As the NFL Draft starts on Thursday night in Detroit, The Dallas Express examines the Dallas Cowboys’ first-round draft picks in this millennium.
Here are the 21 players that the team has chosen drafted in the first round since 2000.
2023: Mazi Smith, Defensive Tackle, Michigan (26th overall)
The most recent first-round pick for Dallas played played 304 snaps in 17 games as a rookie, starting three. He ended the year with 13 tackles and a sack.
2022: Tyler Smith, Offensive Line, Tulsa (24th overall)
Smith has secured a starting guard position after two productive seasons as the Cowboys work to rebuild their once-dominant offensive line.
2021: Micah Parsons, Linebacker, Penn State (12th overall)
Parsons has emerged as a star, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, earning All-Pro honors twice, and achieving at least 13 sacks in all three of his NFL seasons.
2020: CeeDee Lamb, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma (17th overall)
Lamb has become a standout in the NFL and is now Dallas’ primary receiver. He broke the Cowboys’ single-season record for receiving yards last season and has has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his last three seasons.
2019: none (traded to the Raiders for WR Amari Cooper)
2018: Leighton Vander Esch, Linebacker, Boise State (19th overall)
Vander Esch rose in the draft rankings due to a unique blend of size and speed for his position. He spent spent his entire six-year career with the team before retiring this offseason due to injuries.
2017: Taco Charlton, Defensive End, Michigan (28th overall)
Charlton’s potential as a pass-rusher never materialized in the NFL. He lasted spent two seasons in Dallas and last played with Chicago in 2022 after moving around the league.
2016: Ezekiel Elliott, Running Back, Ohio State (4th overall)
The Cowboys took was a rare first-round running back pick, chosen fourth overall. He played seven years with the team and become became the franchise’s third-leading rusher behind Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith. He is currently a free agent, and there have been some rumors rumors of a reunion after a season in New England.
2015: Byron Jones, Defensive Back, UConn (27th overall)
Jones split time between cornerback and safety and excelled as a cornerback in the later years of his time with Dallas. The Miami Dolphins signed him to a lucrative contract in free agency in 2020, but injuries quickly ended ended his NFL career.
2014: Zack Martin, Guard, Notre Dame (16th overall)
Martin was a surprising choice at the time but has lived up to his potential and more. The nine-time Pro Bowler has played played 152 games, all as a starter, for Dallas in his career.
2013: Travis Frederick, Center, Wisconsin (31st overall)
The Cowboys still need to find a suitable replacement for the All-Pro center after an injury ended his career after six seasons seasons with the team, five of which ended resulted in Pro Bowl appearances.
2012: Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU (6th overall)
Claiborne had two solid seasons but never reached the potential he had as a top-10 pick. He stayed remained in Dallas through the 2016-17 season before joining the Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs. He last played in the NFL in 2019.
2011: Tyron Smith, Offensive Tackle, USC (9th overall)
Smith has been a key player at left tackle for most of his career. He has appeared in 161 games over 13 seasons with the Cowboys before joining the New York Jets as a free agent last month. started 161 games over 13 seasons with the Cowboys before signing with the New York Jets as a free agent last month.
2010: Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State (24th overall)
Bryant was a star receiver for Dallas for eight years before getting an Achilles injury. He missed both the 2018 and 2019 seasons and last played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. missed both the 2018 and 2019 seasons and last played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2020.
2009: none (traded to Detroit for WR Roy Williams)
2008: Felix Jones, Running Back, Arkansas (22nd overall) and Mike Jenkins, Defensive Back, South Florida (25th overall)
Jones played five years with the Cowboys as the No.2 running back and one year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Jenkins had his best seasons with Dallas before brief stints in Oakland and Tampa to end his career. had his best seasons with Dallas before brief stints in Oakland and Tampa to end his career.
2007: Anthony Spencer, Defensive End, Purdue (26th overall)
Spencer rose to the first round after a 10.5-sack season in his senior year at Purdue. He split time between defensive end and outside linebacker for the Cowboys and started 67 games across eight seasons, including an 11-sack Pro Bowl campaign in 2012. including an 11-sack Pro Bowl campaign in 2012.
2006: Bobby Carpenter, Linebacker, Ohio State (18th overall)
Carpenter was one of the well-known Ohio State linebackers of 2000s college football, along with AJ Hawk, Anthony Schlegel, and James Laurinaitis. He never performed at the expected level and was out of the league after seven seasons, four of which were with Dallas. spent in Dallas.
2005: Demarcus Ware, Linebacker/Defensive End, Troy (11th overall) and Marcus Spears, Defensive Line, LSU (20th overall)
The Cowboys did well in the first round of the 2005 draft with now Hall-of-Famer Ware and starting defensive lineman Spears. Ware is now in the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor and among the league’s all-time leaders in sacks, while Spears played 89 games for the team and is now an analyst for ESPN. leaders in sacks, while Spears started 89 games for the team and is now an analyst for ESPN.
2004: none (traded to Buffalo, who selected QB JP Losman)
2003: Terence Newman, Defensive Back, Kansas State (5th overall)
Newman became a regular in the Dallas secondary for nine years, picking off 42 passes before playing the final six years of his career in Cincinnati and Minnesota. intercepting 42 passes before playing the final six years of his career in Cincinnati and Minnesota.
2002: Roy Williams, Safety, Oklahoma (8th overall)
Williams was the other notable playmaker with Newman in the Dallas secondary. He made five Pro Bowls and finished in the top three for AP Defensive Player of the Year twice during seven seasons as the Cowboys’ free safety. He finished his career with two seasons in Cincinnati in 2009 and 2010. made five Pro Bowls and finished in the top three for AP Defensive Player of the Year twice during seven seasons as the Cowboys’ free safety. He finished his career with two seasons in Cincinnati in 2009 and 2010.
2001: none (traded to Seattle for WR Joey Galloway)
2000: none (traded to Seattle for WR Joey Galloway)