5 most overrated players in Cowboys history ft. Troy Aikman
The Dallas Cowboys are an iconic franchise full of Hall of Famers and superstars. Some of the NFL's finest have worn the star on their helmets, adding to the franchise's undeniable luster. However, the team also has quite a few overrated players.
Being a good franchise like the Cowboys comes with some perks, but it also has some downsides. This is even more true when coupled with a loud and proud fanbase, which may have propped some players up too much.
Most overrated Cowboys of all time
5) Dak Prescott
This player deserves a huge asterisk because the national media often underrates Dak Prescott. He's a good quarterback, and the playoff failures or losses against elite defenses are mostly overblown. However, for a while, many Cowboys fans considered him among the best of the best. He's probably a top-10 QB, but that's not saying all that much in today's NFL.
4) Trevon Diggs
Injuries have partially kept Trevon Diggs from reaching his true potential and perhaps giving him a full body of work. However, he is often considered a shutdown corner who can lock up any wide receiver, and that's probably not the case. In fact, he may not even be the best cornerback on his team after what DaRon Bland did in 2023. The Cowboys' defense often didn't miss a beat without him.
3) Leighton Vander Esch
Injuries certainly played a role in preventing Leighton Vander Esch from progressing further, but Dallas fans often heralded him as one of the best linebackers in football. He was a very good player and a key cog in the defensive unit with Dallas from 2018 to 2023, but he is just a one-time Pro Bowler and didn't earn any other accolades.
2) Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker is often considered an all-time great running back. He played for Dallas among other teams, including the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. He never got better after leaving the Cowboys, but he also wasn't as good during his tenure there. All told, he was just a two-time Pro Bowler, not a Hall of Fame-caliber player.
1) Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman is a multi-time Super Bowl winner and a Hall of Famer. That implies that he was one of the best to ever do it, but that's just not the case. It is important to note that he played in an era without high-volume passing like today's NFL, but his numbers don't compare to most star QBs. He was a good player and he was solid for the era he played in, but heralding him as one of the best quarterbacks in history is not appropriate.