Dallas Cowboys
Draft Profile · 2006–2025 · 166 picks analyzed
Avg Value Over Expected
-0.4
Across 166 graded picks
Hit Rate
30%
Picks outperforming draft slot
Avg Pick Movement
+5 spots
Average redraft position change
Positional Drafting
▲WR16p
+73.0▼DT12p
-107.5Total value over expected
Draft Range Rank
▲Late 1st
2nd▼Rounds 6-7
21stBest / worst rank vs. league
Draft Class Performance
Year-by-year draft class rank among all teams. Color reflects relative performance.
Early grade — career still developing
Draft Investment Returns
Each circle is a draft pick, sized by capital invested. Position shows value generated versus expectations.
Biggest Steals & Busts
Top 5 picks that most outperformed or underperformed their draft slot.
Biggest Steals
| Pick | Player | Value | Redraft | +/- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dak PrescottTop Steal 2016 · QB · Mississippi St. | 115.7 | #135→#4 | +99.3 | |
| Zack MartinTop Steal 2014 · OL · Notre Dame | 124.3 | #16→#3 | +72.5 | |
| DeMarcus LawrenceTop Steal 2014 · DE · Boise St. | 111.6 | #34→#5 | +70.0 | |
| Tony PollardTop Steal 2019 · RB · Memphis | 82.1 | #128→#12 | +65.0 | |
| Micah ParsonsTop Steal 2021 · LB · Penn St. | 114.5 | #12→#1 | +60.1 |
Biggest Busts
| Pick | Player | Value | Redraft | +/- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazi SmithBust 2023 · DE · Michigan | -3.8 | #26→#259 | -49.6 | |
| Tyler GuytonBust 2024 · OL · Oklahoma | -1.9 | #29→#219 | -46.1 | |
| Bobby CarpenterBust 2006 · LB · Ohio St. | 7.4 | #18→#135 | -43.1 | |
| Taco CharltonBust 2017 · DE · Michigan | 8.2 | #28→#141 | -36.5 | |
| Marshawn KneelandBust 2024 · DE · Western Michigan | -1.8 | #56→#215 | -34.8 |
Pick Range Performance
How Dallas Cowboys performs in each draft slot range compared to the league average.
Range
Picks
vs. League Avg
Rank
Complete Draft History
Every draft pick since 2006.
166 picks
Pick | Player | Rd | Year | Value | Diff | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20259 picks-150.012th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Tyler BookerRising Star OL · Alabama | 1 | 2025 | 23.2 | -31.2 | 14 |
| Donovan EzeiruakuEarly Promise DE · Boston Col. | 2 | 2025 | 17.6 | -19.6 | 17 |
| Shavon RevelEarly DB · East Carolina | 3 | 2025 | -3.3 | -30.1 | 7 |
| Jaydon BlueEarly RB · Texas | 5 | 2025 | -0.7 | -15.6 | 5 |
| Shemar JamesEarly LB · Florida | 5 | 2025 | -3.2 | -17.7 | 14 |
| Ajani CorneliusEarly OL · Oregon | 6 | 2025 | 0.6 | -8.8 | 1 |
| Jay ToiaEarly DT · UCLA | 7 | 2025 | -2.9 | -11.4 | 5 |
| Phil MafahEarly RB · Clemson | 7 | 2025 | 1.4 | -6.2 | 1 |
| Tommy AkingbesoteEarly DT · Maryland | 7 | 2025 | -2.1 | -9.5 | |
20248 picks-126.323rd of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Tyler GuytonEarly OL · Oklahoma | 1 | 2024 | -1.9 | -46.1 | 25 |
| Marshawn KneelandEarly DE · Western Michigan | 2 | 2024 | -1.8 | -34.8 | 18 |
| Cooper BeebeEarly Promise OL · Kansas St. | 3 | 2024 | 22.7 | -5.0 | 27 |
| Marist LiufauEarly LB · Notre Dame | 3 | 2024 | -3.1 | -26.8 | 34 |
| Caelen CarsonEarly DB · Wake Forest | 5 | 2024 | -2.3 | -14.3 | 14 |
