A franchise quarterback, a sacrificial lamb, and an older brother walk into the Cowboys’ fourth round…

The two would meet on the football field in 1984, a 30-27 overtime Dallas win. Scott was on special teams and Steve never saw a single snap of live action.

Message Sent, Message Received

The most notorious pick of the 1990s – and for all the wrong reasons – came in 1991 when the Cowboys picked Curvin Richards in the fourth round. He lasted two seasons and was released because Jimmy Johnson wanted to send a message to his team.

With the Cowboys preparing for a Super Bowl run in 1992, Richard started the final regular season game against the Bears, a game won by Dallas 27-14. But Richards fumbled twice in the game, drawing Johnson's ire and earning Richards a pink slip. His teammates got the message and steamrolled their way to a championship.

The Unexpected Franchise Quarterback

In the first decade of the new century, Dallas found quality players in the fourth round: Bradie James (2003), Marion Barber III (2005), and Doug Free (2007). But they found a franchise quarterback in the round in 2016 – and with their second pick of the round at that.

After taking Charles Tapper early in the round, the Cowboys ha d a very late pick remaining – 135^th overall – and selected Dak Prescott. They never dreamt he'd be thrust into the role of starting quarterback as soon as he was.

The pick seemed to indicate a run of solid fourth rounders to come. They have taken the recently departed Dalton Schultz (2018), now starting running back Tony Pollard (2019), starting center Tyler Biadasz (2020), and presumed starting tight end Jake Ferguson (2022) in the fourth round.

Dallas Cowboys All-Time Fourth-Round Picks:

1961 Arnold Davis End

1962 No Pick

1963 Whaley Hall Tackle

1964 Perry Lee Dunn Running back.

1965 Jimmy Sidle Running Back; Bob Svihus Offensive Tackle

1966 No Pick

1967 Curtis Marker Guard

1968 John Douglas Linebacker

1969 No Pick

1970 John Fitzgerald Center

1971 Joe Carter Tight End; Adam Mitchell Offensive Tackle

1972 Tim Kearney Linebacker; Robert West Wide Receiver; Chuck Zapiec Linebacker

1973 Drane Scrivener Defensive Back

1974 Ken Hutcherson Linebacker; Andy Adrade Linebacker

1975 Pat Donovan Defensive End; Randy Hughes Safety

1976 Tom Rafferty Guard

1977 Guy Brown Linebacker

1978 Alois Blackwell Running Back

1979 Ralph DeLoach Defensive End

1980 Kurt Petersen Defensive End

1981 Scott Pelluer Linebacker; Derrie Nelson Linebacker

1982 Brian Carpenter Cornerback; Monty Hunter Safety

1983 Chris Faulkner Tight End

1984 Steve DeOssie Linebacker

1985 Robert Lavette Running Back

1986 Max Zendejas Kicker

1987 Kelvin Martin Wide Receiver

1988 Dave Widell Offensive Tackle

1989 Tony Tolbert Defensive End

1990 No Pick

1991 Curvin Richards Running Back; Bill Musgrave Quarterback; Tony Hill Defensive End; Kevin Harris Defensive End

1992 Tom Myslinski Guard

1993 Derrick Lassic Running Back; Ron Stone Guard

1994 Willie Jackson Wide Receiver; DeWayne Dotson Linebacker

1995 Eric Bjornson Tight End; Alundis Brice Defensive Back

1996 No Pick

1997 Antonio Anderson Defensive Tackle; Macey Brooks Wide Receiver; Nicky Sualua Fullback

1998 Michael Myers Defensive Tackle

1999 Wane McGarity Wide Receiver; Peppi Zellner Defensive End

2000 Kareem Larrimore Cornerback

2001 Markus Steele Linebacker

2002 Jamar Martin Fullback

2003 Bradie James Linebacker

2004 Bruce Thornton Cornerback

2005 Marion Barber III Running Back; Chris Canty Defensive End

2006 Skyler Green Wide Receiver

2007 Isaiah Stanback Wide Receiver; Doug Free Offensive Tackle

2008 Tashard Choice Running Back

2009 Stephen McGee Quarterback; Victor Butler Linebacker; Brandon Williams Defensive End

2010 Akwasi Owusu-Ansah Safety

2011 David Arkin Guard

2012 Kyle Wilber Linebacker; Matt Johnson Safety

2013 B. W. Webb Cornerback

2014 Anthony Hitchens Linebacker

2015 Damien Wilson Linebacker

2016 Charles Tapper Defensive End; Dak Prescott Quarterback

2017 Ryan Switzer Wide Receiver

2018 Dorance Armstrong Jr. Defensive End; Dalton Schultz Tight End

2019 Tony Pollard Running Back

2020 Reggie Robinson II Cornerback; Tyler Biadasz Center

2021 Jabril Cox Linebacker; Josh Ball Offensive Tackle

2022 Jake Ferguson Tight End