Cowboys All-Time Ranking Of Top 10 Undrafted Free Agents From Tony Romo To Drew Pearson

[big dog cowboy]

Pretty good list. Biggest thing that stuck out to me was the lack of players from recent years. Only one (Bailey) in the last 20 years? Oh, Jerry that's right.

Over the decades, under Tex Schramm, Tom Landry and Gil Brandt, the Cowboys have found UDFA gems, an effort that continued under Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson and still continues today.
Richie Whitt
Dec 20, 2024

FRISCO - No team in the NFL can match the rich history of the Dallas Cowboys when it comes to signing undrafted free agents ... and working with them to develop the UDFAs into stardom.

Running back Rico Dowdle is presently making his case to appear somewhere on that list, with coach Mike McCarthy noting that the 2024 roster is dotted with so many UDFAs that is proves "we kick (expletive) in the eight round.''

10. Dave Manders
9. Dan Bailey
8. Mark Tuinei
7. Bill Bates
6. Nate Newton
5. Everson Walls
4. Tony Romo
3. Cornell Green
2. Cliff Harris
1. Drew Pearson

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/dallas...drafted-free-agents-tony-romo-to-drew-pearson

 

[MoistMayonnaise]

Romo was in the last twenty years.

 

[gtb1943]

Cornell Green did not play college football and then was an ALL Pro at both CB and Safety. Landry moved him to Safety and Green said that gave him five more years at least in the NFL since he knew his days as a starting CB were nearing an end.

 

[xwalker]

Pretty good list. Biggest thing that stuck out to me was the lack of players from recent years. Only one (Bailey) in the last 20 years? Oh, Jerry that's right.

Over the decades, under Tex Schramm, Tom Landry and Gil Brandt, the Cowboys have found UDFA gems, an effort that continued under Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson and still continues today.
Richie Whitt
Dec 20, 2024

FRISCO - No team in the NFL can match the rich history of the Dallas Cowboys when it comes to signing undrafted free agents ... and working with them to develop the UDFAs into stardom.

Running back Rico Dowdle is presently making his case to appear somewhere on that list, with coach Mike McCarthy noting that the 2024 roster is dotted with so many UDFAs that is proves "we kick (expletive) in the eight round.''

10. Dave Manders
9. Dan Bailey
8. Mark Tuinei
7. Bill Bates
6. Nate Newton
5. Everson Walls
4. Tony Romo
3. Cornell Green
2. Cliff Harris
1. Drew Pearson

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/dallas...drafted-free-agents-tony-romo-to-drew-pearson

Mark Tuinei was the starting LT on 3 Super Bowl winning teams.

How could Bill Bates possibly rank higher than Tuinei?

Does Brandon Aubrey count as a UDFA?

 

[gimmesix]

Mark Tuinei was the starting LT on 3 Super Bowl winning teams.

How could Bill Bates possibly rank higher than Tuinei?

Does Brandon Aubrey count as a UDFA?

I don't think Aubrey will, although Newton is on the list and I believe he was playing in the USFL when we signed him. (In fact, he was actually a UDFA for Washington before going to the USFL.) I did not know he was in a serious car accident the night that Washington cut him.

 

[RodeoJake]

Green would be #1 on this list if I put it together.

 

[nobody]

Personally, I'd put Bill Bates, Nate Newton, and Everson Walls ahead of Romo on that list most likely.

 

[cowboyec]

s michael downs was another great udfa.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Personally, I'd put Bill Bates, Nate Newton, and Everson Walls ahead of Romo on that list most likely.

What metric are you using? I kinda agree with you on Walls but no way Newton or Bates accomplished as much as Romo. Besides Romo gets extra markers for positional challenges IMO.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Running back Rico Dowdle is presently making his case to appear somewhere on that list, with coach Mike McCarthy noting that the 2024 roster is dotted with so many UDFAs that is proves "we kick (expletive) in the eight round

I like Rico but there is no way in hell he's making a case to be on this list ........c'mon dude (LOL)

 

[KJJ]

Green would be #1 on this list if I put it together.

Are you serious? Green isn’t in the Hall of Fame or the Cowboys ROH. He was a really good player but NO WAY should he be number one on that list. I actually think he’s a little too high on that list.

 

[diamonddelts]

What metric are you using? I kinda agree with you on Walls but no way Newton or Bates accomplished as much as Romo. Besides Romo gets extra markers for positional challenges IMO.

Huh? Romo never won anything of significance.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Huh? Romo never won anything of significance.

No, he hasn't but comparing his accomplishments as a QB to a safety and guard is misguided. Sure Nate and Bill were on Super Bowl teams but as a QB, Romo had way more responsibility ..........

Romo

Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Pro (2014) 4× Pro Bowl (2006, 2007, 2009, 2014) NFL passer rating leader (2014) NFL completion percentage leader (2014) Walter Payton Award (2002)

 

[RodeoJake]

Are you serious? Green isn’t in the Hall of Fame or the Cowboys ROH. He was a really good player but NO WAY should he be number one on that list. I actually think he’s a little too high on that list.

Dead serious

Super Bowl champion (VI)
5× Pro Bowl (1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972)
3× First-team All-Pro (1966, 1967, 1969)
Second-team All-Pro (1968)
NFL All-Rookie Team (1962)
Dallas Cowboys 25th Anniversary Team

His omission from the ROH and HOF are egregious.

 

[KJJ]

Dead serious

Super Bowl champion (VI)
5× Pro Bowl (1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972)
3× First-team All-Pro (1966, 1967, 1969)
Second-team All-Pro (1968)
NFL All-Rookie Team (1962)
Dallas Cowboys 25th Anniversary Team

His omission from the ROH and HOF are egregious.

No argument he was a great player but I certainly wouldn’t put him ahead of Pearson and Harris.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Romo was in the last twenty years.

2003.

Not in last 20 years.

 

[RodeoJake]

No argument he was a great player but I certainly wouldn’t put him ahead of Pearson and Harris.

Yeah. Probably not, but he has always been slighted.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I like Rico but there is no way in hell he's making a case to be on this list ........c'mon dude (LOL)

I thought that was a bit of a reach also when I read it.

 

[irishline]

Romo was in the last twenty years.

Dan Bailey was 8 years later than Romo. (2011 vs. 2003)

 

[Bobhaze]

Pretty good list. Biggest thing that stuck out to me was the lack of players from recent years. Only one (Bailey) in the last 20 years? Oh, Jerry that's right.

Over the decades, under Tex Schramm, Tom Landry and Gil Brandt, the Cowboys have found UDFA gems, an effort that continued under Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson and still continues today.
Richie Whitt
Dec 20, 2024

FRISCO - No team in the NFL can match the rich history of the Dallas Cowboys when it comes to signing undrafted free agents ... and working with them to develop the UDFAs into stardom.

Running back Rico Dowdle is presently making his case to appear somewhere on that list, with coach Mike McCarthy noting that the 2024 roster is dotted with so many UDFAs that is proves "we kick (expletive) in the eight round.''

10. Dave Manders
9. Dan Bailey
8. Mark Tuinei
7. Bill Bates
6. Nate Newton
5. Everson Walls
4. Tony Romo
3. Cornell Green
2. Cliff Harris
1. Drew Pearson

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/dallas...drafted-free-agents-tony-romo-to-drew-pearson

Great list. Two changes I would make:
- Exchange Dan Bailey for Brandon Aubrey.
-Mark Tuinei and Dave Manders were both starters in Super Bowls. Bill Bates belongs on this list but not ahead of them.