| Ryan FlournoyEarly Promise WR · SE Missouri St. | 6 | 2024 | 28.3 | +19.7 | 27 |
| Nathan ThomasEarly OL · Louisiana | 7 | 2024 | -3.0 | -10.8 | 17 |
| Justin RogersEarly DE · Auburn | 7 | 2024 | -0.8 | -8.2 | |
20238 picks-149.227th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Mazi SmithLikely Bust DE · Michigan | 1 | 2023 | -3.8 | -49.6 | 42 |
| Luke SchoonmakerLikely Bust TE · Michigan | 2 | 2023 | -2.3 | -34.7 | 51 |
| DeMarvion Overshown LB · Texas | 3 | 2023 | 8.8 | -14.2 | 19 |
| Viliami Fehoko DE · San Jose St. | 4 | 2023 | -1.2 | -18.2 | |
| Asim Richards OL · North Carolina | 5 | 2023 | 3.9 | -8.6 | 36 |
| Eric Scott DB · Southern Miss | 6 | 2023 | -1.1 | -12.7 | |
| Deuce Vaughn RB · Kansas St. | 6 | 2023 | 2.8 | -6.0 | 14 |
| Jalen Brooks WR · South Carolina | 7 | 2023 | 2.2 | -5.2 | 27 |
20229 picks-8.710th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Tyler Smith OL · Tulsa | 1 | 2022 | 52.5 | +5.6 | 63 |
| Sam Williams DE · Mississippi | 2 | 2022 | 5.7 | -27.3 | 49 |
| Jalen Tolbert WR · South Alabama | 3 | 2022 | 4.9 | -18.5 | 55 |
| Jake Ferguson TE · Wisconsin | 4 | 2022 | 33.2 | +16.2 | 64 |
| Matt Waletzko OL · North Dakota | 5 | 2022 | 2.2 | -11.9 | 11 |
| DaRon BlandTop Steal DB · Fresno St. | 5 | 2022 | 61.8 | +49.1 | 53 |
| Damone Clark LB · LSU | 5 | 2022 | 14.4 | +2.6 | 55 |
| John Ridgeway DT · Arkansas | 5 | 2022 | -3.1 | -14.7 | 49 |
| Devin Harper LB · Oklahoma St. | 6 | 2022 | 0.6 | -9.6 | 12 |
202111 picks-34.09th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Micah ParsonsTop Steal LB · Penn St. | 1 | 2021 | 114.5 | +60.1 | 77 |
| Kelvin JosephBust DB · Kentucky | 2 | 2021 | 5.0 | -32.2 | 33 |
| Osa Odighizuwa DE · UCLA | 3 | 2021 | 39.6 | +12.5 | 84 |
| Chauncey Golston DE · Iowa | 3 | 2021 | 15.1 | -9.4 | 74 |
| Nahshon Wright DB · Oregon St. | 3 | 2021 | 5.0 | -16.0 | 50 |
| Jabril Cox LB · LSU | 4 | 2021 | 8.6 | -9.8 | 26 |
| Josh Ball OL · Marshall | 4 | 2021 | 6.9 | -9.2 | 13 |
| Simi Fehoko WR · Stanford | 5 | 2021 | 3.3 | -8.2 | 32 |
| Quinton Bohanna DT · Kentucky | 6 | 2021 | -3.1 | -13.4 | 40 |
| Israel Mukuamu DB · South Carolina | 6 | 2021 | 6.7 | -1.3 | 51 |
| Matt Farniok OL · Nebraska | 7 | 2021 | 0.5 | -7.1 | 19 |
20207 picks-4.014th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| CeeDee LambTop Steal WR · Oklahoma | 1 | 2020 | 98.5 | +47.4 | 95 |
| Trevon Diggs DB · Alabama | 2 | 2020 | 24.9 | -9.8 | 67 |
| Neville Gallimore DT · Oklahoma | 3 | 2020 | -0.7 | -25.7 | 83 |
| Reggie Robinson II DB · Tulsa | 4 | 2020 | 1.0 | -16.6 | 5 |
| Tyler BiadaszSteal OL · Wisconsin | 4 | 2020 | 36.3 | +21.1 | 92 |
| Bradlee Anae DE · Utah | 5 | 2020 | 0.1 | -11.4 | 11 |
| Ben DiNucci QB · James Madison | 7 | 2020 | -1.1 | -9.0 | 3 |
20198 picks+94.13rd of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Trysten HillBust DT · Central Florida | 2 | 2019 | 3.7 | -28.7 | 34 |
| Connor McGovern OL · Penn St. | 3 | 2019 | 37.1 | +14.1 | 94 |
| Tony PollardTop Steal RB · Memphis | 4 | 2019 | 82.1 | +65.0 | 112 |
