Where's Dak? Which 7 Cowboys Stars Rank on PFF Top 101?
There are two reasons why the Dallas Cowboys are consistently expected to bring home the Super Bowl championship that perpetually eludes them.
First is their stature in American culture. As the center of conversations on channels around the country, owner Jerry Jones has ensured the Cowboys stay in the news. Second is the high-level talents Dallas consistently has on its roster. The Cowboys are expected to play well because they so frequently have the talent to do so.
This isn’t just a Texas-bound issue, though. The national media has justifiably built-up parts of this roster as some of the best players in the sport. Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 players from 2023 only added to the excitement the roster provides.
Micah, Lamb and Dak
101. Tyler Smith, left guard
Smith couldn’t crack the Top 100, but he makes their ranking by the skin of his teeth after a truly impressive season at left guard.
He established himself as one of the best interior linemen in the sport and looked much better in pass protection than he did at left tackle. Dallas may hope he builds on his 2023 back at left tackle, where he played during his rookie season.
If he stays inside, though, the Cowboys can feel comfortable with an elite interior lineman to take the torch from Zack Martin, who didn’t make the list.
71. Tyron Smith, left tackle
It’s only suitable for Tyron Smith to be next on this list.
As things stand, he is unlikely to return to Dallas for the twilight of his career. He’s been incredible, but unfortunate medical woes have kept him off the field too frequently to truly trust with a multi-year deal.
He’ll leave boasting one of the most impressive runs a left tackle has had in recent memory and should sign with a championship contender without contempt from fans angry at his departure.
48. DeMarcus Lawrence, edge rusher
Lawrence has made a career out of being one of the most under-appreciated defensive players in the sport.
His sack numbers have cast doubt upon his pass-rushing prowess – just four this season and 13 in the last three years – but Lawrence is consistently an impact player in this phase of the game.
Where he’s even better is against the run. He was PFF’s highest-graded run defender on the Cowboys and used those skills to win their prime-time game against the Seattle Seahawks.
20. DaRon Bland, cornerback
You can’t tell the story of this Cowboys season without Bland’s historic stretch. Bland broke the NFL’s record for pick-sixes in a season and did so in utterly electric fashion.
He’ll earn the same criticisms as cornerback Trevon Diggs did in 2022 when his ball-hawking nature became a two-sided coin, but Bland became one of the more feared defensive backs in football.
Whether it is sustainable is another discussion, but one for the future and not just for 2023, where Bland was among the league’s best.
14. Dak Prescott, quarterback
Finally, Prescott makes his appearance after arguably the best season of his NFL career. He did so just in time, too. While a poor season could have made the incoming contract year of vital importance, Prescott let his play do the talking.
He set a career-high in passer rating (105.9) while throwing for 36 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. An MVP candidate for much of the year, Prescott shrugged off the “average” label his critics threw around and delivered with more consistency than ever before.
Prescott was an MVP finalist, even if he doesn’t get treated like one.
9. CeeDee Lamb, receiver
No one benefited more from Prescott’s play in 2023 than Lamb.
After a rocky beginning of the season, Lamb made his case for the best receiver in football with eight 100-yard games, including a monstrous 227-yard performance and three consecutive weeks of 150+ yards.
He caught a league-high 135 passes for 1,749 yards and 12 scores and cemented himself as one of the league’s elite, just in time for a likely-record-breaking extension.
3. Micah Parsons, edge rusher
Last (first?) but not least, Parsons was ranked as the third-best player in football this past season. Simply put, he’s a dominant player who has sustained a level of dominance that is nearly impossible to match.
The conversation for best defensive player in the sport may start with Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett, but Parsons isn’t far behind, and he’s more deserving of that spot than possibly anyone else.
