After missing the postseason for the second straight year, the Dallas Cowboys didn't do quite as much in free agency as some were hoping they might, but I think it's safe to say at this point that the roster (and coaching staff) is already better than it was this past season.
That said, though, America's Team absolutely must nail the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, especially seeing as how Jerry Jones & Co. have two first-round picks with which to work, first with their own selection at No. 12 overall and also the No. 20 selection, which they received from the Green Bay Packers in the trade that sent Micah Parsons to Titletown.
We'll deal with No. 20 in a separate piece, but the No. 12 pick has been pretty good to the Cowboys over the years, as they've gotten some solid players each of the four times they've made that particular selection.
One of those, of course, was Parsons himself back in 2021. Forgive us for the spoiler alert, but among the four players, you've likely already guessed that Micah leads the list. But let's go ahead and look at the rest anyway, as we rank every player Dallas has taken 12th overall.
Ranking every No. 12 overall pick in Dallas Cowboys history
4. Tyler Booker, G, 2025
Taken at No. 12 just one year ago, Tyler Booker will likely find himself closer to the top of this list down the line, but as he's only been in the league for a single season, we feel that putting him in this fourth position is the way to go.
The Alabama alum appeared in 14 games for the Cowboys in 2025, and he's shown tremendous promise thus far, particularly in the run game, as his 76.8 run-blocking grade ranked seventh among 81 qualifying guards this past year. From an overall standpoint, Booker's 72.0 mark ranked 16th among those 81 and second among rookies, helping him earn PFWA All-Rookie Team honors.
3. Danny Noonan, DT, 1987
Go ahead and have your quick laugh as you think about Caddyshack with this name. No, seriously, go ahead; we'll wait.
All done?
Noonan was taken 12th overall by Dallas in 1987 after earning All-Big Eight First-Team and unanimous All-American honors at Nebraska in 1986. Basically viewed as the successor to franchise legend Randy White, the Lincoln native contributed nicely as a rookie and then lit it up when he cracked the starting lineup in 1988, recording what turned out to be a career-high 7.5 sacks.
Sadly, injuries affected the remainder of his career, but Noonan hung around for a few more seasons, ultimately recording 15.0 sacks for Dallas before being released after starting the first two games of the 1992 season to make room for the return of Russell Maryland. He played six games for the Green Bay Packers that year before being waived in mid-November and never took another regular-season snap.
He was signed by the Denver Broncos ahead of the '93 campaign but was released after missing most of training camp with a knee injury.
2. Alvin Harper, WR, 1991
While the Cowboys still had Kelvin Martin on the roster, they went looking for a new WR2 to pair alongside Michael Irvin in the 1991 draft and took Tennessee's Alvin Harper at No. 12 overall, which turned out to be a fantastic move, as the two became one of the most dynamic 1-2 punches in the NFL.
Harper ultimately spent just four seasons in Dallas (not including that forgettable two-game stint when he returned in 1999), catching 124 passes for 2,486 yards and 18 touchdowns during the regular season, adding another 24 grabs for 655 yards and four scores in the postseason.
After helping Dallas to a pair of Super Bowl wins and three consecutive appearances in the NFC title game, Harper left town to try and become the guy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which ultimately didn't work out, as he was released after just two seasons, at which point he reunited for former Cowboys offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who'd become the head coach in Washington.
But that didn't work out either, as he caught just two passes in 12 games before being released. He signed with the New Orleans Saints but never appeared in a game, and after missing the entire 1998 season, he came to back to Dallas for the aforementioned two-game stint after Irvin's career-ending neck injury, catching zero passes on two targets.
Harper closed out his pro career in the XFL, catching one pass for eight yards with the Memphis Maniax.
1. Micah Parsons, EDGE, 2021
And, of course, we come to Micah Parsons, who, as mentioned, was taken 12th overall in 2021.
What's wild is that Dallas wasn't targeting him in the opening round, as a cornerback was the desired selection. But after Jaycee Horn went eighth to the Carolina Panthers and Patrick Surtain II went ninth to the Denver Broncos, the Cowboys traded back from No. 10, giving the Philadelphia Eagles the chance to take wideout DeVonta Smith. And after the Chicago Bears took Justin Fields at No. 11, there was Parsons at No. 12 for the taking.
Before Jerry Jones inexplicably dealt him to the Packers, the Penn State product racked up a ridiculous 52.5 sacks in his four seasons with the Cowboys, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, four trips to the Pro Bowl, three total All-Pro selections (two First-Team, one Second-Team), and a trio of top-three finishes in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
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