Tough assignment. Here is my effort, though I did not attempt specialists, returners or head coaches. I tried to take into account 1) contributions to the Cowboys, 2) overall skill and 3) performance during the particular era. Mel Renfro wasn’t a better CB than Deion Sanders, for instance, but I think he contributed more to the Cowboys. Erik Williams was the most dominating OT in Dallas history, but because of his unfortunate injury, he didn’t contribute as much to the Cowboys as otherwise would have been the case. A couple of places I cheated and created ties. Obviously the Cowboys’ younger current players are penalized by the format. I have a couple of eccentric picks included, but what the heck.
Quarterbacks
1- Roger Staubach
2 – Troy Aikman
3. Don Meredith
4 – Tony Romo
5 – Danny White
Running Backs
1 – Emmitt Smith
2 – Tony Dorsett
3 – Zeke Elliott
4 – Demarco Murray
5 – Preston Pearson
Fullbacks
1 - Daryl Johnston
2 – Don Perkins
3 – Walt Garrison
4 – Robert Newhouse
5 – Ron Springs
Wide Receivers
1 - Michael Irvin
2 - Bob Hayes
3 - Drew Pearson
4 - Dez Bryant
5 - Tony Hill
Tight Ends
1 - Jason Witten
2- Billy Joe Dupree
3- Jay Novacek
4- Doug Cosbie
5 - Pettis Norman
Offensive Tackles
1 - Rayfield Wright
2 - Tyron Smith
3 - Erik Williams
4 - Ralph Neely
5 - Mark Tuinei
Offensive Guards
1 - Larry Allen
2 - Zack Martin
3- John Niland
4 - Nate Newton
5 – Blaine Nye
Center
1 - Travis Frederick
2 – Tom Rafferty
3 – Dave Manders
4 - Mark Stepnoski
5 - Ray Donaldson
Defensive end
1 - Demarcus Ware
2- Harvey Martin
3 - Charles Haley
4 – Ed Jones
5 (tie) - Demarcus Lawrence
5 (tie) – George Andrie
Defensive tackles
1- Bob Lilly
2- Randy White
3 – Jethro Pugh
4 - Leon Lett
5 (tie) – John Dutton
5 (tie) – Larry Cole
Outside Linebackers
1 - Chuck Howley
2 – Dave Edwards
3 – D.D. Lewis
4 - Dexter Coakley
5 – Hollywood Henderson
Middle linebackers
1 - Lee Roy Jordan
2 - Sean Lee
3- Bob Breunig
4 – Ken Norton
5 - Jaylon Smith
Safeties
1 - Darren Woodson
2 - Cliff Harris
3 – Charlie Waters
4 - Roy Williams
5 – Mike Gaechter
Cornerbacks
1 - Mel Renfro
2 - Deion Sanders
3 - Cornell Green
4 - Everson Walls
5 - Terence Newman
Nice job on your list.
I agree with your top 5 QBs. I agree with Nos. 1 and 2 (the right QBs and the right order), although you can make a case for any of the other three being no. 3. A little too early, IMHO, for Dak to make the top 5.
I'd add Herschel Walker to the top 5 RBs, probably removing Murray to do so. At FB, top spot can only be Moose or Walt Garrison. But you nail the top 5, and it goes to show how many quality FBs have worn the star.
Tony Hill also makes my list of top 5; glad to see you include him.
At tackle, I still go with Erik Williams at no. 1. Other than Anthony Munoz, I never saw a better tackle. Your guards are perfect, I think. This goes to show the array of talent that's lined up at guard and tackle for the Cowboys over the years. I doubt many teams can roll out lists this good and this deep. At center, I'd have Stepnoski at 2 or 3, but can't argue too much with your slotting.
Personally, my all-time favorite TE is Billy Joe DuPree. He could block and get open down the seam, and the TE screen from Staubach was always a thing of beauty.
Your DE/DT rankings are pretty much spot on with my thinking. I might put Harvey Martin no. 1, however. Glad you included Andrie at DE - he's vastly overlooked but was a terrific player for many years alongside Bob Lilly. You got the two top DTs right, I think. I love the Manster as much as anyone, and I'd even take him over Joe Greene (a lot of people would say I'm crazy), but I do think Lilly was the greatest DT in NFL history. Again, an embarrassment of riches for the Cowboys along the D-line.
Howley (a HOF talent) was the best OLB Dallas has had while Henderson was the most physically talented. Henderson ran around a 4.4, hit like a truck, and could have been in Canton if not for the drugs. Can't argue with your MLB list at all.
I'd put Cornell Green at no. 2 safety and add Kevin Smith at corner. It's too bad Smith tore his Achilles. You had to love the way he played Jerry Rice.
I love these lists because it showcases the great players Dallas has had over the years.