Thanks for checking out my list of the top five Dallas Cowboy draft steals of all time. An NFL Draft steal is a player who produces much better than their draft position indicates that they should. Since for many years Dallas drafted low due to playing well, they did have some good draft steals. Now onto the top five Dallas Cowboys draft steals of all time.
What I found interesting about Tom Landry was one of the first NFL coaches to embrace computers to help with draft picks. It didn't always work out for Landry but his selections do make up most of the best Dallas Cowboy draft picks of all time.
1. Roger Staubach - Navy
Roger Staubach was drafted in the 10 round (129th player taken) in 1964, making him the biggest Dallas Cowboy draft steal ever. Why was Roger Staubach the best draft pick in Cowboys history? Well he is possibly the best quarterback of America's Team ever, and was a 10th round draft pick. Staubach was drafted so late because of a military commitment that saw him spend five years in the Navy including a stint in Vietnam.
When Roger Staubach finally won the starting job over Craig Morton he led the Cowboys to their first taste of glory. Getting Roger Staubach in the 10th round even with the 5 year wait makes him one of the best draft choices in NFL history.
2. Herschel Walker - Georgia
Herschel Walker was drafted in the 5th round of the 1985 NFL draft and was the 114th player selected that year. The Dallas Cowboys expected to wait for Walker like Staubach, as Walker was already playing in the USFL. Dallas caught a break when the USFL folded and Walker joined the Cowboys in 1986.
Herschel Walker the player was worthy of being called one of the best Dallas Cowboy draft steals of all time. Hershel Walker had almost 6,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 35 touchdowns for Dallas. But where Dallas got the most worth out of Walker was in one of the biggest trades in NFL history which set the stage for the Jimmy Johnson Super Bowl wins, when Walker was traded to the Vikings.
3. Bob Hayes - Florida A&M
"Bullet' Bob Hayes was the 88th person taken in the 1964 NFL draft when Dallas selected him in the 7th round. Haynes was billed as the "Worlds Fastest Human" and he probably was. Bob Hayes changed the way football was played and proved he wasn't just track start. In 10 seasons with the Cowboys Hayes caught 371 passes for almost 7,500 yards and had 71 touchdown catches. Remember these were days of more stringent pass defense not the relaxed rules making today's NFL a passing league.
4. Rayfield Wright - Fort Valley State
When Dallas drafted Rayfield Wright in the 7th round (182nd player taken) in the 1967 draft, the picked a NFL Hall of Fame offensive tackle. At first Wright was tried at tight end before finding his true calling on the offensive line. The six time NFL Pro Bowler is certainly one of the biggest Dallas Cowboys draft steals ever.
5. Eric Williams - Central State (Ohio)
My list of the five best Dallas Cowboys draft picks ever concludes with Eric Williams. Williams was picked in the 3rd round of the 1991 NFL draft and was the 70th player selected. Williams was a four time Pro Bowler and probable NFL Hall of Fame player. I believe he is also the best offensive lineman in Dallas Cowboys history.
Sources
All stats and draft info comes from Profootballreference.com
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