Cowboys’ success rate with the 216th pick in the draft is minimal

We sit 34 days away from one of the most anticipated events of the NFL offseason: the 2024 NFL Draft.

Scouts from all 32 teams are using their frequent flyer miles this month traveling all over the country for scheduled pro days at various college campuses.

This year’s draft is different for the Dallas Cowboys because they have more holes than usual on the roster.

The Cowboys took their usual hiatus from the first few days of free agency, watching all of the high-impact players sign elsewhere.

Frustration has mounted in Cowboys Nation to nearly explosion status because Dallas has only added one outside free agent to a roster that has seen nine starters clean out their lockers.

LB Eric Kendricks, a Mike Zimmer guy, has been the only signing from outside of the organization.

Dallas owns seven draft picks in the upcoming draft, and they seem intent on using a mix of rookies and second-year players to fill the holes in the roster.

Previously, I wrote about how the Cowboys have fared in franchise history when picking 24th and 56th.

Today, I want to cover the team’s history when drafting the 216th overall pick to see if the Cowboys have ever drafted a late-round gem in that slot.

Spoiler: Their success rate is minimal.

Exclusions

Yes, I know I’ve skipped over the 87th and 174th picks in between 56 and 216 but it’s only because they’ve only drafted in those slots once in history.

The 87th pick was in 1976 when they selected WR Butch Johnson, and T Paul Wicker was the selection in 1963 with pick 174.

The Cowboys have drafted eight players in the 216 slot but we will only cover the three who appeared in a game.

OT Dennis Golden (1963), LB Larry Savage (1980), DE Toddrick McIntosh (1994), and CB Marquez White (2017) never suited up.

RB Darius Jackson (2016) appeared in two games for the Cowboys before being released.

RB George Peoples

Draft Year: 1982, Round 8 Pick 216
College: Auburn

The Cowboys drafted RB George Peoples in the 8th round of the strike-shortened 1982 draft and he was the first of two running backs drafted by Dallas in that round.

He had a great preseason that included a 79-yard touchdown reception from the arm of QB Gary Hogeboom, but that wouldn’t translate to the regular season.

Stuck behind Tony Dorsett, Ron Springs, and Robert Newhouse on the depth chart, Peoples rushed just seven times for 22 yards in his brief eight-game stint with the Cowboys.

WR Leon Gonzalez

Draft Year: 1985, Round 8 Pick 216
College: Bethune-Cookman

The Dallas Cowboys drafted WR Leon Gonzalez from Bethune-Cookman University in the eighth round of the 1985 NFL Draft.

Interestingly, Gonzalez was also drafted in the 11th round of the USFL Draft by the Orlando Renegades, but he chose to stay in the NFL.

Gonzalez was mainly a special teams player and didn’t get much time on offense behind established WR Mike Renfro.

In 11 games played with Dallas, Gonzalez caught three passes for 28 yards and returned 15 punts for 58 yards.

WR Patrick Crayton

Draft Year: 2004, Round 7 Pick 216
College: Northwest Oklahoma State

WR Patrick Crayton was the Cowboys’ penultimate pick in the 2004 NFL Draft from Northwest Oklahoma State University.

Crayton is the most accomplished Cowboys player drafted in the 216th slot, playing six seasons in Dallas before ending his career in San Diego.

Despite making numerous big plays for the offense and as a punt returner, Crayton usually draws ire from the Cowboys’ fanbase for two plays in the 2007 NFC Divisional Round matchup with the rival New York Giants.

Crayton dropped a pass that would have extended a crucial drive in the second half and then stopped short on a route to the endzone late in the 4th quarter.

Had he continued running, QB Tony Romo’s pass would have dropped right into his hands for the game-winning score.

Crayton finished his Cowboys career with 196 receptions for 2,888 yards and 23 touchdowns, also contributing heavily on the punt return team.