Top 10: From Emmitt to Dak; Ranking Best Rookie Seasons in Cowboys History

Technically, Herschel Walker was a rookie when he had almost 1600 yards from scrimmage. He was an awesome receiver as well as a devastating runner, difficult keep him off that list.

Bob Hayes needs to go higher in the ranks, quite possibly to #2 overall. He completely redefined the roll of a WR in one short season and almost single handedly ushered in the era of defensive zone coverage.

Dak is #1, hands down, the only one that would come closer is Everson Walls.

This is my revised list in reverse order starting with #1:

1 Dak Prescott
2 Everson Walls
3 Ezekiel Elliott
4 Bob Hayes
5 Zack Martin
6 Mel Renfro
7 Herschel Walker
8 Emmitt Smith
9 Tony Dorsett
10 Roy Williams

Some honorable mentions not on the original list:

Michael Downs - the other rookie DB in Wall's rookie season, he had 7 INT's

Leroy Jordan - As a right side linebacker, 3 INT's and a fumble recovery but during a time in which tackles were not recorded. He solidified the linebacker squad in 1963.

Harvey Banks Martin - If sacks were recorded at the time, he may have been the 2nd ranked of all time in the NFL. He was situational his rookie year, coming in on passing plays, he was a total disruptor. I can't tell you how many sacks he got his rookie year but I recall he was very very exciting to watch.
 
You know, I think it would be just as interesting to rank players in their first starting season. For many of the elite players that was their rookie years but others had to wait a year or more to earn their starting position and then they thrived.

In Roger Staubach's first starting season he led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl championship. He was also the league's #1 rated passer. I would rank him #1 in this category. Dak would have to go #2.

Right between Bob Hayes and Zack Martin at #4 and #5, I would put Randy White's first starting season. Although he played DT at Maryland, the Cowboys thought he was too small but fast enough to play MLB. The plan failed miserably during his first two seasons. They decided in his third year, to put him back on the D-line and the rest is history. It was the first of nine consecutive Pro Bowl years, seven of them 1st team All Pro.
 
It's hard to conceive of it when it's actually happening. Then when you step back and look at the big picture, it's incredible. No team has ever had 3 rookie seasons in a 3-year period that compare to those of Martin (2014), Prescott (2016), and Elliott (2016).

If anybody can think of 3 rookie seasons in a 3-year period for the same team that compare with those, please post them.

Even on the early 70's Steelers, only Harris and Greene had comparable rookie seasons, and they were four years apart. In smaller leagues, there was the '67-'68 Lions, with Barney, Farr, and Sanders, but none of them was All Pro. Same with the '67-'69 Dolphins (Griese, Kiick, Stanfill). Same with the '64-'65 Jets (Namath, Boozer, and Snell).

The only team with two rookie All Pro's and a Pro Bowl rookie in 3 seasons is the Vikings with Walsh, Kalil, and Patterson. But two of them are special teamers, so it doesn't begin to compare.
 
Pretty good list. Difficult to argue too much with it. I might would put Elliott at #2 but Walls having 11 INT's is pretty incredible.

Ezekiel, with just a little more playing time and without a couple of 60-70 yard runs called back for penalties, would have broken Dickerson's record without a doubt.
 
AsthmaField said:
Ezekiel, with just a little more playing time and without a couple of 60-70 yard runs called back for penalties, would have broken Dickerson's record without a doubt.
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Believe it or not, there are only three teams since the 1970 merger with as many as two rookie 1st-team offensive All Pro's.

Cowboys
2014 Zack Martin
2016 Zeke Elliott

Rams
1983 Eric Dickerson
1993 Jerome Bettis

Eagles
1973 Charle Young
1988 Keith Jackson

Martin and Elliott are the only ones who ever played together.
 
percyhoward said:
Believe it or not, there are only three teams since the 1970 merger with as many as two rookie 1st-team offensive All Pro's.

Cowboys
2014 Zack Martin
2016 Zeke Elliott

Rams
1983 Eric Dickerson
1993 Jerome Bettis

Eagles
1973 Charle Young
1988 Keith Jackson

Martin and Elliott are the only ones who ever played together.
Click to expand...
[pre-merger] Calvin Hill was also an AP first-team All-Pro in his rookie season of 1969. Bob Hayes was a TSN first-team All-Pro in his rookie season of 1965, but when "All-Pro" is mentioned w/o any qualifiers, it usually refers only to the AP All-Pro team.
 
