The Dallas Cowboys current group of starting wide receivers is arguably the best in the entire NFL with Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and rookie CeeDee Lamb. It is yet to be determined how impactful each one’s career will be in Dallas but there is a good chance that at least one of them will rank among the franchises best ever when all is said and done. That raises the question, which wide receivers currently rank among the greatest in club history? The following is my list of the Top 5 Dallas Cowboys WR’s of All-Time.
Honourable Mention: Tony Hill (1977-1986) 479 receptions, 7988 yards, 51 TD’s, 3x Pro Bowl selection
Tony Hill may be the most underrated wide receiver in franchise history. He is not often mentioned when discussing the Cowboy greats at his position but he was an explosive and talented athlete with big play ability. He was also extremely productive and consistent throughout his career.
5) “Bullet” Bob Hayes (1965-1974) 371 receptions, 7414 yards, 71 TD, 3x Pro Bowl selection
Bob Hayes earned the nickname “Bullet Bob” due to his incredible speed. He was a Gold Medal winning Olympic sprinter, a Hall of Fame inductee, and until recently, the all-time franchise leader in TD catches. He was the fastest man in the NFL during his playing career and has a whopping 20 yard/reception average as he routinely blew the top off of defenses.
4) Terrell Owens (2006-2009) 235 receptions, 3587 yards, 38 TD, Pro Bowl 2007
T.O only played 3 seasons in Dallas and is as much remembered for his production on the field as his antics off of it. Eventually Jerry Jones decided to move on from him and Dallas paid a King’s Ransom to bring in Roy Williams from Detroit to replace him. Williams failed miserably to fill his shoes and Dallas paid for that decision dearly. Love him or hate him, there is no denying that the newly inducted Hall of Famer is among the best wide-receivers of all-time. He was blessed with a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism and despite his short tenure here I had to include him on this list.
3) Drew Pearson (1973-1983) 489 receptions, 7822 yards, 48 TD, 3x Pro Bowl selection
The “original 88”, Drew Pearson was an undrafted free agent who rose from special teams to become the Dallas Cowboys All-Time receiving leader when he was forced to retired from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He will forever be remembered in Cowboys lore for his “Hail Mary” touchdown catch against the Vikings in the 1975 and most recently for his memorable rant at the 2017 NFL draft to a chorus of boos in Philadelphia.
2) Dez Bryant (2010-Present) 531 receptions, 7459 yards, 73 TD, 3x Pro Bowl selection
There are a lot of folks critisizing Dez Bryant these days. His critics will point out that ever since he signed his long-term deal his production has dropped dramatically. That is an unfair assessment as the drop in production has also coincided with injuries and a change at quarterback where the chemistry he shared with Tony Romo has not carried over. The Cowboys have moved on from Dez and he has not signed with another team up to this point but I am not about to write him off just yet. Dez may not be the fastest receiver or the best route runner in the league but he can make contested catches and is a dangerous open field runner. He is also a legitimate red zone threat that a lot of teams covet. If he is able to land on a team that will be able to take advantage of his abilities and he stays healthy he should be able to put up Pro-Bowl calibre numbers once again. His off the field antics may rub some fans the wrong way, but I consider him an emotional leader much like the #1 receiver on my list.
1) Michael Irvin 1988-1999) 750 receptions, 11904 yards, 65 TD, 5x Pro Bowl selection
No wide receiver in franchise history has caught more passes for more yards than the “Playmaker”. He would likely be the franchise all-time leader in receiving TD’s had his career not been cut short after suffering a neck injury against the Eagles. Physically, he was an absolute beast. He was the original power receiver, manhandling smaller defensive backs all over the field. He had reliable hands, big play ability and he could always be counted on when it was 3rd down. Often, after converting one of those big 3rd downs, he would perform his trademark 1st down celebration and re-invigorate his entire team with his energy. Off the field, he was a fiery, emotional leader and the heart and soul of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty that won 3 Super Bowls in the 90’s. For all of these reasons, Michael Irvin is the best receiver to ever wear the Dallas Cowboy uniform.
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**All Data and statistics obtained and verified from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/