Draft history · 2012 to 2026 · 125 picks
Dallas Cowboys draft history
47% of picks beat their slot, against 44% for the league. 4th of 32.
BGRADE
47%picks hitleague 44%
19%starsleague 13%
30%startersleague 32%
22%early bustsleague 31%
49%second contractsleague 41%
18Pro Bowlers3rd in the NFL
Who ran the draft
- JJJerry Jones2012 to 2025 · 118 picks · 47% hit · 21 stars · 18 Pro BowlersB
Best value
Xavier WoodsS · 2017, pick 191Star
Dak PrescottQB · 2016, pick 135Star
Tony PollardRB · 2019, pick 128Star
- MJMichael JacksonCB · 2019, pick 158Star
Dalton SchultzTE · 2018, pick 137Star
Biggest misses
Taco CharltonEDGE · 2017, pick 28Bust
Gavin EscobarTE · 2013, pick 47Bust
J.J. WilcoxCB · 2013, pick 80Bust
Mazi SmithDL · 2023, pick 26Bust
Chaz GreenOL · 2015, pick 91Bust
Late-round finds
Jake FergusonTE · 2022, round 4Star
- MJMichael JacksonCB · 2019, round 5Star
Their stars
21 picks had a season in the top 10% at their position
CeeDee LambWR · 2020, round 1Star
Zack MartinOL · 2014, round 1Star
Kelvin JosephCB · 2021, round 2Star
Micah ParsonsLB · 2021, round 1Star
DeMarcus LawrenceEDGE · 2014, round 2Star
Tyler SmithOL · 2022, round 1Star
Ezekiel ElliottRB · 2016, round 1Star
Travis FrederickOL · 2013, round 1Star
By position, stars against the league
Best at quarterbacks (33% stars vs 10%), worst at defensive linemen (10% vs 12%)
The line on each bar is the league. Drafts through 2022.
Stars by draft class
The 2016 class produced the most: 3
0'12
1'13
2'14
1'15
3'16
3'17
2'18
3'19
1'20
3'21
2'22
0'23
0'24
0'25
When they traded up
Moved up for 10 picks: 4 beat the slot, 2 became stars
Morris ClaiborneCB · 2012 · moved up from 14 to 6 with RAM; gave 14 + 45Backup
- DSDevin StreetWR · 2014 · moved up from 158 to 146 with DET; gave 158 + 229Backup
Geoff SwaimTE · 2015 · bought pick 246 from SFO with future picks; gave 2016 R6Backup
Tyler BiadaszOL · 2020 · moved up from 164 to 146 with PHI; gave 164 + 2021 R5Starter
Matt WaletzkoOL · 2022 · moved up from 202 to 155 with CLE; gave player Amari Cooper + 202Active
Devin HarperLB · 2022 · moved up from 202 to 193 with CLE; gave player Amari Cooper + 202Active
- ESEric ScottCB · 2023 · bought pick 178 from KAN with future picks; gave 2024 R5Active
Shemar JamesLB · 2025 · moved up from 174 to 152 with ARI; gave 174 + 211Too early
Do they draft athletes?
