The argument as to what has held the Cowboys back over the years is multifaceted, but one obvious factor is the success rate of their second- and third-round draft picks. Dallas has struggled on the second day of the draft for years, but it's not like they've won along the way. Take a look at some of their best Day 2 picks from the past decade.
I've talked about Dallas' ugly history with second-round draft picks many times, dating back to the 1995 platter of turds that included running back Sherman Williams, tight end Kendell Watkins, and running back Shane Hanna. There were some good ones along the way. OT Frozell Adams, G Andre Glode, and LB Sean Lee immediately come to mind. However, for a round hoping for a long-term starter, most ended in disappointment.
Oddly enough, the Cowboys did better in the third round. There, they acquired the best tight end of all time in Jason Witten, as well as standout linebackers in Dexter Coakley and Dat Nguyen. In the third round, they also acquired key members of previous rosters such as running back Demarco Murray, DL Tyron Crawford and Jason Hatcher, and LB Randall Godfrey.
What about the last 10 years? Where have the Cowboys found success compared to failure? Here are the top 10 picks on day two of the last 10 drafts.
T-10. OL Connor McGovern (2019 3rd round)
T-10. DE Randy Gregory (2015 2nd round)
The fact that these two had to go to compete for No. 10 says something about the Cowboys' overall success on Day 2. I call this a tie because Gregory and McGovern have two very different results for him in terms of nominations, neither of which are very good. In Gregory's case, you have immense talent, but personal issues made him unreliable and unable to get a job for most of his time in Dallas. In McGovern's case, he was capable but not good enough to keep him after his rookie contract ended.
Gregory was the playmaker Dallas needed on the defensive line for years, but he missed numerous games and even the entire season between suspensions and injuries. By the time he finally put things together, he was 30 years old and his relationship with his team had suffered. The Cowboys tried to re-sign him in 2022, but Gregory balked at the wording of his contract and immediately signed with the Broncos. He missed 11 games with Denver that year, which somewhat alleviated his sense of defeat.
McGovern missed his rookie year due to injury, but returned as a versatile backup. He started 14 games in 2020-2021 and 15 in 2022 after an injury to Tyron Smith caused rookie Tyler Smith to move from guard to tackle. McGovern filled the space and did well enough to lead Dallas to 12 wins in multiple seasons, the best performance since his time here.
9. CB Chidobe Awuzie (2017 2nd round)
8. OL Connor Williams (2018 2nd round)
On the other side of the ball, Augie and Williams were similar in that they both started many games for Dallas but didn't make much of a splash. Both players did not stay on as their rookie contracts expired, and went on to find further success at their next club. There's not much to differentiate between the two here, so I'll give a slight nod to Williams, who started 51 games for the Cowboys while Aussie only started 42.
Players like this show us that our expectations can be unreasonable, even for second-round picks. There's no guarantee that even a first-round pick will land an immediate fourth-year starter. That didn't happen with Taco Charlton and we're still waiting for Maji Smith. So those who look back on Awuzie and Williams as failed picks may need to chill out a little.
Of course, I wish they were all Larry Arens and Darren Woodsons. But one of them is in Canton, and there should be another. That's not a hurdle to protect a second-rounder. You can want whatever you want, but it's more ideal for a player to be competent and play at a starting level for the majority of his time with the team. You want to see them do enough work to earn a second contract, but sometimes other circumstances get in the way.
7. DT Osa Odighizuwa (2021 3rd round)
In just three seasons, Odighizuwa has already established himself as Dallas' top defensive tackle, and arguably the best defensive tackle they've had in a while. Although Odighizuwa is still waiting to break out as a star, he is ranked 15th in the NFL among all DTs, according to one source, and has immediately strengthened the Cowboys' defense.
Assuming he plays at the same level in 2024, is that enough to sign Odighizuwa to a second contract? He's more visible than players like Awuzie and Williams, but he's also up against big names like Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb, all of whom need new contracts.
Players who receive a second contract with the same team are very important when discussing the success of a pick. Will that player fill a need for many seasons, or will the team end up spending another pick in the same spot three or four years from now? That makes sense in a backup role, but the second-day You want to use your pick as a starter for a longer period of time. We'll see what Odighizuwa's future holds and whether he'll move up on this list as his tenure in Dallas increases.
6. DT Maliek Collins (2016 3rd round)
It's easy to fly under the radar when you're in the same draft class as Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Jaylon Smith. Collins was never a star, but like Odighizuwa, he was an instant starter in every game in Dallas. He didn't get the second contract I talked about earlier, but he put in a lot of effort while being undervalued for his third-round pick.
