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The Cowboys, like everyone else, live with regret. We take a look at the players they probably wish they hadn't passed on in recent drafts. Here is the 2010 edition of lament:
5.) Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia / Drafted 120th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals / Atkins has become arguably the best defensive tackle in football. He's made the Pro Bowl five times, collecting 52 sacks, including nine this past season.
4.) Jimmy Graham, TE, Miami/ Drafted 95th overall by the New Orleans Saints / When Graham was a member of the Saints, he was one of the best offensive players in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl three times and produced 386 catches, 4,752 receiving yards and 51 touchdown receptions. After rough first year with Seattle, he rebounded to make the Pro Bowl for his fourth time.
3.) Kam Chancellor, S, Virginia Tech / Drafted 133rd overall by the Seattle Seahawks / This one hurts because the Cowboys selected a safety, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, with the 126th pick. Chancellor was invited to the Pro Bowl four times and is one of the most ferocious defensive backs in the NFL. He has been a key piece of the Legion of Boom and Seattle's vaunted defense.
2.) Antonio Brown, WR, Central Michigan / Drafted 195th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers / In the last three seasons, Brown has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the game. In fact, he may be best of all. He has made five Pro Bowls and in 2016 produced some eye-popping numbers -- 106 catches and 1,284 receiving yards. The Cowboys selected offensive tackle Sam Young 16 picks before Brown came off the board.
1.) Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona / Drafted 42nd overall by the New England Patriots / It's difficult to argue with the Cowboys taking Dez Bryant in the first round. That's the only pick they could've used to land Gronkowski. But the New England tight end might pose the most difficult matchup in all of football. Who can stop Gronk? No one apparently. The same year Gronkowski was drafted, the Cowboys signed his brother, Chris, as a rookie free agent. So there's that.
Cowboys' 2010 draft class
1, 24, Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
2, 55, Sean Lee, LB, Penn State
4, 126, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, CB, Indiana (PA)
6, 179, Sam Young, OT, Notre Dame
6, 196, Jamar Wall, CB, Texas Tech
7, 234, Sean Lissemore, DT, William & Mary
The Cowboys, like everyone else, live with regret. We take a look at the players they probably wish they hadn't passed on in recent drafts. Here is the 2010 edition of lament:
5.) Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia / Drafted 120th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals / Atkins has become arguably the best defensive tackle in football. He's made the Pro Bowl five times, collecting 52 sacks, including nine this past season.
4.) Jimmy Graham, TE, Miami/ Drafted 95th overall by the New Orleans Saints / When Graham was a member of the Saints, he was one of the best offensive players in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl three times and produced 386 catches, 4,752 receiving yards and 51 touchdown receptions. After rough first year with Seattle, he rebounded to make the Pro Bowl for his fourth time.
3.) Kam Chancellor, S, Virginia Tech / Drafted 133rd overall by the Seattle Seahawks / This one hurts because the Cowboys selected a safety, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, with the 126th pick. Chancellor was invited to the Pro Bowl four times and is one of the most ferocious defensive backs in the NFL. He has been a key piece of the Legion of Boom and Seattle's vaunted defense.
2.) Antonio Brown, WR, Central Michigan / Drafted 195th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers / In the last three seasons, Brown has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the game. In fact, he may be best of all. He has made five Pro Bowls and in 2016 produced some eye-popping numbers -- 106 catches and 1,284 receiving yards. The Cowboys selected offensive tackle Sam Young 16 picks before Brown came off the board.
1.) Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona / Drafted 42nd overall by the New England Patriots / It's difficult to argue with the Cowboys taking Dez Bryant in the first round. That's the only pick they could've used to land Gronkowski. But the New England tight end might pose the most difficult matchup in all of football. Who can stop Gronk? No one apparently. The same year Gronkowski was drafted, the Cowboys signed his brother, Chris, as a rookie free agent. So there's that.
Cowboys' 2010 draft class
1, 24, Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
2, 55, Sean Lee, LB, Penn State
4, 126, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, CB, Indiana (PA)
6, 179, Sam Young, OT, Notre Dame
6, 196, Jamar Wall, CB, Texas Tech
7, 234, Sean Lissemore, DT, William & Mary