The Dallas Cowboys are one month away from the start of training camp. As they head into the 2023 season, the Cowboys are optimistic that the 2023 edition of the franchise has all the help to make another run in hopes of ending their championship drought.
What if Dallas could bring back a few players from the franchise's 64-year history to help the 2023 team reach the mountaintop? Who would the team bring back? Could these players thrive in today’s NFL?
I have selected five Cowboys that could help reach the final destination. The following players consist of hall of famers, team needs, and upgrades.
5. Travis Fredrick
Let’s start with a recent Cowboy. Dallas drafted Travis Fredrick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. What seemed like a questionable pick at the time turned out to be one of their best draft picks ever.
In his seven seasons as center and leader of the Cowboys' great offensive line of the last decade, Frederick was a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection. Fredrick's ability to keep the pocket clean for former quarterback Tony Romo was even more impressive.
During his career from 2013-2019, the former Badger allowed just six sacks and 17 hits, per Pro Football Focus. His durability was always displayed, with 96 games played and 96 starts, even after missing the 2018 season due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Frederick started every game in 2019.
Insert No. 72 on today’s offensive line and he would make Dak Prescott's life much easier. Of course, Prescott knows this all too well, being his former teammate for four seasons. However, more importantly, Fredrick would provide the leadership up front and, as he was before, would be the quarterback and anchor of the Cowboys' 2023 offensive line.
4. Deion Sanders
The first hall of famer on this list. CowboyNation, especially today, would be excited to see prime time suit up for the current version of America’s Team.
Deion Sanders played for Dallas from 1995-1999. He signed a seven-year $35 million contract with the franchise. Regarded by many as the greatest corner ever, the addition of Primetime helped the Cowboys capture the franchise’s fifth and most recent Super Bowl title in 1995.
Sander's athleticism, speed, and versatility made him a matchup nightmare. Per Pro Football Reference, Sanders amassed 53 career interceptions, 5,722 return yards, and 22 total touchdowns.
His versatility allowed him to be one of the greatest return specialists of all time, and he even contributed on offense as a receiver. The Cowboys can get creative with a player like Prime in all phases.
Insert number 21 on defense to go with all-pros Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore, and the Cowboys would instantly field the best cornerback room in the league ... which they might already have with Diggs and Gilmore.
3. Jason Witten
We go from one current Hall of Famer to a future Hall of Famer. Jason Witten, Mr. Reliable for many years, is one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.
Selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft, Witten spent 16 seasons with a star on his helmet. He was Tony Romo's’ best friend and All-Pro security blanket, tallying 1,228 receptions, 13,046 yards, and 74 touchdowns in his career.
Witten was named to four All-Pro teams and 11 Pro Bowls in his career and held the NFL record for most games by a tight end at 271.
The Cowboys have deployed multiple players at the position since his brief retirement in 2018 and then leaving the team for good after 2019. Last year's starter Dalton Schultz provided stability these last three seasons, but is now in Houston.
The 2023 edition of the Cowboys would stand to benefit from Witten's’ leadership, sure-fire hands, reliability on third downs, and longevity. It would give the coaching staff one less training camp position battle to navigate.
2. Demarcus Ware
Once upon a time before Micah Parsons became arguably the best defensive player in the game, the Cowboys had a player named Demarcus Ware, who was doing what Parsons is doing now for nine consecutive seasons.
The Cowboys are set in stone with pass rushers and boast one of the most talented defensive fronts in football. So let’s add in Ware and make it even better. The recently enshrined Hall of Famer carved out a 12-year playing career with the Cowboys and the Denver Broncos.
Per Stat Muse, Ware compiled 138.5 career sacks (117 as a Cowboy, a franchise record), 171 tackles for loss, and 35 forced fumbles.
In addition to being the Cowboys leader in sacks. Ware is the team's all-time leader in fumbles forced, tackles for loss, and quarterback hits. His career accolades include seven All-Pro seasons, nine Pro-Bowl selections, being named a member of the 2000s all-decade team, and a Super Bowl ring in 2015 with Denver.
Can we imagine Ware and Parsons coming off both sides of the edge? How do you prepare for that as an opposing offensive coordinator?
1. Troy Aikman
A former No. 1 overall pick and the leader of the Cowboys dynasty of the 90s, Troy Aikman was everything Dallas needed to be successful.
His stats weren’t jaw-dropping, and he is not a guy you would throw up there with the most prolific passers in league history, but No. 8 was a vocal leader, could command the attention of teammates, stepped up in big moments, and an outstanding character. More importantly, all he did was win.
Aikman led Dallas to three Super Bowl titles and was MVP of Super Bowl XXVII. He posted an 11-4 playoff record, and posted 689 yards passing, 70% completion percentage, five touchdowns to just one interception, and a rating of 111.9 in the Super Bowl for his career.
While current Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has shown he can get the Cowboys into the postseason, his recent postseason performances and overall lack of playoff success have made fans restless.
With Aikman at the helm, fans can sleep at night knowing they have a quarterback who can deliver in the big moments.
Summary
The Cowboys have a history at just about every position as a franchise. When thinking about a topic like this, fans can pick from a large pool of talent that represented America’s team and that can easily help the 2023 Cowboys take the next step.
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