Collins didn't get the benefit of playing with a world-class talent like Micah Parsons on the Cowboys' defensive line. DeMarcus Lawrence broke out in 2017-2018, but Dallas' pass rush was middling to poor. Collins would have had a better chance to shine with the help around him, especially if Randy Gregory hadn't been MIA so often, or if Dallas hadn't wasted a first-rounder in 2017 on Taco Charlton.
5. LB Jaylon Smith (2016 2nd round)
Like Gregory, Smith was a classic case of “you get what you pay for.” Both fell to the second round for reasons. Gregory had personal troubles and Smith suffered a major injury to his knee at the end of his college career. The Cowboys accepted the risk and hoped for a steal, but instead got exactly what everyone feared.
However, unlike Gregory, Smith managed to put everything together over several seasons. He was one of the league's best linebackers in 2018, but the wheels quickly started coming off on his knee and he quickly became a shell in 2020. The rapid physical decline also appeared to affect Smith mentally, sabotaging his decision-making on the field.
It was hard to watch to see how talented Smith was and what he would have been like if he hadn't had his knee problems. But at least Smith had a few years to realize his NFL potential. And at least Dallas didn't risk a first-round pick to give him that opportunity.
4. CB Jordan Lewis (2017 3rd round)
Lewis' stock is buoyed by longevity, and he's still with Dallas since 2017 through various free agency periods. Especially in the era before Trevon Diggs and Daron Brand, Lewis was one of the few Cowboys defensive backs who provided a playmaking spark and the occasional game-changing moment.
Lewis is a model slot corner who can hold up against fast-moving route runners while fearlessly providing support against the run. He had nine interceptions and 36 pass deflections in seven seasons, despite playing primarily as a backup. He also did well in other ways, with occasional sacks off blitzes and three forced fumbles last year alone.
Tough and well-rounded, Lewis has been a cornerstone of the defense since his rookie season. The Cowboys appear to believe in him as one of their top three corners in 2024, and the return on his pick will only increase.
3. WR Michael Gallup (2018 3rd round)
Gallup was never the Cowboys' best receiver, ceding his spot to Cole Beasley, Amari Cooper, and CeeDee Lamb at various points during his six-year tenure. But despite not being a top target overall, he was at times an absolutely reliable option for Dak Prescott in clutch moments. With an impressive highlight reel of athletic catches, Gallup offered more than enough for a third-round pick.
In 2019, Gallup had more than 1,100 receiving yards despite Cooper making the Pro Bowl for his work. He gained 843 yards as the third receiver after Lamb arrived in 2020, and was poised to do the same in 2021 until his season ended with a torn ACL.
Sadly, Gallup never really recovered from that injury. The following year, he became less of a viable target, and he got even worse in 2023, dropping down the depth chart and ultimately being released in March of this year. But at his peak, he was a highly productive receiver, with some sensational moments with toe-tapping, body-twisting catches that many of his peers were unable to pull off. .
2. CB Trevon Diggs (2020 2nd round)
You could also argue that Diggs should already be number one on this list. His 2021 season was his best in a single year with 11 interceptions, but that was followed by an improvement in his overall defensive coverage and he barely threw the ball the following season. But Diggs, who missed 2023 with a knee injury, must now make a successful return to show his durability and the long-term value of the pick.
Diggs not only has to show that he's healed from his knee injury, but he also has to show that he can be the same elite corner under a new defensive coordinator. Thankfully, Mike Zimmer has no problem making CB look good. He had a productive career with former Cowboy Terrence Newman well into his late 30s and helped Xavier Rhodes earn an All-Pro title.
Hopefully, we'll be able to talk about Diggs long into the future as one of the Cowboys' best defenders. If he can get back to form, he'll definitely be the team's best second-round pick on this list, maybe even back in the 90s.
1. DE DeMarcus Lawrence (2014 2nd round)
Lawrence's durability gives him a slight advantage over Diggs. He has been a mainstay player since his second season, reaching his peak in 2017 when he was selected as a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, and remains a solid running defender and leader of the defense even in his 30s. It continued to exist. After a three-year hiatus, Lawrence remains one of the Cowboys' strengths, returning to the Pro Bowl each of the past two seasons.
Lawrence, who was Dallas' longest-tenured player, just shy of Zach Martin, has not only contributed over the last 10 years, but has played at a high level across the board. He overcame adversity with an injury in his rookie season and a four-game suspension for PEDs in his third year, but they didn't derail his career. He broke out in his fourth season, earning the franchise tag for the second year in a row, and has been a consistent contributor ever since.
With Diggs and Lawrence, it would have been great for Dallas to get two in the second round and tie it on opening day. We wish it happened more often, but so do the other 31 teams and their fans.
