News: BTB: Which Cowboys player will be next to make the NFL’s top 100 list?

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Seven players from the Cowboys made the list this year, but the team has a few players on the rise. Which player will be next to join the list?

The Dallas Cowboys have a talented team. There aren’t many that would refute that idea. Recently, they had seven players make the NFL’s Top 100 list. That got me thinking, how does this rate compared to other teams who have several players make the list too? When you take into account how many players made the list, and how high they were ranked, which team is the most top heavy in talent?

So I simply ranked all the players on the top 100 list and scored them in reverse of their rankings. Tom Brady, who was ranked #1 would be worth 100 points. And Joey Bosa, who was ranked 100, would be worth 1 point. So which team emerged with the highest score when I added up all the points? Here are the top five teams based on this scoring method:

#1 Seattle Seahawks, 470 points

The Seahawks finish at the top. They have eight players on this list and six of them are ranked higher than 50. There isn’t much doubt that Seattle has a strong roster. They have stars and they have depth.

#2 Dallas Cowboys, 384 points

The Cowboys score well because they have three players in the top 20, but still add four more players later.

#3 Kansas City Chiefs, 342 points

The Chiefs have a nice steady dose of players throughout the list. Breakout star Tyreek Hill was a nice surprise and the team continues to get good play from underrated quarterback Alex Smith.

#4 Atlanta Falcons, 310 points

The Falcons have some stars, but don’t have the depth these other teams do. Julio Jones is the highest ranked player from these five teams and Matt Ryan is the highest ranked quarterback. Dynamic running back Devonta Freeman broke onto the scene in 2015 and proved he was the real deal last year with another strong season.

#5 Pittsburgh Steelers, 272 points

The Steelers finished high as a team thanks to their own triplets - Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, and Ben Roethlisberger. They also have a stud offensive linemen in David DeCastro. You might remember DeCastro as a player many of us wanted that year the Cowboys drafted Morris Claiborne. Oops.

The Steelers have no defensive players on this list and that’s a problem for them. The “Steel Curtain” they are not.


The Cowboys have the stars. And the best part of all that is the fact that they are so young. Five of them are 26 years old or younger with Dez Bryant (28) and Sean Lee (30) being the elders of the group.

While the Cowboys are top heavy with stars, they have some pretty good depth as well. They have some other young players that are looking to take the next step. So, I went to twitter and posed this question:

Which Cowboys player do you think is the next to make it on NFL's Top 100 list? pic.twitter.com/ycuOlR5u08

— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) July 1, 2017​

Let’s see what you had to say...

Maliek Collins

96 https://t.co/RhMFGL5xkR

— B✭Schlerf (@YumaCactus) July 1, 2017​

Our own YumaCactus is rolling with last year’s third-round pick, Maliek Collins. He’d be my top choice as well. He’s the next big thing in Dallas and had a great rookie campaign last year. He’s explosive off the ball and is exhibiting power up the middle. Early reports are that he’s giving guard Zack Martin fits in camp. Everyone is so focused on generating pressure along the edge, but good things come when you can get pressure up the middle.

La’el Collins

Queston: What’s better than three star offensive linemen?

Answer: Four

As we move from one Collins to another, you have to be intrigued about the chances of La’el Collins of becoming the next piece of the Cowboys great wall. We all know he should have been a top 10 pick in the 2015 draft, but unfortunate circumstances left him undrafted. The Cowboys were able to capitalize on this by signing him as an undrafted free agent.

La’el Collins was an outstanding tackle for Louisiana State. The Cowboys were already set at tackle, so they moved him inside to guard. But with Doug Free retiring, the team made the switch and now Collins will go back to the tackle position. If he plays at a level that made him a blue-chip prospect a couple years ago, we could see another Cowboys offensive lineman join the greatness club.

Jaylon Smith

@DannyPhantom24 Jaylon Smith will be the next player in top 100

— Michael Barish (@barish24) July 1, 2017

Jaylon Smith. https://t.co/imGE4ohwR0

— ✭ Nancy ✭ (@I_Love_Dak) July 1, 2017​

There isn’t a player that has generated a greater mystery as to what we’ll see than Jaylon Smith. Reports have been positive, but so many are still skeptical until they see him in live action. That sounds reasonable.

Even though he’ll need a brace to help with his movement, it’s not out of the question that he still moves really well. That’s certainly possible. Smith has the talent to be at top player in this league, but it’s all going to come down to how much his health restricts him.

It’s very possible that no new Cowboys make the list next year and if that happens, the extra year of rehabilitating could make Smith in line for a nice resurgence in 2018. That alone makes him a reasonable candidate for this question.

Byron Jones


The Mothership recently answered the question “Which Cowboys Player Will Earn His First Pro Bowl in 2017?” Dave Helman likes the chances of third-year player Byron Jones taking the next step this season.

I just feel like he’s up to the challenge of stepping up as one of the new veterans in the secondary. We know he’s got the athleticism to make plays on the ball. By adding two or three new, athletic corners to this secondary, I think it might put a little less strain on him – and that should hopefully free him up to make some plays. Safeties make the Pro Bowl by getting interceptions. If Byron can take his solid coverage and tackling skills and add, say, four interceptions to that, I think it’d be enough to get him to the Pro Bowl.
​

Dan Bailey

Dan Bailey https://t.co/zRlpw1TnDF

— Steven Johnston (@StevieJ626) July 1, 2017​

We all love Dan Bailey, but it should be noted that no kicker made the top 100 list. And honestly, it probably wouldn’t be a good thing if Bailey made it. That would likely mean the Cowboys were kicking way too many field goals instead of scoring touchdowns.

What about you? Do you agree with these choices or is there someone else you believe will be the next player to break into the top 100 list?

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