Most Successful Rookies in Dallas Cowboys History

During the 2012 NFL draft, the Cowboys traded up to the sixth spot to grade former LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. The team needed a boost in the secondary and believed that staying at the 14th spot would only afford them a second-tier defensive back at best.

So team owner Jerry Jones moved up to grab a player whom he thought would give the team's defense some significant assistance.

While the Cowboys may not have a deep history of making such draft day deals, they do have a long list of rookies who made a large impact their first year in the league.

Here are a few of those rookies who had a measurable amount of success during their inaugural campaign.

DeMarcus Ware, LB, Drafted 2005

Ware was brought in to do exactly what he's doing now—cause havoc in the backfield by sacking as many quarterbacks as possible.

When Ware was drafted in 2005, he logged eight sacks and 47 total tackles. Just three years later, he recorded 20 in one season. Ware has far exceeded expectations by becoming the best pass rusher in the league.

Emmitt Smith, RB, Drafted 1990, Rookie of the Year

Smith is the greatest running back in league history. Let that sentence marinate for a minute before you send me a barrel full of ether.

Smith came out in 1990 from the Florida Gators as a good running back who would make a good impact. Nobody expected him to go down as the greater rusher of all-time statistically.

Back in 1990, he rushed for 937 and eleven touchdowns.

When he finally decided to retire in 2004, he finished with 18,355 yards rushing and currently stands as the league’s all-time leader in that category. He was simply the best at his position.

Julius Jones, RB, Drafted 2004

I remember when Jones took off his first three years in the league and many fans thought that he was the future in Dallas. He tallied 819 yards on the ground his rookie season and followed that with 993 the very next season.

Jones seemed to have all the qualities of a good running back and positioned himself to be the Cowboys go to guy in the backfield for the next five years.

That never materialized as he had 1,084 yards in 2006 and dropped off to 588 the next season. Dallas released Jones before the start of the 2008 season and went in a different direction.

But for those three seasons, Jones was the guy.

Terence Newman, CB, Drafted 2003

I know that Newman is ancient history now that he's been released, but when he first arrived on the scene and snagged four picks his rookie year, fans thought that he would be with Dallas for the long-term.

They were right.

Newman began to slow down in 2007 when injuries kept him off the field for three games. He still recorded four interceptions that season and four the next. He was a very solid player for the Cowboys during his tenure and some fans will miss him.

If Mr. Newman could have remained healthy, I believe its safe to say he would have remained a Cowboy. For his career, he totaled 32 interceptions with the star on his helmet.

Roy L. Williams, S, Drafted in 2002

Williams was the toast of the town in 2002 after recording five interceptions and delivering a number of bone crushing hits. He had two touchdowns and a memorable interception return against the 'Skins in 2002.

He seemed to have it all, the ability to hit hard and a knack for finding the ball. Williams was a fan favorite for his rookie season and beyond. That was until he started to get scorched in pass coverage.

He was released following the 2008 season where he only saw action in three games. Williams did grab 19 picks as a Cowboy, which isn't bad, but he was routinely burned in deep coverage.

A great guy with fantastic football ability, he showed himself worthy with a bombastic rookie season in Dallas by his play on the field.

Kevin Smith, CB, Drafted 1992

There are a few names that are synonymous with the Cowboys three Super Bowl rings in the nineties.

Aikman, Smith, and Irvin are usually the first three.

For me, there are some un-sung heroes on that list. Kevin Smith, James Washington, Mark Tuinei are just a few that I remember.

I always thought that Smith was cool. He wore the number 26 with the belt towel and he had a cool facemask. Not only that, he could really play the position.

During his rookie campaign, he caught two picks and recorded 31 tackles. The very next year, he was starting. So Smith proved himself on the field during his rookie year and became an anchor for the Cowboys secondary for the next seven seasons.

Russell Maryland, DT, Drafted 1991

Russell Maryland did his fair share of damage during the dynasty years. He was a mess in the middle to deal with and had a career high 4.5 sacks his rookie campaign.

He totaled 33 tackles that year and went on to lead the Cowboys defensive line, along with a few years, to become one of the best defensive units that decade.

Tony Dorsett, RB, Drafted 1977, Rookie of the Year

Dorsett has the famous 99 yard run for a touchdown against the Vikings back in the 80's.

He was one of the best to run the ball and ranks just behind Emmitt as the team's best running back.

Dorsett rushed for 1007 yards his rookie year and reeled off four consecutive 1,000 yard seasons after that.

He was very good at his craft and turned in one of the best running seasons of all-time for a Cowboy.

Herschel Walker, RB, Drafted 1986

Walker was the original linchpin to the Cowboys run of Super Bowl victories in the 90’s.

He was traded to the Vikings for a swarm of draft picks that the team used to draft players who were key in leading the team to three Super Bowls.

Sans the trade, Walker was a pretty good running back. He averaged almost five yards per carry in 1986 and rushed for 737 yards. Just two years later, Walker had over 1,500 yards on the ground.

The very next season, he was traded to Minnesota and the rest is history.

Ron Springs, RB, Drafted 1979

Springs is probably remembered more for his battle with diabetes and other ailments than his days on the playing field. In 1979, Springs had just about 500 total yards and three touchdowns. Doesn’t sound like much now, but Springs did aid the Cowboys offense.

Springs was the fullback for Dorsett and in addition to his blocking duties, he had a pretty good offensive career himself.

He never rushed for over 625 yards or had more than 600 receiving yards in a season. But Springs is a Cowboys legend in some circles and for what its worth, he was a great rookie and player in my book.

Calvin Hill, RB, Drafted 1969, Rookie of the Year

Hill was a good running back and even better father it seems. His son is the famous basketball player Grant Hill, who ended up marrying R&B singer Tamia.

Personal life aside, Hill was named rookie of the year in 1969 as he rushed for 942 yards.

Hill played six seasons in Dallas and ended up with over 6,000 rushing yards for his career.

Bob Hayes, WR, Drafted 1965

Robert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes was a transformational figure in the NFL.

He is the reason why the zone defense and the bump and run coverage was invented because of his speed and agility.

He caught twelve touchdowns in his rookie year to go along with 1,003 receiving yards.

He led the league in receiving touchdowns in his rookie campaign and sophomore season, which made him one of the most dangerous deep threats in the NFL.

He was once the fastest man in the league and because of his skill, he turned the NFL upside down and helped transform the game into what we see today.