The Cowboys draft about as athletic as the league (5.7 vs 5.9)
5.7average athletic scoreleague 5.9
24%tested 8.5 or betterleague 23%
Byron JonesCB · 2015, pick 27 · athletic score 9.9Star
Leighton Vander EschEDGE · 2018, pick 19 · athletic score 9.8Starter
- JHJames HannaTE · 2012, pick 186 · athletic score 9.8Backup
Israel MukuamuCB · 2021, pick 227 · athletic score 9.5Backup
Every pick
Every Cowboys draft pick since 2012
2026 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Caleb Downs | S | Too early |
| 1 | 23 | Malachi Lawrence | EDGE | Too early |
| 3 | 92 | Jaishawn Barham | EDGE | Too early |
| 4 | 112 | Drew Shelton | OL | Too early |
| 4 | 114 | Devin Moore | CB | Too early |
| 4 | 137 | LT Overton | EDGE | Too early |
| 7 | 218 | Anthony Smith | WR | Too early |
2025 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Tyler Booker | OL | Starter |
| 2 | 44 | Donovan Ezeiruaku | EDGE | Starter |
| 3 | 76 | Shavon Revel | CB | Too early |
| 5 | 149 | Jaydon Blue | RB | Too early |
| 5 | 152 ↑ | Shemar James | LB | Too early |
| 6 | 204 ↓ | Ajani Cornelius | OL | Too early |
| 7 | 217 ↓ | Jay Toia | DL | Too early |
| 7 | 239 ↓ | Phil Mafah | RB | Too early |
| 7 | 247 | Tommy Akingbesote | DL | Too early |
2024 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 ↓ | Tyler Guyton | OL | Starter |
| 2 | 56 | Marshawn Kneeland | DL | Too early |
| 3 | 73 ↓ | Cooper Beebe | OL | Starter |
| 3 | 87 | Marist Liufau | LB | Too early |
| 5 | 174 | Caelen Carson | CB | Too early |
| 6 | 216 | Ryan Flournoy | WR | Too early |
| 7 | 233 | Nathan Thomas | OL | Too early |
| 7 | 244 | Justin Rogers | DL | Too early |
2023 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | Mazi Smith | DL | Bust |
| 2 | 58 | Luke Schoonmaker | TE | Bust |
| 3 | 90 | DeMarvion Overshown | LB | Starter |
| 4 | 129 | Viliami Fehoko | DL | Active |
| 5 | 169 | Asim Richards | OL | Backup |
| 6 | 178 ↑ | Eric Scott | CB | Active |
| 6 | 212 | Deuce Vaughn | RB | Active |
| 7 | 244 | Jalen Brooks | WR | Backup |
2022 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | Tyler Smith | OL | Star |
| 2 | 56 | Sam Williams | EDGE | Bust |
| 3 | 88 | Jalen Tolbert | WR | Backup |
| 4 | 129 | Jake Ferguson | TE | Star |
| 5 | 155 ↑ | Matt Waletzko | OL | Active |
| 5 | 167 | DaRon Bland | CB | Starter |
| 5 | 176 | Damone Clark | LB | Backup |
| 5 | 178 | John Ridgeway | DL | Backup |
| 6 | 193 ↑ | Devin Harper | LB | Active |
2021 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 ↓ | Micah Parsons | LB | Star |
| 2 | 44 | Kelvin Joseph | CB | Star |
| 3 | 75 | Osa Odighizuwa | DL | Star |
| 3 | 84 ↓ | Chauncey Golston | DL | Backup |
| 3 | 99 | Nahshon Wright | CB | Backup |
| 4 | 115 | Jabril Cox | LB | Active |
| 4 | 138 | Josh Ball | OL | Active |
| 5 | 179 | Simi Fehoko | WR | Backup |
| 6 | 192 | Quinton Bohanna | DL | Backup |
| 6 | 227 | Israel Mukuamu | CB | Backup |
| 7 | 238 | Matt Farniok | OL | Active |
2020 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | CeeDee Lamb | WR | Star |
| 2 | 51 | Trevon Diggs | CB | Starter |
| 3 | 82 | Neville Gallimore | DL | Backup |
| 4 | 123 | Reggie Robinson II | CB | Active |
| 4 | 146 ↑ | Tyler Biadasz | OL | Starter |
| 5 | 179 | Bradlee Anae | EDGE | Active |
| 7 | 231 | Ben DiNucci | QB | Active |
2019 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 58 | Trysten Hill | DL | Backup |
| 3 | 90 | Connor McGovern | OL | Star |
| 4 | 128 | Tony Pollard | RB | Star |
| 5 | 158 ↓ | Michael Jackson | CB | Star |
| 5 | 165 | Joe Jackson | EDGE | Active |
