Dallas Cowboys: 10 Best Value Draft Picks in Team History

How do we define value? Is it finding a pair of gently used Jordan X1’s at the Goodwill for $50 bucks or buying those same Jordan X1’s for $200 and still having them 10 years after their release with them still in good condition?

I think when it comes to draft picks, we try to justify the logic in picking a certain player by assessing his value. Let's take, for example, a Mr. Tom Brady. The Patriots got him for cheap because he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 draft and under his leadership the Patriots have won three Super Bowls.

I would say that’s pretty good value.

Now let's take a look at a player like Vince Young. He was drafted third overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2006 NFL draft, and the Titans won a lot of games with him under center. He was selected to a couple of Pro Bowls, was named NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and scored a Madden football cover in 2008.

He didn’t win a Super Bowl, but the Titans got a lot out of the young fella, right?

Value, it's all in the definition.

For the Dallas Cowboys, they’ve had a lot of value picks in their day so why don’t we take a look at them, eh?

Here are 10 of the Dallas Cowboys' best value draft picks in team history.

Jay Ratliff, DE, Auburn, 7th Round, 224th Pick

Al Bello/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 08: Jay Ratliff #90 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after he sacked Donovan McNabb #5 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 8, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Isn’t it great that every single Cowboys draft history list usually includes Jay Ratliff? He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft with the 224th pick. For the Cowboys, he was Mr. Irrelevant. My man Jay is a beast, plain and simple.

He can alter many a play with his creativity and athleticism and is one of the best 3-4 defensive lineman in the league, son.

Bob Hayes, WR, Floriday A&M, 7th Round, 88th Pick

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Bob Hayes Jr. poses with the bust of his late father Bob Sr. at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty

Writer/reader Lance Honey pointed out that I left Bullet Bob off of this list and it was just a plain oversight on my part.

Bob was drafted in the 7th round and the drama that he and his family went through to get him into the Hall of Fame is list worthy in itself.

Because of Hayes NFL teams created the zone defense and the bump and run because they couldn't keep up with the speedster. He was the 2nd player to ever record a 1,000 receiving yards in a season and is some 30 odd years after his retirement, he's still 4th in career receiving yards in Cowboys history.

Leon Lett, DT/DE, Emporia State, 7th Round 173rd Pick

Leon Lett!! Remember the radio guys yelling his name when he dove on the ball during that Thanksgiving day blunder? “Oh my goodness gracious” is all I can remember. Leon cried in the training room because he thought Jimmy Johnson would cut him because of his mistake against the Dolphins.

But Lett made two Pro Bowls in his day with the Cowboys and was a huge difference maker on that vaunted Dallas defensive line. Lett should be remembered for overcoming the odds of being drafted in the seventh round and becoming a defensive juggernaut for one of the best team’s in NFL history.

Marion Barber, RB, Minnesota, 4th Round, 109th Pick

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 07: Marion Barber #24 of the Dallas Cowboys is tackled by Frank Zombo #58 of the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 7, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Cowboys 45-7. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Gett

For the Dallas Cowboys the 2005 NFL Draft was on of their best ever. The team chose Barber, DeMarcus Ware, Kevin Burnett, Chris Canty, and Jay Ratliff. When it comes to talent that’s tough to touch.

Barber made 1 Pro Bowl with the ‘Boys and never eclipsed a 1,000 yards in his career. But that takes nothing away from his value to the team and what he was able to do when he was at the top of his game. The closer is what I call him and while he may never wear another Cowboys jersey again he served his team well during his tour of duty.

Tony Tolbert, DE, Texas-El Paso, 4th Round, 85th Pick

Tim DeFrisco/Getty Images

6 Dec 1992: DEFENSIVE LINEMAN TONY TOLBERT OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS LOOKS TO THE SIDELINE DURING THE COWBOYS 31-27 VICTORY OVER THE DENVER BRONCOS AT MILE HIGH STADIUM IN DENVER, COLORADO.

Tolbert is best known for being a part of the Cowboys defensive line with Jim Jeffcoat, Charles Haley, and Leon Lett. I remember Tolbert for his facemask with the Cowboys and how cool he looked in his uniform. I know, sounds corny but I was pretty young when the ‘Boys had their run in the early nineties.

Tolbert made his only trip to the Pro Bowl in 1996 and recorded a career high in sacks that year with 12. Sans his rookie year he never logged lower than two sacks in his career. I’d say that’s a pretty good value.

Kenneth Gant, DB, Albany State, 9th Round, 221st Pick

The Shark! I just simply love this dude man. Gant was a showman and loved to play it up for the crowd. His shark dance is a part of Cowboys lore and he will forever be associated with the Cowboys of the 90’s

Gant never played in a Pro Bowl and only lasted 8 years in the NFL. But during his tenure with the ‘Boys he picked off eight balls and was a special teams guru. The shark is in the hizouse!

Michael Irvin, WR, Miami, 1st Round, 11th Pick

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

26 Oct 1997: Wide receiver Michael Irvin of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles won the game, 13-12.

My choice to go with Irvin here goes back to the definition of value. He was picked in the 1^st round of the 1988 NFL draft and was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I would say the Cowboys got a pretty good value on their pick wouldn’t you say?

Irvin was the vocal leader of the Cowboys during his time in Valley Ranch and he was one of the most physical wide receivers I’ve ever seen play the game. HOF, 5-time Pro Bowler, and had over 11,000 receiving yards in his career.

Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith, and Darren Woodson

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IRVING, TX - OCTOBER 5: Darren Woodson #28 and Roy Williams #31 of the Dallas Cowboys tackle tight end Freddie Jones #85 of the Arizona Cardinals on the incomplete pass at Texas Stadium on October 5, 2003 in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Cardi

Each player was chosen in a different draft but here is my reasoning for choosing these four gentlemen. Back in 1988 the Cowboys traded running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for five players and six draft picks.

The ‘Boys used 4 of those 6 draft picks to choose the aforementioned players above. Walker was at the top of his game when the ‘Boys made that deal so it could have easily blown up in their faces.

It didn’t and they are 3 Super Bowls richer for it.

Roger Staubach, QB, Navy/New Mexico Military Inst., 10th Round, 129 Pick

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1978: Quarterback Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys looks to pass the ball during a game. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport

Staubach was drafted by the ‘Boys and the Chiefs in two separate drafts in 1964. The Chiefs were in the AFL and the Cowboys were in the NFL and the rest is pretty much history.

Roger is a Hall of Famer and made 6 Pro Bowls during his time in Dallas. He led the Cowboys to 2 Super Bowl victories and was named to the 1970’s all decade team. I think that’s a pretty good value pick.

Kelvin Martin, WR, Boston College, 4th Round, 95th Pick

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

22 Nov 1992: Wide receiver Kelvin Martin of the Dallas Cowboys moves the ball during a game against the Phoenix Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Cowboys won the game, 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule Jr. /Allsport

Martin was a return specialist but he was also a pretty good wide receiver. He came out of the 1987 NFL Draft and made a pretty nice impact for the ‘Boys.

He returned 3 punts back for touchdowns in his career but he snagged 15 receiving touchdowns and besides his rookie season he never had less than 200 receiving yards in his career.