The deeper into the draft, especially after the NFL expanded to 32 teams, the harder it is to find players who will impact the team.
As was the case in the third round, the Cowboys only made six picks in the fourth round during all of the 1960s.
And just like the previous round, the Cowboys found their stride in the 1970s, starting with center John Fitzgerald in 1970.
They would find defensive end Pat Donovan and safety Randy Hughes in the fourth round in 1975 and guard Tom Rafferty in 1976.
Dallas’ two best picks in the round during the 1980s came late in the decade — Tony Tolbert (1989) and Kelvin Martin (1987).
Both players helped build the dynasty team of the early 1990s.
The Brothers Pelluer
The Cowboys drafted the older brother of their future starting quarterback, Steve Pelluer (who Dallas would draft in 1984).
Drafted in 1981 as a linebacker, Scott Pelluer was waived prior to the start of the season that year.
He would land in New Orleans for five years.
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 had a very late pick remaining — 135th 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
