5. Deion Sanders
Looking at career numbers and accomplishments, Neon Deion would rank first on this list. Not only did Sanders play CB, he spent time at WR and returned punts. Sanders is also the only player to appear in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
But it’s important to remember the Hall of Famer only spent five seasons with the Cowboys. Despite his short stay, he made the most of his time in Dallas, winning a Super Bowl in his first season with the Cowboys in 1995.
Not only did Sanders get a ring in Big D, he earned a list of personal achievements. From 1995 to 1999, Sanders was a four-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, and placed fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 1998.
Deion had 14 interceptions in 61 games with the Cowboys. Not only will he go down as an all-time great CB, he was also one of Dallas’ best free agency signings in franchise history.
4. Trevon Diggs
Some might say Diggs hasn’t played with the Cowboys long enough to warrant a spot on this list. They wouldn’t be wrong considering this is only Diggs’ third season in Dallas.
But what he’s done in a short amount of time has been remarkable. Another reason he cracked this ranking is because there’s no reason to believe he’ll be slowing down anytime soon.
In 2021, Diggs’ second NFL season, he made first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl. Sanders didn’t accomplish that until year four.
Diggs has tallied 17 interceptions in 35 games. That mark ranks 16th in franchise history. But of the players listed ahead of Diggs, only two have played less than 100 games. It’s not crazy to think the Maryland native could be Dallas’ all-time interceptions leader if he has a long career with the team.
In 2021, Diggs had 11 interceptions but allowed over 1,000 yards in coverage. This season, he’s continued intercepting passes but his abilities in coverage have improved greatly.
3. Cornell Green
Green was the Cowboys first great shutdown CB. Dallas joined the NFL in 1960 and Green was signed as a rookie out of Utah State in 1962. Green also played college hoops for the Aggies, averaging 22.5 points per game in three seasons.
The Oklahoma City native spent 13 seasons with the star on his helmet. The first eight were at CB before switching over to SS in the latter part of his career.
Green’s 34 interceptions are the sixth-most in Cowboys history. He was a four-time All-Pro and made five Pro Bowls.
2. Everson Walls
Wells spent nine seasons in Dallas before playing with the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns to end his career.
Should he be docked points for helping the Giants win a Super Bowl in the 1990 season? Maybe. But it’s not enough to lose his spot in the list.
In three of Walls’ first five seasons, he led the NFL in interceptions. As a rookie in 1981, the former Grambling State Tiger had 11 picks. That’s tied for the fifth-most in league history by a first-year player.
Walls’ name isn’t just listed in the NFL’s all-time record books. His 44 interceptions with the Cowboys ranks second in team history.
1. Mel Renfro
Renfro isn’t just the top CB in our rankings, he’s also one of the best all-around defensive players in Cowboys history. The Hall of Famer played 14 seasons in Dallas, making the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 years. He was also a three-time second-team All-Pro.
Renfro reeled in 52 interceptions and returned them for 626 yards, both rank first in Cowboys history. In 1969, he had a career-high 10 picks which led the NFL. In the NFL’s record books, Renfro is tied for the 26th-most picks in league history.
When people think of defensive backs returning punts, their minds jump to Sanders. But Renfro was doing it in the 1960s, which paved the way for the players that did the same after him. Renfro led the NFL in both punt and kick return yardage in his 1964 rookie season, combining for 1,435 yards.
Renfro did play free safety for the first six years of his career. But we gave him the nod considering a majority of his time was spent at CB.
