Ranking Dallas Cowboys' 10 Most Important Contributors in 2017

Ranking the most important players on the Dallas Cowboys' roster is a tough assignment.

When making the list, do you consider positional value or just pick the best players? Another way to do it is by selecting the starters with the least amount of depth behind them because a loss to that player could cripple the entire position.

There are just so many different ways to look at who are the 10 most important players on the roster.

However, I decided to combine all of the above factors and continually ask myself: "Who can the Cowboys not afford to lose?"

With that question helping me to compile this list, here are the top-10 most important Dallas players in 2017.

10. La'el Collins

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La'el Collins could (and maybe should) be much higher on this list, but he will stay at No. 10 for now.

With Doug Free retiring this offseason, the Cowboys will rely on Collins to replace him at right tackle. The team will face a number of talented edge-rushers who plan on teeing off on their new tackle in 2017.

Not only will Dallas need Collins to stay healthy in 2017—something he hasn't done in his career—they will also need him to play at a high level if they want to continue to be one of the most dominant offensive lines in the NFL. 

If Collins doesn't prove to be the answer at right tackle, the Cowboys could be in significant trouble this season.

Dallas would then be forced to use tight ends and running backs to protect him on the right side if he were to struggle with the transition. That would significantly limit the upside the Cowboys have as an offense, as they would need more players to protect their franchise quarterback.  

The Cowboys could overcome bad play from Collins, but if he can play at a high level, it could unlock the offense to reach new heights. He will be an interesting player to watch this season, as he is one of the biggest unknowns heading into the year.

9. Cole Beasley

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While Dez Bryant is the receiver who gets all the attention in Dallas, Cole Beasley is a vital piece to the Cowboys' offense and has been for the past few seasons.

In 2016, he led the team in receptions and receiving yards, even though he played on just 56.9 percent (601 snaps) of the team's offensive plays.

When Beasley is in the game, it's likely that he's going to see the ball. In fact, he also led the team in targets with 98, two more than Bryant. But my favorite stat is that he outtargeted Terrance Williams 104 to 67 when you add in the playoff game. It's clear that Beasley is the No. 2 target in the Cowboys' offense.

The Cowboys rely on Beasley to be the team's chain-mover on third downs. Fifty-one of Beasley's 75 catches resulted in a first down, the most on the team. When Dallas gets to third down, Dak Prescott is looking Beasley's way. He's surpassed Jason Witten as the go-to target in third-down situations for the Cowboys. 

Without Beasley, the Cowboys' offense wouldn't be nearly as efficient as they have been, as they just don't have another player of his caliber on the offense. Fourth-round pick Ryan Switzer may eventually be able to take over that role, but he's nowhere near as explosive as Beasley; he's just not the same type of athlete. 

Beasley will never get the publicity of a Bryant or a Witten, but he's one of the most valuable players on the team's roster. I would hate to see what their offense would look like without him on the field. He has developed into one of the best receivers in the entire league.

8. Byron Jones

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With so much change in the Cowboys' secondary over the past 12 months, Byron Jones will be one of the few holdovers. Once again in 2017, he will be the team's starting free safety.

To just call him a free safety is unfair, though. Jones is the team's Swiss Army knife on defense, as the Cowboys asked him to wear many hats throughout the season.

Jones can cover tight ends at a high level. He can cover premier outside receivers as he did last year against A.J. Green. And he can cover some of the best slot receivers in the NFL, such as Randall Cobb and Jamison Crowder. He can do it all and is often asked to be the savior in that secondary. 

There could be four new starters in the Cowboys' nickel defense in 2017, including three rookies. Jones will be in charge of lining them up, as he has become more of the vocal leader of the defense.

Not only is Jones vital to this defense because of his versatility, it's also due to him being the captain of the secondary unit. He's probably the second most important player on defense, outside of Sean Lee.

7. Dez Bryant

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In previous seasons, Dez Bryant would've easily finished inside the top five in this list. When he is healthy, there may not be a better receiver in the NFL. But health has been a problem.

