Dallas Cowboys Draft Ranking in First Round: Best in NFL?

For all the criticism the Dallas Cowboys have -- justifiably -- earned, fans can still feel pretty good about their ability to find talent in the first round.

Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) makes a catch / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Part of the reason why the Dallas Cowboys are so ridiculed for their playoff stagnations is how frequently they get there. Falling short in the playoffs (nearly) every year certainly isn’t the happiest of endings, but it's revelatory of the baseline level of talent people come to expect of the Cowboys.

In recent memory, Dallas has had more than its fair share of Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers, and otherwise solid contributors. From an offensive line with arguably three Canton-bound behemoths to quarterback Dak Prescott and his favorite targets, there isn’t some disastrous shortage of talent on America’s Team.

Perhaps that is what makes this offseason so frustrating.

Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) makes a catch / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Part of that proper team building has come through the first round, where the Cowboys’ track record has been excellent. In fact, Pro Football Focus placed them among the five best first-round drafters in the sport since 2014.

“The Cowboys seem to draft extremely well when they don’t reach to fill a need,” Sam Monson wrote. “They wanted a cornerback in 2021, but the top two were taken before their pick rolled around, so they “settled” for Micah Parsons, one of the best edge rushers in the game. CeeDee Lamb is another home-run pick, while Tyler Smith looks like an excellent selection on the offensive line even though he was seen as a raw prospect at the time.

“Leighton Vander Esch was just forced into retirement by injuries but, when healthy, was an outstanding linebacker, while both Zeke Elliott and Byron Jones had excellent seasons for the Cowboys.”

Of course, quarterback Dak Prescott isn’t on this list, which includes four picks in the trenches and another two on the perimeter – all high-value positions. Even when they traded their 2019 first-round pick, they did so for star receiver Amari Cooper, another move that worked out well.

Given Dallas’ offseason strategy, banking on nailing another first-rounder has become even more important. Whether it be replacing offensive tackle Tyron Smith, shoring up the back seven, or adding another weapon on offense, young players are going to have to make up the difference hypothetical free agents would have.

At the very least, Cowboys fans can trust that those doing the drafting have done an excellent job in recent years, even if 2023 first-round selection Mazi Smith leaves a sour taste in the fanbase’s mouth.