DMN: Cowboys best/worst all-time draft picks: Quarterback

802dave

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Cowboys best/worst all-time draft picks: Quarterback
1:49 PM Mon, Mar 08, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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Best

Troy Aikman, UCLA
1989, First round (No.1 overall)

Since we only go back to 1967 in our selection process, this is the easiest pick. Had we used the entire franchise history, then getting Roger Staubach in the 10th round of the 1964 draft as a "future" player, Staubach would have topped the list.

Aikman holds or is tied for 47 passing records, including yards (32,942) and touchdowns (165) but Aikman wasn't judged on stats. He was judged on winning and he won three Super Bowls and was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXVII. He also won 90 games in the 1990s, which gave him more wins in a decade for a team than any quarter.

Danny White, Arizona State
1974, Third round (No. 53 overall)

In a franchise with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Staubach and Aikman, White's accomplishments get overlooked. He had a 62-30 record as a starter but three straight losses in NFC Conference Championship Games hurt his legacy.

Still, he threw for 21,959 yards and had 155 touchdown passes to go with one Pro Bowl appearance. He was also an excellent punter.

Worst

Quincy Carter, Georgia
2001, Second round (No. 53 overall)

Being picked at No. 53 overall was the biggest surprise of the 2001 draft and not his fault. The Cowboys were in desperate need for a quarterback, especially one that could cover up some offensive line warts and reached for Carter.

A huge reach that failed, although he posted a 10-6 record in 2003 and helped the Cowboys to the playoffs in Bill Parcells' first year. Ten players chosen after Carter in the second round went on to play in at least one Pro Bowl.

In 31 starts for the Cowboys, Carter had 26 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions. He was cut early in training camp in 2004 after reports of a failed drug test.


Sorry, but I just had to post this and get the old debate going again...:D
 

THUMPER

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I think Sonny Gibbs (who?) taken with the 18th pick (early 2nd round then) in the 1962 draft was a worse pick than Carter.

Gibbs didn't even make the team and his career comes down to 3 pass attempts with the Lions in 1964. Carter at least had one decent season for us and took us to 10-6 and the playoffs.

In defense of the Cowboys in 1962 that draft was pretty weak. The only 2 good QBs, Roman Gabriel and John Hadl, were taken in the 1st round. Two HoFers were also taken in the 1st round, Merlin Olsen & Lance Alworth. Overall it was one of the weakest drafts of the 60s but we did get 5-time PB DE George Andrie in the 6th round.

I was bummed that we missed out on K Jim Bakken in the 7th round. Kicking was always a weakness with our early teams and Bakken was one of the best in the 60s & 70s. He would have helped us a lot back then.

Several good receivers were available in later rounds as well like Gary Ballman, Bake Turner, & Clifton McNeil.

I just think Gibbs was a total whiff while Carter was just a foul ball.
 

LatinMind

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Quincy Carter? you kidding me?

Steve Walsh? nobody remember what they boys gave up for drafting this guy?
 

DFWJC

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THUMPER;3301598 said:
I think Sonny Gibbs (who?) taken with the 18th pick (early 2nd round then) in the 1962 draft was a worse pick than Carter.

Gibbs didn't even make the team and his career comes down to 3 pass attempts with the Lions in 1964. Carter at least had one decent season for us and took us to 10-6 and the playoffs.




I just think Gibbs was a total whiff while Carter was just a foul ball.
Re-read the OP and see why Gibbs is excluded here. All your points would be dead-on otherwise.
 

THUMPER

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LatinMind;3301599 said:
Quincy Carter? you kidding me?

Steve Walsh? nobody remember what they boys gave up for drafting this guy?

I think they excuse that pick because of the picks we got in return when we traded him. But you're right, that was a horrible pick at the time.

It kills me because we could have taken Junior Seau with that pick had we kept it. :bang2: :bang2: :bang2:
 

CowboyMike

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THUMPER;3301603 said:
I think they excuse that pick because of the picks we got in return when we traded him. But you're right, that was a horrible pick at the time.