| 6 | 213 ↓ | Donovan Wilson | S | Starter |
| 7 | 218 ↓ | Mike Weber | RB | Released |
| 7 | 241 | Jalen Jelks | EDGE | Released |
2018 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Leighton Vander Esch | EDGE | Starter |
| 2 | 50 | Connor Williams | OL | Starter |
| 3 | 81 | Michael Gallup | WR | Star |
| 4 | 116 | Dorance Armstrong Jr. | EDGE | Backup |
| 4 | 137 | Dalton Schultz | TE | Star |
| 5 | 171 | Mike White | QB | Active |
| 6 | 193 | Chris Covington | LB | Active |
| 6 | 208 | Cedrick Wilson Jr. | WR | Backup |
| 7 | 236 | Bo Scarbrough | RB | Active |
2017 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | Taco Charlton | EDGE | Bust |
| 2 | 60 | Chidobe Awuzie | CB | Star |
| 3 | 92 | Jourdan Lewis | CB | Star |
| 4 | 133 | Ryan Switzer | WR | Backup |
| 6 | 191 ↑ | Xavier Woods | S | Star |
| 6 | 216 ↓ | Marquez White | CB | Released |
| 7 | 228 | Joey Ivie | DL | Active |
| 7 | 239 ↓ | Noah Brown | WR | Backup |
| 7 | 246 | Jordan Carrell | DL | Released |
2016 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Ezekiel Elliott | RB | Star |
| 2 | 34 | Jaylon Smith | EDGE | Star |
| 3 | 67 | Maliek Collins | DL | Starter |
| 4 | 101 | Charles Tapper | EDGE | Active |
| 4 | 135 | Dak Prescott | QB | Star |
| 6 | 189 | Anthony Brown | CB | Starter |
| 6 | 212 | Kavon Frazier | S | Backup |
| 6 | 216 | Darius Jackson | RB | Active |
| 6 | 217 | Rico Gathers | TE | Active |
2015 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | Byron Jones | CB | Star |
| 2 | 60 | Randy Gregory | EDGE | Backup |
| 3 | 91 | Chaz Green | OL | Bust |
| 4 | 127 | Damien Wilson | LB | Backup |
| 5 | 163 | Ryan Russell | EDGE | Active |
| 7 | 236 | Mark Nzeocha | EDGE | Backup |
| 7 | 243 | Laurence Gibson | OL | Released |
| 7 | 246 ↑ | Geoff Swaim | TE | Backup |
2014 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Zack Martin | OL | Star |
| 2 | 34 ↑ | DeMarcus Lawrence | EDGE | Star |
| 4 | 119 | Anthony Hitchens | LB | Starter |
| 5 | 146 ↑ | Devin Street | WR | Backup |
| 7 | 231 | Ben Gardner | EDGE | Released |
| 7 | 238 | Will Smith | LB | Released |
| 7 | 248 | Ahmad Dixon | CB | Active |
| 7 | 251 | Ken Bishop | DL | Active |
| 7 | 254 | Terrance Mitchell | CB | Starter |
2013 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 ↓ | Travis Frederick | OL | Star |
| 2 | 47 | Gavin Escobar | TE | Bust |
| 3 | 74 ↓ | Terrance Williams | WR | Backup |
| 3 | 80 | J.J. Wilcox | CB | Bust |
| 4 | 114 | B.W. Webb | CB | Starter |
| 5 | 151 | Joseph Randle | RB | Backup |
| 6 | 185 | DeVonte Holloman | LB | Active |
2012 draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 ↑ | Morris Claiborne | CB | Backup |
| 3 | 81 | Tyrone Crawford | EDGE | Backup |
| 4 | 113 | Kyle Wilber | LB | Backup |
| 4 | 135 | Matt Johnson | CB | Released |
| 5 | 152 | Danny Coale | WR | Released |
| 6 | 186 | James Hanna | TE | Backup |
| 7 | 222 | Caleb McSurdy | LB | Released |
↑ traded up for, ↓ came from trading down.
How it works: every pick is compared with what its draft slot usually produces. A hit beat the slot. A star had a season in the top 10% at his position. An early bust is a round 1 to 3 pick who never produced. The letter blends value over the slot, starters, stars and early busts. A best season counts only after 16 games, and the last two classes are still developing.
Other teams
Cardinals
Falcons
Ravens
Bills
Panthers
Bears
Bengals
Browns
Broncos
Lions
Packers
Texans
Colts
Jaguars
Chiefs
Raiders
Chargers
Rams
Dolphins
Vikings
Patriots
Saints
Giants
Jets
Eagles
Steelers
49ers
Seahawks
Buccaneers
Titans
Commanders