The Dallas Cowboys' 2016 draft looked like one of the best in a long time with top performances by Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott and Maliek Collins. The 2017 draft class did not make as sizable a contribution this season but there is hope going forward.

Grade: Average

Best rookie: Unlike Elliott and Prescott, whose stats jumped off the page as rookies, the Cowboys did not have a rookie with big numbers. Perhaps this is based on expectations of a sixth-round pick, but Xavier Woods was the most consistent rookie, moving between safety and slot cornerback. The fact that he was not noticed much in coverage speaks to how he played. He had four pass deflections, four quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery. As the Cowboys go into 2018, Woods should be the leader as the nickel corner. Second-rounder Chidobe Awuzie closed the season strong, but he missed seven games because of injury.

Most improved rookie: Wide receiver Noah Brown came to the Cowboys as a project in the seventh round and ended up playing a decent part down the stretch because of his ability to block. He also flashed some ability as a receiver and could get into the mix more consistently in his second year. The Cowboys were not afraid to play him at multiple spots. The Cowboys' receiver group could look very different in 2018, so Brown could get more opportunities.

Most disappointing rookie: The easy answer is Taco Charlton because of first-round expectations, but he played behind DeMarcus Lawrence, who had 14.5 sacks and Tyrone Crawford. By the end of the season, however, Charlton was playing much better. He finished the year with three sacks, which is more than what Lawrence and Crawford posted as rookies. The arrow, as Jerry Jones likes to say, is pointing up on Charlton, who showed at Michigan he improved as time went on.

Jury is still out on ...: Ryan Switzer was a dynamic returner in college but that did not translate enough. He did return a punt for a touchdown and his 25-yard average on kickoff returns was good, but his decision-making was lacking. He was not given much of a chance in the pass game as a receiver either, with six catches. He does not have the suddenness of Cole Beasley in his route running but the coaches have to find ways to get him more involved.

Undrafted rookie evaluation: Cooper Rush's incredible preseason work (six touchdowns, no interceptions) earned him the backup job to Dak Prescott. He didn't take any meaningful snaps as a rookie, but the Cowboys like his potential as a solid No. 2 going forward. The Cowboys struck gold with an undrafted quarterback named Tony Romo in 2003. They can't expect Rush to develop like that, but he could be a dependable backup. Tight end Blake Jarwin also earned his way on to the 53-man roster and could get into the rotation more in 2018.