Building the all-time offense for the Dallas Cowboys

Which players would complete your all-time Cowboys offense?

We’ve decided to put together an all-time team for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. With such a great history and with so many amazing players to pass through the organization, this exercise was both fun and challenging at the same time.

This was written purely for entertainment value. It's completely opinion-based and as such may not directly correlate with the way you personally would have gone at each position to create the Cowboys all-time team. But, that's what makes these kind of exercises all the more interesting and entertaining. Today, we'll put together the all-team offense.

For this exercise we are going to put Cowboys on the all-time offensive team and 11 personnel (1 QB, 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 2 OT, 2 OG, 1 OC). Because of that we have to mention FB Daryl "Moose" Johnston didn't make the cut, but is definitely the Cowboys all-time fullback. We also made a few adjustments along the way to accommodate players who might be a little out of position. Who do you think makes the cut on the final 11?

QB - Roger Staubach (1969-1979)

After serving his time during the Vietnam War, Roger Staubach finally joined the Cowboys as a 27-year-old rookie. He won two Super Bowl victories for the organization and led them to a total of four in his 10 year career. His stats may not matchup to some of the more modern Cowboys QBs, but his Hall of Fame career pretty much speaks for itself. He's Dallas' all-time QB that all others will forever be compared to.

RB - Emmitt Smith (1990-2002)

There may never be another RB as durable - he only missed six games - and productive as Emmitt Smith was during his 12-year career with the Cowboys. During his time with the organization he was an eight-time Pro Bowl player, four-time All-Pro, and is still the NFL's league-leading rusher. It's almost unimaginable to think the Cowboys will ever have a RB capable of accomplishing what No. 22 did in his Hall of Fame career in Dallas.

WR (X) - Michael Irvin (1988-1999)

Michael Irvin was arguably the best WR who donned the Cowboys jersey and wore No. 88 in the history of the organization. In his 11-year Hall of Fame career with the Cowboys he made the Pro Bowl five consecutive years in a row (1991-1995) and made the All-Pro team (1991). Without him, the Cowboys more than likely wouldn't have won three Super Bowls in the 1990s.

WR (Z) - Bob Hayes (1965-1974)

Bob "Bullet" Hayes would've been the perfect complement opposite Irvin on the outside. He is a true deep threat with world-class speed, winning a gold medal in the 100m and 4 x 100m in 1964 Tokyo Olympics. In his 11-year Hall of Fame career with the Dallas Cowboys he averaged 20 yards per reception and made three consecutive Pro Bowl's (1965, 1966, 1967) and was named to the All-Pro team twice (1966, 1968).

WR (slot) - CeeDee Lamb (2020-Present)

The Cowboys were right to give CeeDee Lamb the No. 88 jersey. Not only is he living up to the legacy of said jersey, but he's establishing himself as one of the best WRs to ever play for the organization. Already in his young four-year career in Dallas he has been named to the Pro Bowl three times and was a First-Team All-Pro in 2023. Can you imagine an aerial attack with him in the slot and Michael Irvin/Bob Hayes on the outside?

TE - Jason Witten (2003-2017, 2019)

Naming Jason Witten as he Cowboys all-time tight end is a no-brainer. He is not only the best to ever play the TE position in Dallas, but one of the best to play the position in the entire history of the league. The future Hall of Famer was an 11-time Pro Bowl player and a two-time All-Pro. Like Emmitt Smith, his durability and production may never be matched as well as what he meant to the organization both on and off the field.

LT - Tyron Smith (2011-2023)

You could probably flip-flop Tyron Smith and Rayfield Wright and it wouldn’t make much of a difference. With them is the bookend tackles for the Cowboys all-time offensive team pass rushers would pretty much be stonewalled from the get-go. Smith is a future Hall of Famer himself as well as an eight-time Pro Bowl player and two-time All-Pro. The Smith/Wright OT duo would be absolutely dominant.

LG - Larry Allen (1994-2005)

The late, great Larry Allen is without a doubt the best offensive lineman the Cowboys have had the privilege of seeing pass through the organization. You can literally plug-and-play him at probably any OL position and he'd still be absolutely dominant. In his Hall of Fame career he was a 10-time Pro Bowl player and a six-time All-Pro. He is arguably the best and most versatile OL to ever play the game in the history of the NFL.

C - Travis Frederick (2013-2019)

Travis Frederick's career with the Cowboys was unfortunately cut short due to an out of nowhere autoimmune disease. But during his six-year career with the organization he established himself as the best center they've ever had. He was a five-time Pro Bowl player as well as a one-time First-team All-Pro. Some may argue Mark Stepnoski was the better Cowboys OC and an argument could certainly be made that's true as well.

RG - Zack Martin (2014-Present)

Zack Martin is probably a surefire first-ballot Hall of Fame player once he finally decides to call it quits. He is one of the best players regardless of positions to ever play for the Dallas Cowboys. The seven-time First-Team All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowl player has been reliably durable in is almost 10-year career with the Cowboys and would complete a formidable OG duo with the late, great Larry Allen for Dallas' all-time offensive team.

RT - Rayfield Wright (1967-1979)

Rayfield Wright started 114 of 166 games with the Cowboys during his 12-year Hall of Fame career with the organization. He was a six-time Pro Bowl player and a three-time All-Pro as well as being a fixture of the Cowboys offense of line during the 1970s, helping lead them to the Super Bowl five times.