It kills me because we could have taken Junior Seau with that pick had we kept it. :bang2: :bang2: :bang2:

Things happen for a reason. I always heard Seau wasn't the best team player in San Diego. I remember it being described as "ten players as a unit, and then Junior." So maybe Walsh was a blessing in disguise.
 

big dog cowboy

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802dave;3301580 said:
Since we only go back to 1967 in our selection process,
What is the point of only going back to 1967 when judging the best/worst draft picks of all time?
 

joseephuss

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big dog cowboy;3301629 said:
What is the point of only going back to 1967 when judging the best/worst draft picks of all time?

That was the first year that the AFL and the NFL had a combined draft. Instead of competing for talent, they shared talent even though the full merger would not go into effect for another three seasons.
 

ZeroClub

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big dog cowboy;3301629 said:
What is the point of only going back to 1967 when judging the best/worst draft picks of all time?

Seems crazy to me too.
 

Hostile

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big dog cowboy;3301629 said:
What is the point of only going back to 1967 when judging the best/worst draft picks of all time?
From 1960 through 1966 the NFL held a Draft and so did the AFL. So we competed against other teams for players. For instance, Roger Staubach was also drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1964. Our 1st round pick in 1964 was Scott Appleton. he never played a down for the Cowboys because he chose the Oilers of the AFL over us.

In 1967 the Drafts were combined as a precursor to the merge. So using that year as a litmus test just means you are assured of a level playing field for the discussion.
 

Hook'em#11

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I am sorry, but, I still couldn't stand Gary Hogeboom. Never will. I ain't saying he is the worst draft pick,but, seeing as how I didn't watch much football in the 60's or early 70'( I was born in 72') I would have to say that Gary was my least favorite.
 

Christiann

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So the best wouldn't include Roger Staubach?
I mean he was taken 129th overall in the 1964 Draft
 

Hook'em#11

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Christiann;3301735 said:
So the best wouldn't include Roger Staubach?
I mean he was taken 129th overall in the 1964 Draft

From Hostile's Reply:

Roger Staubach was also drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1964. Our 1st round pick in 1964 was Scott Appleton. he never played a down for the Cowboys because he chose the Oilers of the AFL over us.
 

Christiann

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Hook'em#11;3301737 said:
From Hostile's Reply:

Roger Staubach was also drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1964. Our 1st round pick in 1964 was Scott Appleton. he never played a down for the Cowboys because he chose the Oilers of the AFL over us.

My bad didn't read Hostile's Reply. Gotcha!:thumbup:
 

Hook'em#11

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Christiann;3301746 said:
My bad didn't read Hostile's Reply. Gotcha!:thumbup:

No worries man. I didn't know either until I read Hostile's reply. :D
 

big dog cowboy

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Hostile;3301673 said:
From 1960 through 1966 the NFL held a Draft and so did the AFL. So we competed against other teams for players. For instance, Roger Staubach was also drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1964. Our 1st round pick in 1964 was Scott Appleton. he never played a down for the Cowboys because he chose the Oilers of the AFL over us.

In 1967 the Drafts were combined as a precursor to the merge. So using that year as a litmus test just means you are assured of a level playing field for the discussion.
Still makes no sense to me. If you want to judge "since 1967" then say that.
 

dbair1967

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LatinMind;3301599 said:
Quincy Carter? you kidding me?

Steve Walsh? nobody remember what they boys gave up for drafting this guy?

Yeah, but at elast we got something back for Walsh (1st and 3rd I believe)

We got nothing for Q-Trash.
 

TellerMorrow34

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LatinMind;3301599 said:
Quincy Carter? you kidding me?

Steve Walsh? nobody remember what they boys gave up for drafting this guy?

It's given a pass cause of what we got in return for him so it made it more than worth it to draft him.

We got something out of him where as we got absolutely nothing out of QC who was a complete joke of a pick.


big dog cowboy;3301629 said:
What is the point of only going back to 1967 when judging the best/worst draft picks of all time?


Hos explained this perfectly but I still dont like it. They should go all the way back to all the Cowboys drafts no matter if they had to compete with another league or not.

Roger is the #1 QB draft pick of the Cowboys All-Time. This article does absolutely nothing to change that fact.
 
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