The Cowboys are the only team since 1970 with at least 3 rookies who made the Pro Bowl as offensive players, and who played together.

2014 Zack Martin
2016 Zeke Elliott
2016 Dak Prescott

There are other teams since 1970 with 3 or more rookie offensive Pro Bowlers, but those players didn't all play at the same time.
 
this is kind of unfair. How many Rbs, which im not taking away from EEs skill, had such a great Oline. They would make a average RB look good. I know its easy to pick apart each era. This line is really really good.
 
rocyaice said:
For the people old enough to remember how do you get 11 interceptions and not make All Pro?
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It was a different era. Defenders were allowed much more leeway when it came to contact down the field. The west coast offense hadn't spread like wildfire yet so passing games focused more down field on riskier throws.

There were six players in 1981 who had at least 9 int. Walls was a rookie so he hadn't yet built a reputation. All of that played a part.
 
plasticman said:
Technically, Herschel Walker was a rookie when he had almost 1600 yards from scrimmage. He was an awesome receiver as well as a devastating runner, difficult keep him off that list.

Bob Hayes needs to go higher in the ranks, quite possibly to #2 overall. He completely redefined the roll of a WR in one short season and almost single handedly ushered in the era of defensive zone coverage.

Dak is #1, hands down, the only one that would come closer is Everson Walls.

This is my revised list in reverse order starting with #1:

1 Dak Prescott
2 Everson Walls
3 Ezekiel Elliott
4 Bob Hayes
5 Zack Martin
6 Mel Renfro
7 Herschel Walker
8 Emmitt Smith
9 Tony Dorsett
10 Roy Williams

Some honorable mentions not on the original list:

Michael Downs - the other rookie DB in Wall's rookie season, he had 7 INT's

Leroy Jordan - As a right side linebacker, 3 INT's and a fumble recovery but during a time in which tackles were not recorded. He solidified the linebacker squad in 1963.

Harvey Banks Martin - If sacks were recorded at the time, he may have been the 2nd ranked of all time in the NFL. He was situational his rookie year, coming in on passing plays, he was a total disruptor. I can't tell you how many sacks he got his rookie year but I recall he was very very exciting to watch.
Click to expand...

Excellent post Plastic, regardless of if you agree with it or not. Well done!
 
plasticman said:
Technically, Herschel Walker was a rookie when he had almost 1600 yards from scrimmage. He was an awesome receiver as well as a devastating runner, difficult keep him off that list.

Bob Hayes needs to go higher in the ranks, quite possibly to #2 overall. He completely redefined the roll of a WR in one short season and almost single handedly ushered in the era of defensive zone coverage.

Dak is #1, hands down, the only one that would come closer is Everson Walls.

This is my revised list in reverse order starting with #1:

1 Dak Prescott
2 Everson Walls
3 Ezekiel Elliott
4 Bob Hayes
5 Zack Martin
6 Mel Renfro
7 Herschel Walker
8 Emmitt Smith
9 Tony Dorsett
10 Roy Williams

Some honorable mentions not on the original list:

Michael Downs - the other rookie DB in Wall's rookie season, he had 7 INT's

Leroy Jordan - As a right side linebacker, 3 INT's and a fumble recovery but during a time in which tackles were not recorded. He solidified the linebacker squad in 1963.

Harvey Banks Martin - If sacks were recorded at the time, he may have been the 2nd ranked of all time in the NFL. He was situational his rookie year, coming in on passing plays, he was a total disruptor. I can't tell you how many sacks he got his rookie year but I recall he was very very exciting to watch.
Click to expand...

I like your list better.
 
ShiningStar said:
this is kind of unfair. How many Rbs, which im not taking away from EEs skill, had such a great Oline. They would make a average RB look good. I know its easy to pick apart each era. This line is really really good.
Click to expand...

Zeke still had to preform. Not any rookie RB, or even vet RB is going to just pile up yards because they play behind Dallas' OL. Another elite RB? Sure I can agree with that. An average RB? No way.
 
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