Complete Summary of Cowboys who were ranked Top 10 by GM/Coaches/Players in ESPN

[J-man]

QB

Top 3: Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen
Cowboys: Dak Prescott #10 (highest vote - #7, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year ranked #7)
Comments: Good but not Great, Has to prove he can play well in Playoffs, Good pocket poise, Always deadly when they space the field, Sometimes needs an extra hitch to confirm things but usually good decision maker

RB

Top 3: Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Nick Chubb
Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott Honorable Mention (last year in top 10)
Comments: Burst is gone

WR

Top 3: Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, Ja'marr Chase
Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb Honorable Mention
Comments: On cusp of Top 10, So talented that game comes easy, Can break off multiple guys for a TD
FYI - Amari Cooper not voted by anyone

TE

Top 3: George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Darren Waller
Cowboys: Dalton Schultz #8 (highest vote - #5, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year not on list)
Comments: Dependable, Versatile Blocking, Good Hands, Can handle multiple roles - catching & blocking, Not dynamic but solid

OT

Top 3: Trent Williams, Tristan Wirfs, David Bakhtiari
Cowboys: Tyron Smith #5 (highest vote - #1, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year #9)
Comments: Old & injured but still one of the best, Athleticism & Strength accented by savvy and toughness
FYI - La'el Collins not voted by anyone

OG/C

Top 3: Quenton Nelson, Zack Martin, Brandon Scherff
Cowboys: Zack Martin #2 (highest vote - #1, lowest vote #7, last year #2)
Comments: Smarter than %*#$#, Never have to worry about him when he's one-on-one, Doesn't miss assignments, Knows his body, Knows when to push and when to back off, Quintessential Guard

DEFENSE

EDGE

Top 3: T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa
Cowboys: Demarcus Lawrence Honorable Mention
Comments: Many teams wanted him if he was going to be a cap cut, He's like what Clowney was in Houston and used all over place now, If he's healthy still highly productive, King on chessboard
FYI - Randy Gregory not voted by anyone

DT

Top 3: Aaron Donald, Jeffery Simmons, Chris Jones
Cowboys: None
Comments: N/A

LB

Top 3: Darius Leonard, Micah Parsons, Fred Warner
Cowboys: Micah Parsons #2 (highest vote - #1 Lowest vote #10 (?? i guess some confused by position??), last year N/A)
Comments: He's not on off-ball-LB, he's a 3-4 OLB that DC schemes into opportunities, If Dallas does anything but let him rush then they are crazy, Best playmaker on this list, Incredible talent, Great speed

S

Top 3: Justin Simmons, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Kevin Byard
Cowboys: None
Comments: N/A

CB

Top 3: Jalen Ramsey, Marshon Lattimore, Jaire Alexander
Cowboys: Trevon Diggs #10 (highest vote - #3, Lowest vote - out of top ten, last year N/A)
Comments: Boom or Bust, Love his instincts but if it cost big plays I don't like the interceptions, He'll get better as he learns from chances he took, Getting interceptions on plays that more seasoned corners would play soundly with less risk

 

[CowboyRoy]

This is a famous annual article ESPN publishes where they claim to have anonymously questioned many execs, coaches and players in the league to rank the top 10 at positions.

Players can show up in the top 10, or Honorable Mention, which means someone put them in Top 10, but not enough voters.

Good confirmations on players discussed in forums. You can see on some players, the NFL is just as flip-flop as the forum.

Six players ranked in top ten. Three players with Honorable Mentions, near top ten.

OFFENSE

QB

Top 3: Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen
Cowboys: Dak Prescott #10 (highest vote - #7, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year ranked #7)
Comments: Good but not Great, Has to prove he can play well in Playoffs, Good pocket poise, Always deadly when they space the field, Sometimes needs an extra hitch to confirm things but usually good decision maker

RB

Top 3: Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Nick Chubb
Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott Honorable Mention (last year in top 10)
Comments: Burst is gone

WR

Top 3: Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, Ja'marr Chase
Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb Honorable Mention
Comments: On cusp of Top 10, So talented that game comes easy, Can break off multiple guys for a TD
FYI - Amari Cooper not voted by anyone

TE

Top 3: George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Darren Waller
Cowboys: Dalton Schultz #8 (highest vote - #5, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year not on list)
Comments: Dependable, Versatile Blocking, Good Hands, Can handle multiple roles - catching & blocking, Not dynamic but solid

OT

Top 3: Trent Williams, Tristan Wirfs, David Bakhtiari
Cowboys: Tyron Smith #5 (highest vote - #1, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year #9)
Comments: Old & injured but still one of the best, Athleticism & Strength accented by savvy and toughness
FYI - La'el Collins not voted by anyone

