Roster Rankings: Do Dallas Cowboys Boast NFL's Best 'Triplets'?

FRISCO - When we hear the word "Triplets,'' every Dallas Cowboys follower is able to speak the language.

One word. And we think of Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin.

History has forgotten the origin. ... They weren't "The Triplets'' until after a couple of Super Bowls, and there was no PR power behind it.

In fact, the legendary sportswriter Frank Luksa coined the phrase, rather innocuously at the time.

It fit. It stuck.

And for everyone who was involved with or who was a witness to the "Team of the '90's'' Cowboys, there's been a great effort to attempt to assemble a core-group trio to match Dallas'.

A star quarterback, a stud running back, and an elite receiver.

It can be hard to accomplish all of that in the salary cap era; it does seem like the top teams in football often have a top-10-caliber player at two positions before coming up a bit shy of a super-trio ... let alone an Aikman/Emmitt/Irvin triumverate.

So, what about the Cowboys in 2026? 

QB Dak Prescott is coming off one of the best years of his career, throwing for 4,552 yards and 30 TDs; Javonte Williams had a career year with 1,201 yards and 11 TDs; and CeeDee Lamb, while having a down year, still produced 1,070 yards and three TDs.

That is a productive trio, no doubt.

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Now, if we are ranking all NFL teams' "Triplets,'' where would Dallas land?

CBS Sports has done that exercise, and the publication has the Cowboys' trio of Dak, Javonte and CeeDee at No. 5.

"Prescott led the NFL in completions and had another 30-touchdown year, while his interception rate once again declined,''  CBS Sports writes.

"Williams put together a better-than-expected debut year in Dallas, and Lamb remains one of the best receivers in the NFL. If we'd been allowed to include multiple receivers in these trios, the Cowboys might've ranked even more highly due to the presence of George Pickens."

The top 10 is as follows:

No. 10 - Philadelphia - Jalen Hurts, RB: Saquon Barkley, WR: DeVonta Smith.

No. 9 - New England - Drake Maye, RB: Rhamondre Stevenson, WR: A.J. Brown.

No. 8 - San Francisco - Brock Purdy, RB: Christian McCaffrey, WR: Mike Evans.

No. 7 - Buffalo - Josh Allen, RB: James Cook, WR: D.J. Moore.

No. 6 - Kansas City - Patrick Mahomes, RB: Kenneth Walker III, WR: Rashee Rice.

No. 5 - Dallas - Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb.

No. 4 - Baltimore - Lamar Jackson, RB: Derrick Henry, WR: Zay Flowers.

No. 3 - Detroit - Jared Goff, RB: Jahmyr Gibbs, WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown.

No. 2 - Los Angeles - Matthew Stafford, RB: Kyren Williams, WR: Puka Nacua.

No. 1 - Cincinnati - Joe Burrow, RB: Chase Brown, WR: Ja'Marr Chase.

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We're digging through this list and we have no real argument with it. ... as the Cowboys are obviously among the NFL's elite. (Maybe Dallas' "Triplets'' are superior to Baltimore's?)

This is a subjective barroom debate, of course. Any "anti-Dallas'' thoughts? Well, Lamb had a down year and Williams only has one good season of production. ... but that's pretty nitpicky.

Put it all together and "These Triplets'' mark another reason for Dallas fans to be hopeful about what 2026 can bring, given the offensive firepower coach Brian Schottenheimer has at his disposal.

Oh, and even though the math doesn't add up - there is no such thing as "Four Triplets'' - George Pickens can't be forgotten in the football part of this equation.

In the end? The ranking demonstrates that the Cowboys have all the tools to once again be a dominant force on offense in 2026.

Dak is coming off a Pro Bowl year, Williams has a chip on his shoulder to prove last season wasn't a fluke, and Lamb has Pickens to push him to new heights.

So, do the Cowboys have the fifth-best set of "Triplets" in football? Should they be ranked higher? Or are they the beneficiaries of "America's Team'' hype?

That, friends, is how we start a barroom argument!