| Michael JacksonTop Steal DB · Miami (FL) | 5 | 2019 | 48.0 | +34.2 | 72 |
| Joe Jackson DE · Miami (FL) | 5 | 2019 | 9.8 | -3.2 | 20 |
| Donovan WilsonSteal S · Texas A&M | 6 | 2019 | 35.4 | +26.6 | 98 |
| Mike Weber RB · Ohio St. | 7 | 2019 | 0.3 | -8.2 | |
| Jalen Jelks DE · Oregon | 7 | 2019 | 1.7 | -5.8 | |
20189 picks+77.67th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Leighton Vander Esch LB · Boise St. | 1 | 2018 | 57.4 | +7.5 | 71 |
| Connor WilliamsSteal OL · Texas | 2 | 2018 | 56.3 | +21.3 | 92 |
| Michael Gallup WR · Colorado St. | 3 | 2018 | 41.9 | +16.6 | 86 |
| Dorance Armstrong Jr. DE · Kansas | 4 | 2018 | 26.9 | +8.6 | 116 |
| Dalton SchultzTop Steal TE · Stanford | 4 | 2018 | 47.5 | +31.3 | 124 |
| Mike White QB · Western Kentucky | 5 | 2018 | -0.3 | -12.6 | 15 |
| Chris Covington LB · Indiana | 6 | 2018 | 0.5 | -9.7 | 8 |
| Cedrick Wilson Jr. WR · Boise St. | 6 | 2018 | 27.9 | +18.8 | 93 |
| Bo Scarbrough RB · Alabama | 7 | 2018 | 3.6 | -4.1 | 7 |
20179 picks+10.112th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Taco CharltonBust DE · Michigan | 1 | 2017 | 8.2 | -36.5 | 60 |
| Chidobe Awuzie DB · Colorado | 2 | 2017 | 43.8 | +12.0 | 108 |
| Jourdan Lewis DB · Michigan | 3 | 2017 | 35.4 | +12.9 | 127 |
| Ryan Switzer WR · North Carolina | 4 | 2017 | 2.3 | -14.3 | 41 |
| Xavier WoodsTop Steal S · Louisiana Tech | 6 | 2017 | 56.6 | +46.2 | 134 |
| Marquez White DB · Florida St. | 6 | 2017 | 2.4 | -6.2 | |
| Joey Ivie DT · Florida | 7 | 2017 | -2.1 | -10.1 | 8 |
| Noah Brown WR · Ohio St. | 7 | 2017 | 22.0 | +14.4 | 91 |
| Jordan Carrell DT · Colorado | 7 | 2017 | -1.0 | -8.4 | |
20169 picks+122.34th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Ezekiel Elliott RB · Ohio St. | 1 | 2016 | 70.8 | +10.4 | 135 |
| Jaylon Smith LB · Notre Dame | 2 | 2016 | 61.0 | +19.4 | 88 |
| Maliek Collins DT · Nebraska | 3 | 2016 | 40.7 | +11.1 | 148 |
| Charles Tapper DE · Oklahoma | 4 | 2016 | 4.2 | -16.4 | 2 |
| Dak PrescottTop Steal QB · Mississippi St. | 4 | 2016 | 115.7 | +99.3 | 139 |
| Anthony Brown DB · Purdue | 6 | 2016 | 28.4 | +17.8 | 96 |
| Kavon Frazier S · Central Michigan | 6 | 2016 | 5.8 | -3.0 | 60 |
| Darius Jackson RB · Eastern Michigan | 6 | 2016 | -0.4 | -9.0 | 4 |
| Rico Gathers TE · Baylor | 6 | 2016 | 1.3 | -7.2 | 15 |
20158 picks-50.124th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Byron Jones DB · Connecticut | 1 | 2015 | 60.3 | +15.0 | 109 |
| Randy Gregory LB · Nebraska | 2 | 2015 | 25.7 | -6.1 | 72 |
| Chaz Green OL · Florida | 3 | 2015 | 0.5 | -22.2 | 39 |
| Damien Wilson LB · Minnesota | 4 | 2015 | 9.2 | -8.0 | 127 |
| Ryan Russell DE · Purdue | 5 | 2015 | 0.2 | -13.0 | 23 |
| Mark Nzeocha LB · Wyoming | 7 | 2015 | 1.0 | -6.7 | 56 |
| Laurence Gibson OL · Virginia Tech | 7 | 2015 | 0.5 | -7.0 | |
| Geoff Swaim TE · Texas | 7 | 2015 | 5.1 | -2.3 | 108 |
20149 picks+135.62nd of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Zack MartinTop Steal OL · Notre Dame | 1 | 2014 | 124.3 | +72.5 | 162 |
| DeMarcus LawrenceTop Steal DE · Boise St. | 2 | 2014 | 111.6 | +70.0 | 157 |