OG/C

Top 3: Quenton Nelson, Zack Martin, Brandon Scherff
Cowboys: Zack Martin #2 (highest vote - #1, lowest vote #7, last year #2)
Comments: Smarter than %*#$#, Never have to worry about him when he's one-on-one, Doesn't miss assignments, Knows his body, Knows when to push and when to back off, Quintessential Guard

DEFENSE

EDGE

Top 3: T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa
Cowboys: Demarcus Lawrence Honorable Mention
Comments: Many teams wanted him if he was going to be a cap cut, He's like what Clowney was in Houston and used all over place now, If he's healthy still highly productive, King on chessboard
FYI - Randy Gregory not voted by anyone

DT

Top 3: Aaron Donald, Jeffery Simmons, Chris Jones
Cowboys: None
Comments: N/A

LB

Top 3: Darius Leonard, Micah Parsons, Fred Warner
Cowboys: Micah Parsons #2 (highest vote - #1 Lowest vote #10 (?? i guess some confused by position??), last year N/A)
Comments: He's not on off-ball-LB, he's a 3-4 OLB that DC schemes into opportunities, If Dallas does anything but let him rush then they are crazy, Best playmaker on this list, Incredible talent, Great speed

S

Top 3: Justin Simmons, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Kevin Byard
Cowboys: None
Comments: N/A

CB

Top 3: Jalen Ramsey, Marshon Lattimore, Jaire Alexander
Cowboys: Trevon Diggs #10 (highest vote - #3, Lowest vote - out of top ten, last year N/A)
Comments: Boom or Bust, Love his instincts but if it cost big plays I don't like the interceptions, He'll get better as he learns from chances he took, Getting interceptions on plays that more seasoned corners would play soundly with less risk

Yawn..............yet another list that has Dak top 10.

Curious comment on Dak in the playoffs as he played well in his first 3 playoff games. Last year was the first year he didnt have a good game. Selective memory.

 

[ESisback]

You question nothing just like Jerry and co want.

Jerry thanks you for your 26 years of not questioning anything about this organization and just "enjoying" the scraps they give you instead.

When did you make the decision to just go with whatever they do, trust them fully, and not criticize and critique anymore?[/QUOTE

I question lots of things. I just don’t let it consume me. I try to find the middle ground, because I have ZERO ability to influence anything Dallas does. Life’s too short to waste time being miserable, and I’ll go with Dan Quinn’s take over yours.

 

[CowboyRoy]

1)All rankings are invalid and irrelevant, just opinion pieces to generate click$.
2)According to you, anyone that rates us top ten at virtually any position is wrong.

Is there ANYTHING about this team you enjoy? Don’t get a lot of party invites, do you?

What he is supposed to do when all these rankings keep coming out that make him look like a clown? The natural reaction for someone getting proven completely wrong by all these lists is to discount them.

Its the only play the poor little football know nothing troll can make.

 

[ESisback]

What he is supposed to do when all these rankings keep coming out that make him look like a clown? The natural reaction for someone getting proven completely wrong by all these lists is to discount them.

Its the only play the poor little football know nothing troll can make.

I just wonder why someone would call themselves a fan of a team that never does anything right.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I just wonder why someone would call themselves a fan of a team that never does anything right.

He isnt a fan. Just a troll. He literally comes on here to do nothing but get attention and annoy the faithful.

Probably why I put him on ignore a long time ago. Its amazing. The troll just disappears.

 

[ESisback]

As far as Parsons is concerned, until the other 10 prove they can stop the run, he will not be a pure pass rusher.

Not defending the run in the playoffs beat the Cowboys and every OC that will face them knows that.

I think we’ll be better against the run this year. I expect bigger contributions from several youngsters.

 

[CouchCoach]

I think we’ll be better against the run this year. I expect bigger contributions from several youngsters.

I don't know if I "expect" that. I certainly hope for it but I have seen plenty of these promising rising youngsters fizzle.

I do think the Cowboys are going to have to prove that they can stop the run and smart OC's are going to want Parsons tackling their RB's, not their QB. At the speed he can achieve in such a short distance, he can bring some pain.

 

[J-man]

QB

Top 3: Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen
Cowboys: Dak Prescott #10 (highest vote - #7, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year ranked #7)
Comments: Good but not Great, Has to prove he can play well in Playoffs, Good pocket poise, Always deadly when they space the field, Sometimes needs an extra hitch to confirm things but usually good decision maker
I agree with this, I have him slightly higher on my QB board, but top 10 is accurate.

RB

Top 3: Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Nick Chubb
Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott Honorable Mention (last year in top 10)
Comments: Burst is gone
agree here too, he is slower but still a good RB

WR

Top 3: Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, Ja'marr Chase
Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb Honorable Mention
Comments: On cusp of Top 10, So talented that game comes easy, Can break off multiple guys for a TD
FYI - Amari Cooper not voted by anyone
I'm waiting to see on this one, he has the talent but still makes me go WTH from time to time.