In 2015, Dallas was 1-6 with Bryant out of the lineup. They just were never able to find any rhythm in the passing game without him on the field.

But in 2016, the Cowboys went 3-0 in games without Bryant. That led to the question: How important is Bryant to the Cowboys' offense? Are the Cowboys better off without him on the field? The answer to those questions is much deeper than just looking at stats or a small three-game sample size. 

Let's first start with that 3-0 record in 2016 without Bryant. Dallas happened to beat two of the worst teams in the league in the 49ers and the Bengals in consecutive weeks. Then, they beat a slumping Packers team that was depleted in their secondary.

Yes, the Cowboys played well in those three games without him, but there is no way that Dallas can contend for a Super Bowl without his presence on the field. 

The Cowboys' playoff game versus the Packers was a perfect example of Bryant's importance to the team. He jump-started the offense, catching nine passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns. He obliterated single coverage and allowed his team back into that game. Without that firepower on the outside, Dallas would've been blown out by the Packers. 

Without Bryant, the rest of the offense cannot function at a high enough level to win games consistently in the NFL. Teams would stack the box far more often, leading to a less efficient run game. Without Bryant, Cole Beasley wouldn't have the same amount of space to operate in the middle of the field. Terrance Williams would be way out of his league as a No. 1 receiver. 

Bryant is still one of the best receivers in football when he's healthy, and he can change games—not too many receivers can say that in the NFL. Seventh place on this list might be too low considering how important he is to the team not only as a player but as the emotional leader of the Cowboys.

6. Ezekiel Elliott

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You would think that the league's leading rusher would be higher than sixth place here. However, Dallas could probably survive a game or two if Ezekiel Elliott were to be on the shelf.

But if the Cowboys want to contend for a Super Bowl this season, they will need him to be just as dominant, if not more so in 2017. The entire Cowboys' offense runs through Elliott and the rest of the NFL knows that.  

In 2016, Elliott touched the ball 354 times in 15 games, which averages out to about 23.6 touches per contest. While that total may seem unsustainable going forward, the Cowboys have no plans on reducing that workload in 2017.

In fact, Elliott could be in line for even more touches this season, as running backs coach Gary Brown says that the team will "absolutely" get him more involved as a receiver. It wouldn't be shocking to see the 21-year-old hover around 400 touches if he were to play a full 16-game season.

Elliott should be much improved in his second year, as he is now accustomed to the NFL game and its speed. The Cowboys' offense could function without him, but there is no way they would be a contending team without him on the field.

Elliott is the best running back in the NFL and he's a massive reason why the Cowboys were as successful as they were in 2016. It wouldn't shock me if he's No. 2 on this list by the end of the season.

5. Zack Martin

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How can you start off a career any better than Zack Martin has so far?

In his first three seasons in the NFL, Martin has made the Pro Bowl each year, as well as being a first-team All-Pro selection twice. He's started every game so far in his career and finished third among guards in both the NFL1000 and by Pro Football Focus in 2016.

By all accounts, he's one of the best offensive linemen in the entire league. 

The only reason Martin isn't higher on this list is because of the position he plays. Guards just aren't as valuable as tackles or centers. But that doesn't make the 26-year-old less of a player.

Not only is he one of the top-five most important players on the roster, he's simply one of the best.

4. Travis Frederick

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The No. 1-ranked center in the NFL1000 in 2016 was Travis Frederick. And over the past three seasons, there hasn't been anyone close to as good as him at the center position. He's made three straight Pro Bowls and has been a dominant player since entering the league in 2013. 

Frederick gets the nod over Zack Martin here because not only is he playing a more important position, he is also the signal-caller of the offensive line.

There may not be a smarter offensive lineman in the league when it comes to calling out protections pre-snap. Frederick's ability in this facet of the game is what makes him a special player. He is a big reason why Dak Prescott was able to have so much success in his rookie season. 

