Dallas Cowboys Draft History: Greatest 7th-Round Picks of All Time

Apr 14, 2020
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15 mins read
Dallas Cowboys Draft History: Top 10 Seventh-Round Picks of All Time

[tps_title]6. Mike Hegman, LB, 1975[/tps_title]

Dallas Cowboys Draft History: Top 10 Seventh-Round Picks of All Time 1

Now we get into the real cream of this 7th-round crop.

There was some controversy when Dallas first drafted Mike Hegman in 1975. The Cowboys used their pick on him but then Hegman returned to college, thinking he had one year left of eligibility. It wasn’t until a few weeks into that season that the NCAA ruled Hegman was actually ineligible and forced him to sit the rest of the year.

Dallas still retained his rights and added Mike to their roster in 1976.

Mike Hegman was a backup linebacker and special teams player for his first four seasons. His most famous play came in the Cowboys’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII, returning a Terry Bradshaw fumble for a touchdown.

Hegman became a starter midway through the 1979 season when “Hollywood” Henderson was released. He held that job for most of the next decade and until his release in 1988.

Much like those from the early 2000s, the Cowboys’ best players from the 80s will never get the same recognition as guys from other eras. It was a low point in team history, but even in overall weakness there were some strong individual efforts.

Mike Hegman was a true 7th-round success story. He played 12 seasons for the biggest franchise in football and most of that as a starter. He also made one of the highlight plays in Dallas’ Super Bowl history.

Jess Haynie

Jess Haynie

Cowboys fan since 1992, blogger since 2011. Bringing you the objectivity of an outside perspective with the passion of a die-hard fan. I love to talk to my readers, so please comment on any article and I'll be sure to respond!

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John Williams
Apr 14, 2020 12:31 PM

Guess I’m not as familiar with Leon Lett’s time cause I wouldn’t have assumed He’d be above Ratliff.

Nathaniel Bowen
Nathaniel Bowen
Apr 14, 2020 1:14 PM

I like Aaron Parker from Rhode Island for round 7. He would give better rotational depth at WR. If I’m Dallas I would honestly get him and get his teammate WR in the 5th also. Dallas would get 2 WR’S in this draft I think both of them would be steals.

Nathaniel Bowen
Nathaniel Bowen
Apr 14, 2020 2:10 PM

Get Isaiah Culter and Aaron Parker as a WR from Rhode Island. I think they would be awesome in Dallas and be steals in the mid-later rounds.

VAM
VAM
Apr 14, 2020 4:04 PM

The name alone, Bullet Bob, says it all. Hayes changed the game and was a true home run hitter every time he touched the ball. He is the best seventh rounder! And as the article mentioned, he was a great returner. He brought an excitement to the game that very few others could match. He was one of the players that kept the Cowboys a very popular team, with a rich, great history.

Cowboys are America’s Team! And hopefully with the FAs and the right draft picks, they can compete for another Championship. Dak better take his big head out of his a$$, and get on board. If not, hopefully the front office has a plan B.

Guest
Guest
Dec 28, 2020 10:08 AM

“Mike Hegman was a backup linebacker and special teams player for his first four seasons. He helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XIII in a big way, returning a Terry Bradshaw fumble for a touchdown.”

The Cowboys didn’t win Super Bowl XIII. The Steelers did.

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