When you've been in the football business as long as Jerry Jones, you have to take the bad with the good. Let's take a look back at the worst draft picks of the Jerry Jones era.
Click here to see the Cowboys' top five draft picks during the Jerry Jones era.
david lafleur
draft: 1997, first race, 22nd overall
A very productive tight end has played for the Cowboys over the years. David LaFleur wasn't among them. The Cowboys gave LaFleur a first-round pick in the 1997 draft, hoping he would pick up where Jay Novacek left off. He was big and strong and was a first-team All-American at LSU. He had a promise.
That never happened.
LaFleur's size proved to be a disadvantage as a receiver. He was more slow than elusive, never catching a pass longer than 25 yards in his NFL career. LaFleur's four seasons with the Cowboys were his only four years in the NFL. He had 85 receptions, 729 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Despite starting 44 games, LaFleur only gained over 200 yards once during the season.
chante carver
draft: 1994, first race, 23rd overall
position: defense end
Nine years after defeating Kevin Brooks in the first round, Carver has failed to make any more of an impact. He played four seasons and recorded 11.5 sacks. Like Brooks, he never forced a fumble.
His biggest influence came after his career with the Cowboys ended, when he played for the XFL's Memphis Maniacs and then the Arena Football League's Dallas Desperados.
bobby carpenter
draft: 2006, first race, 18th overall
position: linebacker
The Cowboys saw something in Carpenter that few, if any, other NFL teams saw, believing he could play inside in a 3-4 defense. Carpenter's game was based more on speed and pass coverage than strength at the point of attack, and he was not fully prepared for the role.
The blame lies with the Cowboys' scouting department, not Carpenter. Coach Wade Phillips found a role for Carpenter in 2009. Carpenter was primarily used in pass coverage, contributing two sacks and 46 tackles. In his first three seasons combined, Carpenter had only one and a half sacks while participating in 50 tackles. He was traded to the Rams in 2010.
Taco Charlton
draft: First race of 2017, 28th overall
position: defense end
He had little impact on the team. The Cowboys took him over to replace TJ Watt, even though they thought Watt was more talented. That's because he fit the DE template better in the scheme the team employed in 2017.
Charlton's selection is something of a turning point in recent days, with the club now saying they will recruit their best players and adjust their system. In two seasons with the Cowboys, Charlton recorded four sacks and started seven games. He played for four other teams after being released by Dallas in 2019, before signing with the UFL's Birmingham Stallions in 2024.
dwayne goodrich
draft: 2000, 2nd round, 49th overall
position: cornerback
Goodrich was a bust on the field, but he became a tragic figure off the field.
On January 14, 2003, Goodrich was involved in a hit-and-run accident that killed two men who were trying to help another driver on Interstate 35 E. Goodrich was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison for vehicular homicide and failure to stop and render aid, and was eventually released in October 2011.
Goodrich was the Cowboys' No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft. This was a puzzling choice given his limited success in college. Goodrich struggled to get on the field for the Cowboys. He made just one start and made just 16 appearances in his two seasons with the club.
Goodrich's problems set the tone for what became a cursed draft class. In 2000, the Cowboys had only five picks. Only one of his draft picks, cornerback Mario Edwards, found meaningful playing time over his three years in the NFL.
2024 Draft Details:
— Dallas Cowboys 2023 Draft Review: Opening remarks leave a lot to be desired.
— Best offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, including Joe Alt, JC Latham, and more
— Potential Dallas Cowboys targets in each round of the NFL Draft
— Calvin Watkins' Cowboys 7th round mock draft: Strengthen OL early. A speedy second day choice?
—2024 NFL Mock Draft Roundup: See who the experts say the Cowboys will pick at No. 24
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