TE

Top 3: George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Darren Waller
Cowboys: Dalton Schultz #8 (highest vote - #5, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year not on list)
Comments: Dependable, Versatile Blocking, Good Hands, Can handle multiple roles - catching & blocking, Not dynamic but solid
I think this is pretty accurate too. (why do so many think Waller is so good? way over hyped IMO)

OT

Top 3: Trent Williams, Tristan Wirfs, David Bakhtiari
Cowboys: Tyron Smith #5 (highest vote - #1, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year #9)
Comments: Old & injured but still one of the best, Athleticism & Strength accented by savvy and toughness
FYI - La'el Collins not voted by anyone
When healthy he's still one of the best in football, hopefully we see that this season.

OG/C

Top 3: Quenton Nelson, Zack Martin, Brandon Scherff
Cowboys: Zack Martin #2 (highest vote - #1, lowest vote #7, last year #2)
Comments: Smarter than %*#$#, Never have to worry about him when he's one-on-one, Doesn't miss assignments, Knows his body, Knows when to push and when to back off, Quintessential Guard
Well DAH

DEFENSE

EDGE

Top 3: T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa
Cowboys: Demarcus Lawrence Honorable Mention
Comments: Many teams wanted him if he was going to be a cap cut, He's like what Clowney was in Houston and used all over place now, If he's healthy still highly productive, King on chessboard
FYI - Randy Gregory not voted by anyone
D-Law is just a twitch to slow to get the coveted sack numbers, but still a very good all around DE.

DT

Top 3: Aaron Donald, Jeffery Simmons, Chris Jones
Cowboys: None
Comments: N/A
So sad, can Galli or Odiggy make the leap?

LB

Top 3: Darius Leonard, Micah Parsons, Fred Warner
Cowboys: Micah Parsons #2 (highest vote - #1 Lowest vote #10 (?? i guess some confused by position??), last year N/A)
Comments: He's not on off-ball-LB, he's a 3-4 OLB that DC schemes into opportunities, If Dallas does anything but let him rush then they are crazy, Best playmaker on this list, Incredible talent, Great speed
I have been saying this forever. His best trait is attacking the football!

S

Top 3: Justin Simmons, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Kevin Byard
Cowboys: None
Comments: N/A

CB

Top 3: Jalen Ramsey, Marshon Lattimore, Jaire Alexander
Cowboys: Trevon Diggs #10 (highest vote - #3, Lowest vote - out of top ten, last year N/A)
Comments: Boom or Bust, Love his instincts but if it cost big plays I don't like the interceptions, He'll get better as he learns from chances he took, Getting interceptions on plays that more seasoned corners would play soundly with less risk

A bit high IMO, he needs to curb the mental errors.

 

[J-man]

LB

Top 3: Darius Leonard, Micah Parsons, Fred Warner
Cowboys: Micah Parsons #2 (highest vote - #1 Lowest vote #10 (?? i guess some confused by position??), last year N/A)
Comments: He's not on off-ball-LB, he's a 3-4 OLB that DC schemes into opportunities, If Dallas does anything but let him rush then they are crazy, Best playmaker on this list, Incredible talent, Great speed
I have been saying this forever. His best trait is attacking the football!

 

[CWR]

Actually, for a pass catching TE, which is his primary function, he is not a bad blocker.

Except this offense requires him to do both.

Hes not Travis Kelce, it's past time he get back to adequate blocking. He left Stanford as a better blocker. I know he's capable.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

This is a famous annual article ESPN publishes where they claim to have anonymously questioned many execs, coaches and players in the league to rank the top 10 at positions.

Players can show up in the top 10, or Honorable Mention, which means someone put them in Top 10, but not enough voters.

Good confirmations on players discussed in forums. You can see on some players, the NFL is just as flip-flop as the forum.

Six players ranked in top ten. Three players with Honorable Mentions, near top ten.

OFFENSE

QB

Top 3: Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen
Cowboys: Dak Prescott #10 (highest vote - #7, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year ranked #7)
Comments: Good but not Great, Has to prove he can play well in Playoffs, Good pocket poise, Always deadly when they space the field, Sometimes needs an extra hitch to confirm things but usually good decision maker

RB

Top 3: Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Nick Chubb
Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott Honorable Mention (last year in top 10)
Comments: Burst is gone

WR

Top 3: Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, Ja'marr Chase
Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb Honorable Mention
Comments: On cusp of Top 10, So talented that game comes easy, Can break off multiple guys for a TD
FYI - Amari Cooper not voted by anyone

TE

Top 3: George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Darren Waller
Cowboys: Dalton Schultz #8 (highest vote - #5, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year not on list)
Comments: Dependable, Versatile Blocking, Good Hands, Can handle multiple roles - catching & blocking, Not dynamic but solid

