[tps_title]7. Patrick Crayton, WR, 2004[/tps_title]

Crayton steadily worked his way up from the practice squad to a prominent role in the Cowboys offense. By 2006, coinciding with Tony Romo’s emergence as starting quarterback, Patrick was one of the team’s top three receivers and remained such for the next four seasons.

While primarily the third receiver from 2006-2009, Crayton started 33 games and often had to take on larger roles due to injuries. As the Cowboys transitioned from the days of Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn to Miles Austin and Roy Williams, Crayton was a reliable fixture.

Despite all the good he did for the Cowboys, Patrick Crayton is unfortunately remembered for a critical drop in the 2007 playoff loss to the Giants. That ’07 team is considered one of the best roster Dallas ever put together that didn’t win a Super Bowl, and Crayton catches blame for that.

In addition to receiving duties Patrick was the Dallas’ punt returner for most of his time. His best year was the last one, 2009, when he had two return touchdowns.

After Dallas selected Dez Bryant in the 2010 Draft, Crayton requested his release. It came in the form of a trade to San Diego, but Patrick never caught on with the Charges and eventually faded out of the NFL.

Overall, Patrick Crayton had a surprisingly solid NFL career. He was a significant member of the team’s playoff runs in 2006, 2007, and 2009 and provided a reliable receiver during Tony Romo’s early years.