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Get Dallas Cowboys news on your cellThe best drafts in Cowboys history
4:15 PM Mon, Apr 09, 2007 | Permalink
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February 2008
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We've got a while to go before the draft, so I'll get tired head if all we do is debate about who the Cowboys should pick in the first round. Let's argue about the best drafts in Cowboys history instead. (You can find all the Cowboys' drafts here.) My top five: 1964 – Never mind that first-round pick Scott Appleton never played a down for the Cowboys. Any draft that nets two Hall of Famers (DB Mel Renfro in the second and QB Roger Staubach in the 10th) and a should-be Hall of Famer (WR Bob Hayes in the seventh) is awfully good by any standards. 1989 – The Cowboys hit home runs on their first three picks: QB Troy Aikman (first overall), FB Daryl “Moose” Johnston (second round) and C Mark Stepnoski (third). Drafting DE Tony Tolbert in the fourth was a bonus. 1975 – T Pat Donovan (fourth) and G Herb Scott (13th) formed one of the best left-side tandems in football. LBs Bob Breunig (third) and Mike Hegman (seventh) were also a pretty good duo. DT Randy White (second overall) is a Hall of Famer, and LB Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson (18th overall) might have been if drugs didn’t do him in. 1970 – This haul might have ranked much higher if RB Duane Thomas, the first-round pick, didn’t gripe his way out of Dallas. But S Charlie Waters (third) and C John Fitzgerald (fourth) were cornerstones for a decade, and CB Mark Washington was a find in the 13th round. 1988 – WR Michael Irvin (first) is a Hall of Famer. LB Ken Norton Jr. (second) and DT Chad Hennings (11th) were key cogs on Super Bowl-winning defenses. |
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Comments
Posted by ernest t bass @ 4:57 PM Mon, Apr 09, 2007
To paraphrase Hollywood Henderson: "When you're doing drugs, a friend is someone who will steal your dope and then help you look for it."
Posted by Marcus Bruner @ 5:36 PM Mon, Apr 09, 2007
It's awfully tough to overlook the '91 draft that featured starters Russell Maryland, Alvin Harper, Erik Williams, Leon Lett, Larry Brown and backups such as Dixon Edwards and Godfrey Myles. Also, some of the trades made in that draft were very good, including trading a 5th for John Gesek and a 7th for Dale Hellestrae.
Posted by BigTexKahuna @ 7:10 PM Mon, Apr 09, 2007
Should we not mention the first ever draft of the Dallas Cowboys in 1961? Some guy named Lilly, aka: Mr. Cowboy, was the first player picked. Just a thought...
Posted by Mark R @ 7:16 PM Mon, Apr 09, 2007
The two Jerrys should plant a big ol' kiss on Tom's statue for the 1988 draft since he was still coach then and they owe him another smooch for being able to pick Aikman with their first pick in the '89 draft (a no brainer).
Posted by Charles - ATL @ 11:41 PM Mon, Apr 09, 2007
Tim...I'm in agreement about the 64 draft being the best and most important. Dallas never becomes a powerhouse w/o Mel, and particularly Bullet Bob. Staubach takes them to the next level when he finally finishes his military duty and wins the starting job...as we all know. But thanks Tim for the props for Bullet. Being originally from JKVL, I'll continue to tout him as a true hall-of-famer and THE most important developement and diffentiator for Landry's Cowboys in the 60s and early 70s! I don't care what the Peter Kings and others say. Real football purists like Dr. Z agree...and most importantly, I'll always praise Jerry Jones for honoring Bob accordingly in the Cowboys ring of honor.
Posted by Chris @ 1:19 AM Tue, Apr 10, 2007
I'm in awe over the '75 draft. I'm old enough to have been around to watch the fruits of that draft, but when I think that they got Donovan, Scott, Breunig, Hegman, White, and Henderson...Wow! Six out of 22 in one draft. That's strong!
Posted by Jeff @ 8:24 AM Tue, Apr 10, 2007
I'd like to thank Herchel for helping the 90's Cowboys myself.
Posted by Ray @ 1:40 PM Tue, Apr 10, 2007
Don't forget 92 either, Kevin Smith, Darren Woodson and Jimmy Smith