The Dallas Cowboys had more players listed in the NFL Top 100 players entering 2024 than almost every other team in the league. However, some members of America’s Team who did not make the cut might have deserved to be included among the top tier of players.
Dallas had an impressive showing in the NFL Top 100 after players across the league selected five Cowboys to be on the list. This is a slight decrease from the seven named on the list in 2023 but is still near the top for the franchise with the most recognitions, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Despite trailing the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Jets for the most players named, the Cowboys still have multiple players on the roster who could argue for their inclusion on the list.
Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is the player on America’s Team who has the strongest argument for being unjustly snubbed from the list. During the 2023 season, he proved to be one of the most reliable pass catchers in the NFL.
Ferguson put together a solid year in his first season as the Cowboys’ lead tight end, racking up 71 receptions for 761 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.
The third-year tight end often acted as quarterback Dak Prescott’s safety valve on the offense, making short receptions that he converted into heavy yardage after the catch to help the Cowboys in crucial moments.
While Ferguson is likely to be upset about being left off the list voted on by his peers, he will now have the opportunity to prove his value on a team lacking offensive weapons after wide receiver Michael Gallup’s departure in free agency.
The second player on the Cowboys who should feel snubbed from the NFL Top 100 is cornerback Trevon Diggs, who is coming off a torn ACL but has shown to be one of the best defensive backs in the league when healthy.
Diggs’ most recent full season saw him become one of the most shutdown cornerbacks in the league. In 2022, he also collected 47 solo tackles and three interceptions.
The Pro Bowl defensive back was forced to miss most of the 2023 season after his injury during practice before Week 3. However, injury concerns seemingly played only a minor role in the rankings for other players.
Players such as quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow and linebacker Dre Greenlaw were included on the list despite suffering similar injuries last season.
In the same vein as Ferguson’s opportunity this season, Diggs will now have the chance to prove his worth to the Cowboys.
Diggs was recently cleared to begin practicing during training camp and will step back into his role as a starting cornerback for the team alongside Daron Bland, who was ranked as the 31st-best player going into this season, as previously reported by DX.
Dallas is set to begin the 2024 season later this week with a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at 3:30 p.m., where many of the team’s starters will likely sit out to allow the younger players to showcase their abilities.
Following two more preseason games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers, the Cowboys will travel to face the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 on September 8 at 3:25 p.m.