If Frederick were to miss time, the Cowboys would be in massive trouble as they don't have another center on the roster. The team would probably try Jonathan Cooper there before moving Martin to the spot if Frederick was out for an extended period of time. He's an irreplaceable part of the Cowboys' offense. 

3. Tyron Smith

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Of the four offensive linemen who made this list, Tyron Smith is the most valuable of the bunch. Why? Well, because he plays the most important position on the offensive line; left tackle.

Since entering the NFL in 2011, Smith has been one of the best offensive linemen in the league. He's made four straight Pro Bowls and has been selected to the first-team All-Pro roster twice in the past three seasons. 

Smith missed three games last year (one was in Week 17) and the Cowboys' offense suffered because of it.

Chaz Green filled in during his absence, but the team had to drastically change up their protections to help cover for the loss of Smith. They were handicapped as to how they wanted to run their offense because they didn't have the same caliber of left tackle on the field as they did in the previous weeks.

What makes Smith great is his ability to handle elite edge-rushers with ease. He can take over games with his power, as he did in Pittsburgh against James Harrison and Jarvis Jones. Smith is highly athletic, but he's also one of the strongest players in the league. Once he gets his hands on a defender, it's over.  

Smith is such a dominant player that you often forget he's on the field because no defender ever comes close to reaching the quarterback. He can completely erase any and all rush from the left-hand side.

He may be the team's best overall player, and it could be argued that he deserves to be higher on this list. We are watching one of the best tackles of all time in his prime, so try to appreciate him each and every game.

2. Sean Lee

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For me, one game in Sean Lee's career will always stand out—against the Saints in 2013.

He played in the first quarter and the Cowboys held the Saints to seven points. But then Lee injured his hamstring and left the game early in the second quarter. 

The Saints went on to score four straight touchdowns without him on the field and a total of 49 points in the game. On that day, New Orleans recorded more first downs (40) in one game than any other team has in the history of the NFL.

Without Lee on the field, the Cowboys turned into one of the worst defenses in NFL history for the rest of that season (they allowed 6,645 total yards in 2013). 

With Lee, the Cowboys can go from an average to above-average defense. In 2016, the Cowboys finished in the top five in points allowed and were the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL against the run.

Without Lee, the Cowboys' defense quickly drops off as we've seen numerous times in the past.  

Lee has been the defense's only participant in the Pro Bowl in the past two seasons. He was also voted first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career in 2016.

While Dallas has some depth behind Lee, no one can replace him on defense. Without him, the Cowboys would have no chance to win the Super Bowl or compete in the playoffs. He is just that important to the team.

1. Dak Prescott

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The most important player on the Cowboys isn't a surprise; it's Dak Prescott.

For years, Tony Romo was the team's most indispensable player. The 2015 season showed just how important he was. The quarterback went 3-1 as the team's starter, while Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel and Kellen Moore went just 1-11.

In fact, before the 2016 season, Romo's backups were 1-14 in their last 15 starts. Without him, the Cowboys were awful.

Before the 2016 season, Romo's backups were 1-14 in their last 15 starts. Without him, the Cowboys were awful. He continually elevated bad teams throughout his entire career. He'll never get the credit he deserves for it, but it was impressive to watch. 

Prescott was the first QB since 2003 to find any kind of success with the Cowboys other than Romo. He led the team to a 13-3 record, and the Cowboys were the No. 1 seed in the NFC before losing to the Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs. 

Not only was the team successful with Prescott at the helm, so was the player. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and took home the Rookie of the Year honor.

Prescott also had the highest passer rating (104.9) for any rookie quarterback who started at least four games in their rookie season. To say he was impressive in 2016 would be a major understatement. 

If Prescott were to go down, the Cowboys would be forced to hand over the keys to the team to Kellen Moore. There may be no bigger gap in talent on the entire roster than there is between the two.

The Cowboys will go as far as Prescott takes them, but without him, they are just another 4-12 team.