Dallas Cowboys: Re-drafting first-round picks from last 5 years

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 12: Taco Charlton #97 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his sack of quaterback Sean Mannion #13 of the Los Angeles Rams during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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Dallas Cowboys (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

2016 NFL Draft, No. 4 Overall

Actual pick: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Re-draft pick: Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State

Even with the drama that resulted from his suspension in the 2017 season and with the contract holdout heading into the 2019 campaign, one thing that can be said with certainty is that the Dallas Cowboys don’t regret adding Ezekiel Elliott to their roster. The Ohio State product has been one of the best running backs in the league.

In 56 career games with Dallas, Elliott has lived up to his billing as the No. 4 overall pick in 2016 — no matter what you think about running back value. He’s rushed for 5,405 yards and 40 touchdowns while also catching 189 balls for 1,619 yards and eight scores. He’s been the elite weapon on offense that everyone hoped he’d be when he was selected.

But running back value can’t be ignored. The Cowboys have long been a team that prides itself on the offensive line and, as we learn more about the game, it’s becoming clear that you don’t need to spend a top-five pick on a running back for them to have success in the NFL. After all, Derrick Henry was a second-round pick in the same draft where Zeke was taken.

The same can’t be said for a cornerback. And Jalen Ramsey is one of the best cornerbacks in the league. While he may have a loud mouth and talk a ton of trash, he backs it up on the field with every physical tool needed to be a dominant force in the secondary. And this re-draft is even tougher to swallow as many people wanted the Cowboys to take Ramsey over Elliott at the time. Alas, Dallas isn’t totally kicking themselves but it’s hard to not want Ramsey on the roster still.

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