The Dallas Cowboys are sometimes viewed as an underachieving modern franchise, but their track record with first-round picks in the NFL Draft has always been very solid — from the current era all the way back to the franchise’s inception. Let’s take a look at every first-round pick in Cowboys history.
Dallas Cowboys First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History
The Cowboys haven’t been without their first-round misses, but the team’s history is quietly one of the strongest in the league. In the modern era, selections like Dez Bryant, Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons highlights the team’s ability to pinpoint top talent. Further back, the team’s success is even greater.
Before the turn of the century, Dallas drafted six Hall of Famers in Round 1. From 1988 to 1990, they selected three consecutive Hall of Fame players in wide receiver Michael Irvin, quarterback Troy Aikman, and running back Emmitt Smith — all of whom would help form the Cowboys’ dynasty of the 1990s.
In the 2023 Hall of Fame class, Cowboys’ 2005 first-round pick DeMarcus Ware became the team’s seventh Round 1 selection to don a golden jacket.
2024
- Tyler Guyton | Pick 29
OT, Oklahoma
2023
- Mazi Smith | Pick 26
DT, Michigan
2022
- Tyler Smith | Pick 24
OT, Tulsa
2021
- Micah Parsons | Pick 12
LB, Penn State
2020
- CeeDee Lamb | Pick 17
WR, Oklahoma
2019
The Cowboys traded the 27th pick to the Oakland Raiders.
2018
- Leighton Vander Esch | Pick 19
OLB, Boise State
2017
- Taco Charlton | Pick 28
DE, Michigan
2016
- Ezekiel Elliott | Pick 4
RB, Ohio State
2015
- Byron Jones | Pick 27
CB, Connecticut
2014
- Zack Martin | Pick 16
G, Notre Dame
2013
- Travis Frederick | Pick 31
C, Wisconsin
2012
- Morris Claiborne | Pick 6
DB, LSU
2011
- Tyron Smith | Pick 9
OT, USC
2010
- Dez Bryant | Pick 24
WR, Oklahoma State
2009
The Cowboys traded the 20th pick to the Detroit Lions.
2008
- Felix Jones | Pick 22
RB, Arkansas - Mike Jenkins | Pick 25
DB, South Florida
2007
- Anthony Spencer | Pick 26
DE, Purdue
2006
- Bobby Carpenter | Pick 18
LB, Ohio State
2005
- DeMarcus Ware* | Pick 11
LB, Troy - Marcus Spears | Pick 20
DE, LSU
2004
The Cowboys traded the 22nd pick to the Buffalo Bills.
2003
- Terence Newman | Pick 5
DB, Kansas State
2002
- Roy Williams | Pick 8
DB, Oklahoma
2001
The Cowboys traded the seventh pick to the Seattle Seahawks.
2000
The Cowboys traded the 19th pick to the Seattle Seahawks.
1999
- Ebenezer Ekuban | Pick 20
DE, North Carolina
1998
- Greg Ellis | Pick 8
DE, North Carolina
1997
- David LaFleur | Pick 22
TE, LSU
1996
The Cowboys traded the 30th pick to Washington.
1995
The Cowboys traded the 28th pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
1994
- Shante Carver | Pick 23
DE, Arizona State
1993
The Cowboys traded the 29th pick to the Green Bay Packers.
1992
- Kevin Smith | Pick 17
DB, Texas A&M - Robert Jones | Pick 24
LB, East Carolina
1991
- Russell Maryland | Pick 1
DT, Miami (FL) - Alvin Harper | Pick 12
WR, Tennessee - Kelvin Pritchett | Pick 20
DT, Mississippi
1990
- Emmitt Smith*| Pick 17
RB, Florida
1989
- Troy Aikman* | Pick 1
QB, UCLA
1988
- Michael Irvin* | Pick 11
WR, Miami (FL)
1987
- Danny Noonan | Pick 12
DT, Nebraska
1986
- Mike Sherrard | Pick 18
WR, UCLA
1985
- Kevin Brooks | Pick 17
DT, Michigan
1984
- Billy Cannon | Pick 25
LB, Texas A&M
1983
- Jim Jeffcoat | Pick 23
DE, Arizona State
1982
- Rod Hill | Pick 25
DB, Kentucky State
1981
- Howard Richards | Pick 26
G, Missouri
1980
The Cowboys traded the 24th pick to the Baltimore Colts.
1979
- Robert Shaw | Pick 27
C, Tennessee
1978
- Larry Bethea | Pick 28
DT, Michigan State
1977
- Tony Dorsett* | Pick 2
RB, Pittsburgh
1976
- Aaron Kyle | Pick 27
DB, Wyoming
1975
- Randy White* | Pick 2
DT, Maryland - Thomas Henderson | Pick 18
LB, Langston
1974
- Too Tall Jones | Pick 1
DE, Tennessee State - Charley Young | Pick 22
RB, North Carolina State
1973
- Billy Joe DuPree | Pick 20
TE, Michigan State
1972
- Bill Thomas | Pick 26
RB, Boston College
1971
- Tody Smith | Pick 25
DE, USC
1970
- Duane Thomas | Pick 23
RB, West Texas A&M
1969
- Calvin Hill | Pick 24
RB, Yale
1968
- Dennis Homan | Pick 20
WR, Alabama
1967
The Cowboys sent their selection to the Houston Oilers in exchange for the rights of Ralph Neely in 1965.
1966
- John Niland | Pick 5
G, Iowa
1965
- Craig Morton | Pick 5
QB, California
1964
- Scott Appleton | Pick 4
DT, Texas
1963
- Lee Roy Jordan | Pick 6
LB, Alabama
1962
The Cowboys traded the fourth pick to the Cleveland Browns.
1961
- Bob Lilly* | Pick 13
DT, TCU
*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame