, for the Dallas Cowboys, kicks off on July 21 in Oxnard, California.
Well, maybe that statement isn't exactly true, as fans of America's Team are anxiously awaiting to see how the Micah Parsons contract saga plays out. But you get the point.
With this being a bit of a dead period, ESPN recently took the time to compile an All Quarter Century Team that features a full 53-man main roster of 25 offensive players, 23 defensive players, and five special teams players.
The team also includes a full 17-player practice squad, which features zero players who wore a Dallas uniform from 2000 to 2024, and a four-man coaching staff, which includes former Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips, who made the unit as the defensive coordinator.
As far as the main roster is concerned, three players who once donned a star on the side of their helmet made the cut, none of whom should come as a surprise, as the trio consists of Zack Martin, DeMarcus Ware, and Terrell Owens.
Zack Martin
The recently retired Zack Martin was one of two right guards to make the main roster. And as ESPN listed the players in order of how they'd appear on an actual depth chart, the future Hall of Famer would be the starter, his backup being Marshal Yanda, who spent the entirety of his 13-year career (2007-19) with the Baltimore Ravens.
Martin, of course, spent his entire 11-year career in Dallas after being taken by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft with the 16th overall selection, earning nine total All-Pro selections (seven First Team, two Second Team) and nine Pro Bowl nods in those 11 years.
DeMarcus Ware
DeMarcus Ware was one of four edge rushers to make the 53-man roster, a group that also includes Jared Allen, Myles Garrett, and Julius Peppers, with Ware taking the top spot.
Taken by the Cowboys with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2005 draft, the Troy State alum spent nine years in Dallas (2005-13) before ending his Hall of Fame career playing three seasons with the Denver Broncos (2014-16), with whom he won Super Bowl 50.
During his nine-year run with the Cowboys, Ware amassed 576 total tackles, 145 tackles for loss, 185 QB hits, and a franchise record 117.0 sacks, ultimately making seven total All-Pro squads (four First Team, three Second Team) and earning seven Pro Bowl selections. He added another pair of Pro Bowl nods with the Broncos.
Taking his entire career into account, Ware's 138.5 sacks are the third-most of any NFL player since the turn of the century.
Terrell Owens
ESPN had no issue putting players who began their careers in the 1990s on the team, but stated right away that only their stats and accolades from the 2000 campaign and beyond were used during the selection process, which makes Terrell Owens' inclusion all the more impressive.
Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 1996 draft, the Chattanooga alum was obviously no favorite of Dallas fans for years, not after his infamous stunt with the midfield star at Texas Stadium during his tenure with the Niners and certainly not during his two-year stint with the rival Philadelphia Eagles.
Owens joined the Cowboys as a free agent in 2006 and spent three seasons with the franchise, catching 235 passes for 3,587 yards with 38 touchdowns. He earned the fifth and final First-Team All-Pro selection and the sixth and final Pro Bowl nod of his career in 2007, catching 81 passes for 1,355 yards with 15 touchdowns.
T.O. was one of six receivers on the main roster, ranking fourth on the depth chart behind Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson, and Julio Jones. Trailing him were Marvin Harrison Sr. and Justin Jefferson, while Antonio Brown and Andre Johnson took the pair of practice squad slots.
If CeeDee Lamb continues to put up numbers like he has in his first five years, we could easily see his name when it comes time to select a Half Century Team. But for now, he'll have to wait.
The only snub Cowboys fans could conceivably complain about was the exclusion of Jason Witten, who owns the second-most career receiving yards by a tight end (13,046) in NFL history, trailing only Tony Gonzalez (15,127).
Gonzalez made the main roster as the third tight end, sitting behind only Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce on the depth chart, with Antonio Gates, the all-time leader in touchdowns by a tight end (116), taking the lone spot on the practice squad.
So, Witten certainly had some stiff competition to overcome.