[tps_title]9. Mario Edwards, CB, 2000[/tps_title]

While he only lasted five season in the NFL, Mario Edwards spent three of them as a starting cornerback for the Cowboys.

Edwards spent his rookie year on special teams and then took over as a starter in 2001. The Cowboys went 5-11 that year and the next, but the defenses under Mike Zimmer’s coordinating were not the issue.

Mario helped Dallas rank third in pass defense in 2001 and first in 2003. The Cowboys had the top-ranked overall defense in 2003, Bill Parcells’ first year as head coach, and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Looking to upgrade or at least find cheaper options, the Cowboys allowed Edwards to leave in 2004 free agency.

Mario would spend one year in Tampa Bay as their #3 cornerback. He was released the following offseason and tried to catch on with Miami, but failed to make final cuts and was done in the NFL.

So no, Mario Edwards wasn’t a 6th-round gem relative to others on this list. But if you can get three seasons of starting work out of any late-round pick, and be a playoff team in the process, then you can call that a success.