| Anthony Hitchens LB · Iowa | 4 | 2014 | 26.5 | +8.5 | 119 |
| Devin Street WR · Pittsburgh | 5 | 2014 | -1.1 | -16.3 | 36 |
| Ben Gardner DE · Stanford | 7 | 2014 | 5.1 | -2.8 | |
| Will Smith LB · Texas Tech | 7 | 2014 | -1.3 | -8.9 | |
| Ahmad Dixon DB · Baylor | 7 | 2014 | -2.3 | -9.6 | 5 |
| Ken Bishop DT · Northern Illinois | 7 | 2014 | 2.5 | -4.8 | 5 |
| Terrance MitchellSteal DB · Oregon | 7 | 2014 | 34.2 | +27.0 | 94 |
20137 picks+5.415th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Travis FrederickTop Steal OL · Wisconsin | 1 | 2013 | 97.4 | +54.3 | 96 |
| Gavin EscobarBust TE · San Diego St. | 2 | 2013 | 8.0 | -28.1 | 64 |
| Terrance Williams WR · Baylor | 3 | 2013 | 37.3 | +9.9 | 83 |
| J.J. Wilcox DB · Georgia Southern | 3 | 2013 | 23.9 | -1.7 | 77 |
| B.W. Webb DB · William & Mary | 4 | 2013 | 7.0 | -11.6 | 80 |
| Joseph Randle RB · Oklahoma St. | 5 | 2013 | 9.7 | -4.9 | 35 |
| DeVonte Holloman LB · South Carolina | 6 | 2013 | -1.6 | -12.5 | 9 |
20127 picks-57.326th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Morris ClaiborneBust DB · LSU | 1 | 2012 | 28.1 | -30.7 | 85 |
| Tyrone CrawfordSteal DE · Boise St. | 3 | 2012 | 51.0 | +25.7 | 112 |
| Kyle Wilber LB · Wake Forest | 4 | 2012 | 7.6 | -11.1 | 135 |
| Matt Johnson DB · Eastern Washington | 4 | 2012 | 0.4 | -16.0 | |
| Danny Coale WR · Virginia Tech | 5 | 2012 | -1.4 | -15.9 | |
| James Hanna TE · Oklahoma | 6 | 2012 | 11.3 | +0.5 | 78 |
| Caleb McSurdy LB · Montana | 7 | 2012 | -1.5 | -9.8 | |
20118 picks+60.19th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Tyron SmithTop Steal OL · USC | 1 | 2011 | 116.2 | +59.7 | 171 |
| Bruce Carter LB · North Carolina | 2 | 2011 | 21.8 | -17.1 | 101 |
| DeMarco MurrayTop Steal RB · Oklahoma | 3 | 2011 | 73.2 | +44.9 | 99 |
| David Arkin OL · Missouri State | 4 | 2011 | 4.1 | -15.0 | 3 |
| Josh Thomas DB · Buffalo | 5 | 2011 | 15.0 | -0.6 | 51 |
| Dwayne Harris WR · East Carolina | 6 | 2011 | 13.7 | +1.9 | 109 |
| Shaun Chapas RB · Georgia | 7 | 2011 | 0.9 | -7.5 | 6 |
| Bill Nagy OL · Wisconsin | 7 | 2011 | 0.9 | -6.3 | 4 |
20106 picks+72.24th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Dez BryantTop Steal WR · Oklahoma St. | 1 | 2010 | 95.6 | +48.7 | 119 |
| Sean LeeTop Steal LB · Penn St. | 2 | 2010 | 72.9 | +39.5 | 118 |
| Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB · Indiana (PA) | 4 | 2010 | 2.4 | -14.9 | 15 |
| Sam Young OL · Notre Dame | 6 | 2010 | 13.7 | +2.2 | 103 |
| Jamar Wall DB · Texas Tech | 6 | 2010 | 0.0 | -10.0 | 2 |
| Sean Lissemore DT · William & Mary | 7 | 2010 | 14.4 | +6.7 | 69 |
200912 picks-142.530th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Jason Williams LB · Western Illinois | 3 | 2009 | 4.7 | -24.2 | 60 |
| Robert Brewster OL · Ball St. | 3 | 2009 | 0.0 | -27.1 | 1 |
| Stephen McGee QB · Texas A&M | 4 | 2009 | 0.6 | -20.0 | 3 |
| Victor Butler LB · Oregon St. | 4 | 2009 | 21.1 | +2.0 | 65 |
| Brandon Williams DE · Texas Tech | 4 | 2009 | 0.3 | -17.6 | 6 |
| DeAngelo Smith DB · Cincinnati | 5 | 2009 | -0.7 | -16.3 | 7 |
| Michael Hamlin DB · Clemson | 5 | 2009 | -0.4 | -13.2 | 12 |