OT

Top 3: Trent Williams, Tristan Wirfs, David Bakhtiari
Cowboys: Tyron Smith #5 (highest vote - #1, lowest vote - out of top 10, last year #9)
Comments: Old & injured but still one of the best, Athleticism & Strength accented by savvy and toughness
FYI - La'el Collins not voted by anyone

OG/C

Top 3: Quenton Nelson, Zack Martin, Brandon Scherff
Cowboys: Zack Martin #2 (highest vote - #1, lowest vote #7, last year #2)
Comments: Smarter than %*#$#, Never have to worry about him when he's one-on-one, Doesn't miss assignments, Knows his body, Knows when to push and when to back off, Quintessential Guard

DEFENSE

EDGE

Top 3: T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa
Cowboys: Demarcus Lawrence Honorable Mention
Comments: Many teams wanted him if he was going to be a cap cut, He's like what Clowney was in Houston and used all over place now, If he's healthy still highly productive, King on chessboard
FYI - Randy Gregory not voted by anyone

DT

Top 3: Aaron Donald, Jeffery Simmons, Chris Jones
Cowboys: None
Comments: N/A

LB

Top 3: Darius Leonard, Micah Parsons, Fred Warner
Cowboys: Micah Parsons #2 (highest vote - #1 Lowest vote #10 (?? i guess some confused by position??), last year N/A)
Comments: He's not on off-ball-LB, he's a 3-4 OLB that DC schemes into opportunities, If Dallas does anything but let him rush then they are crazy, Best playmaker on this list, Incredible talent, Great speed

S

Top 3: Justin Simmons, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Kevin Byard
Cowboys: None
Comments: N/A

CB

Top 3: Jalen Ramsey, Marshon Lattimore, Jaire Alexander
Cowboys: Trevon Diggs #10 (highest vote - #3, Lowest vote - out of top ten, last year N/A)
Comments: Boom or Bust, Love his instincts but if it cost big plays I don't like the interceptions, He'll get better as he learns from chances he took, Getting interceptions on plays that more seasoned corners would play soundly with less risk

wait, somebody had Martin at #7!! who was that idiot?

 

[G2]

Schultz is awful at blocking in space and anyone ranking Diggs out of the 10 best loses all credibility from an already low bar.

 

[CouchCoach]

Schultz is awful at blocking in space and anyone ranking Diggs out of the 10 best loses all credibility from an already low bar.

Yep, hard not to rank the leading picker in the top 10. However, they watch all the plays, not just the ones that he picks. I am not sure where he'd rank just on coverage skills alone.

 

[ESisback]

I don't know if I "expect" that. I certainly hope for it but I have seen plenty of these promising rising youngsters fizzle.

I do think the Cowboys are going to have to prove that they can stop the run and smart OC's are going to want Parsons tackling their RB's, not their QB. At the speed he can achieve in such a short distance, he can bring some pain.

I truly believe Gallimore and Odiggy will both take another step up, and I’m intrigued by Ridgeway.

I think our pass rush will be prolific, and our LB situation isn’t as thin as some think, with Parsons Cox and LVE. Quinn also likes to utilize Kearse, and Markese Bell may make the team in a similar role. Sure, injury would destroy us, but every team has a similar position.

 

[CouchCoach]

Schultz is awful at blocking in space and anyone ranking Diggs out of the 10 best loses all credibility from an already low bar.

Novacek wasn't a great blocker in space and Witten struggled as well. They tried Witten at H back and he struggled in space.

They are not many TE's like Kittle and more like Goedert, Henry and Kelce.

 

[conner01]

As far as Parsons is concerned, until the other 10 prove they can stop the run, he will not be a pure pass rusher.

Not defending the run in the playoffs beat the Cowboys and every OC that will face them knows that.

Many times last year he was at LB because we needed help at LB
Rushing the passer all day takes him out of many of the run plays
I think Quinn is smarter than most of us here
He wants him making plays
That’s rushing on pass plays and stopping the run on run plays
Seems pretty logical to me
But some here think they are smarter than Quinn so they want him setting on the edge all day

 

[G2]

Yep, hard not to rank the leading picker in the top 10. However, they watch all the plays, not just the ones that he picks. I am not sure where he'd rank just on coverage skills alone.

You don't get 11 picks, 2 pick 6's and over 20 passes defended unless you have exceptional coverage skills. I've seen every snap.

 

[JoeKing]

Lower your expectations in 2022. Sometimes you have to take a step back before you can go forward. I'm sorry Cowboys Nation, we have waited long enough for better things but our wait will be just a little longer. Look for better things to happen in 2023. Patience is a virtue!.

 

[G2]

Novacek wasn't a great blocker in space and Witten struggled as well. They tried Witten at H back and he struggled in space.

They are not many TE's like Kittle and more like Goedert, Henry and Kelce.

Sorry, any ranking that has our TE as the highest isn't accurate.