There’s no definitive answer for how many blue-chip players need to be on an NFL roster to guarantee a Super Bowl. However, if the Dallas Cowboys want to make it to the playoffs this year, they need at least four to five blue-chip type talents.
So, what characteristics does a player need to be considered a blue-chip talent? The bare minimum should be an All-Pro level talent. Pro Bowls have become more subjective to the point where the bar to get in has been lowered. No offense to Tyler Huntley, the former Baltimore Ravens backup quarterback, but he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 with a 2-2 record as a starter.
All-Pro nominations are harder to come by, considering there is usually one player picked for each position outside of wide receiver, the defensive line, and the secondary. Outside of being considered a first- or second-team All-Pro, a blue-chip player needs to be someone a team builds around and is a cornerstone player for the franchise. They should also be in the conversation to be the best at their position. Those attributes must be a package deal; you should not have one without the other.
As tough as it is to admit, the Cowboys could learn from the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl roster from last season. Their top players are Lane Johnson, Jalen Carter, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, Zack Baun, and Jordan Mailata. All of them were critical to the team’s success and lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
So, how many blue-chip players do the Cowboys have heading into 2025? Who can become one with a great season? Who does Dallas desperately need to become their “Zack Baun” this year and exceed expectations out of nowhere?
Let’s start with part one of the series, which will focus on the most talented players on the Cowboys roster.
NFL: DEC 29 Cowboys at Eagles
Certified Blue-Chip Players
Brandon Aubrey: We start with Brandon Aubrey because he might be the one name fans could overlook in an exercise like this. It’s important to remember how impactful he’s been in just a short amount of time.
According to Stathead, Aubrey has hit 76 field goals, the most of any kicker in NFL history during their first two seasons. In 2024, Aubrey had 140 points (second most in the NFL); in 2023, he was the league’s leading scorer with 157 points. If the team needs a 60-yard field goal, Aubrey has proven his range is almost half the field. He’s become an actual weapon for Dallas’ offense.
Micah Parsons: The only question centered around Micah Parsons is how many zeros will be attached to his new contract extension. Parsons has earned every penny about to come his way after having a legendary start to his career.
The NFL players who have had at least a dozen sacks in each of their first four years in the league...
1. Hall of Famer Reggie White
2. Micah Parsons
That's it. That's the list. pic.twitter.com/VwowiSFChi
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) January 5, 2025
He’s the type of player who does not come around often. A perennial blue-chip talent, he should be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come.
CeeDee Lamb: CeeDee Lamb was given the daunting task of wearing No. 88 and living up to the franchise's legacy with that jersey. He has exceeded expectations and has the chance to become the best of the bunch.
Here is a list of the top 5 wide receivers in NFL history for most receiving yards across their first five seasons:
1. Justin Jefferson - 7,432
2. Tory Holt - 6,784
3. Randy Moss - 6,743
4. Jerry Rice - 6,364
5. CeeDee Lamb - 6,339
(via @Stathead)
With a healthy Dak Prescott back at quarterback and not missing time this offseason due to a contract dispute, Lamb should be able to return to the player we saw in 2023, when he showed to be one of the NFL’s premier players at the wide receiver position.
Even with George Pickens by his side this year, Lamb should have more opportunities to find success with less pressure on his shoulders to carry the entire offense.
Tyler Smith: Tyler Smith might not have made this list before last season, but he had as strong and effective a year for an offensive guard in the NFL. Here is Smith’s sack allowed rate over his first three seasons.
Tyler Smith’s sack allowed rate by season since entering the NFL:
2022: 1.2%
2023: 0.2%
2024: 0.3%
Smith has allowed just 10 sacks on 1,784 pass block snaps in his career.
With how important the guard position has become to this era of football, Dallas should be happy to be proven right about a questionable pick on draft night, who’s turned into a cornerstone anchor of the offensive line. Oh, and Smith just turned 24 years old in April.
Part two will examine which players are primed to become blue-chip players in 2025.