| David Buehler K · USC | 5 | 2009 | 0.9 | -11.3 | 36 |
| Stephen Hodge DB · TCU | 6 | 2009 | 0.0 | -9.9 | |
| John Phillips TE · Virginia | 6 | 2009 | 20.7 | +11.6 | 120 |
| Mike Mickens DB · Cincinnati | 7 | 2009 | 0.0 | -8.0 | |
| Manuel Johnson WR · Oklahoma | 7 | 2009 | -0.5 | -8.4 | 2 |
20086 picks+44.37th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Felix Jones RB · Arkansas | 1 | 2008 | 28.2 | -19.9 | 80 |
| Mike Jenkins DB · South Florida | 1 | 2008 | 39.1 | -7.3 | 101 |
| Martellus BennettTop Steal TE · Texas A&M | 2 | 2008 | 65.0 | +33.5 | 144 |
| Tashard Choice RB · Georgia Tech | 4 | 2008 | 7.0 | -10.7 | 88 |
| Orlando ScandrickTop Steal DB · Boise St. | 5 | 2008 | 44.4 | +28.8 | 143 |
| Erik Walden DE · Middle Tenn. St. | 6 | 2008 | 32.5 | +19.8 | 145 |
20078 picks+43.59th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Anthony Spencer DE · Purdue | 1 | 2007 | 59.1 | +13.3 | 104 |
| James MartenBust OL · Boston Col. | 3 | 2007 | 0.0 | -29.6 | 1 |
| Isaiah Stanback QB · Washington | 4 | 2007 | 0.1 | -20.1 | 22 |
| Doug FreeTop Steal OL · Northern Illinois | 4 | 2007 | 71.4 | +53.7 | 124 |
| Nick Folk K · Arizona | 6 | 2007 | 16.9 | +5.3 | 258 |
| Deon Anderson FB · Connecticut | 6 | 2007 | 13.5 | +3.4 | 39 |
| Courtney Brown DB · Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo | 7 | 2007 | -0.4 | -9.2 | 17 |
| Alan BallSteal DB · Illinois | 7 | 2007 | 34.3 | +26.7 | 108 |
20068 picks-16.918th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Bobby CarpenterBust LB · Ohio St. | 1 | 2006 | 7.4 | -43.1 | 93 |
| Anthony FasanoSteal TE · Notre Dame | 2 | 2006 | 60.5 | +26.5 | 180 |
| Jason HatcherTop Steal DE · Grambling St. | 3 | 2006 | 54.9 | +32.4 | 147 |
| Skyler Green WR · LSU | 4 | 2006 | 0.0 | -17.4 | 11 |
| Pat Watkins DB · Florida St. | 5 | 2006 | 12.3 | -3.8 | 53 |
| Montavious Stanley DT · Louisville | 6 | 2006 | 12.5 | +1.3 | 33 |
| Pat McQuistan OL · Weber St. | 7 | 2006 | 4.3 | -4.6 | 72 |
| E.J. Whitley OL · Texas Tech | 7 | 2006 | 0.0 | -8.2 | |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Dallas Cowboys's draft history.
Who is the best draft pick in Dallas Cowboys history?
Dak Prescott (QB), drafted #135 overall in 2016, is the Dallas Cowboys's best value pick with +99 points over expected. In a redraft, Dak Prescott would go #4 overall.
Who is the biggest draft bust in Dallas Cowboys history?
Mazi Smith (DE), picked #26 in 2023, underperformed by 50 points vs. expected. Redraft value places Mazi Smith at #259 overall.
How well do the Dallas Cowboys draft?
From 2006–2025, the Dallas Cowboys average -0.4 value over expected per pick across 166 graded selections. 30% of their picks outperform their draft slot.
What was the Dallas Cowboys's best draft class?
The 2014 class ranks 2nd among all teams that year, with 9 picks averaging +15.1 value over expected.
How many draft steals and busts have the Dallas Cowboys had?
Since 2006, the Dallas Cowboys have found 26 draft steals and had 19 busts or significant disappointments out of 166 graded picks.
