FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys are looking at one of their best draft classes ever.

Much of the focus is on Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, but the Cowboys have received better-than-expected contributions from Maliek Collins, their third-round pick, and Anthony Brown, their sixth-round pick.

The best part of the class is that there's room to grow in the future.

Grade: A

Best rookie: How do you separate Elliott and Prescott? Elliott has brought the energy to the offense with his running, and Prescott has played above expectations while filling in for Tony Romo and Kellen Moore. As the fourth overall pick, much was expected of Elliott behind the Cowboys' offensive line, and he has delivered. Little was expected of Prescott, a supplemental pick in the fourth round, and he has given the Cowboys their quarterback of the future as well as the present. How these two handle the stretch run and playoffs will go a long way toward determining the Cowboys’ success this season.

Most improved rookie: Anthony Brown picked off Romo early in training camp and has made an impact ever since. It's impressive for a sixth-round pick to be as consistent as he has been. He played the slot when Orlando Scandrick was out with a hamstring strain for a month. He moved outside after Morris Claiborne suffered a groin injury. He recorded his first interception Sunday against the Giants, he has been able to keep up with some of the best receivers in the game, and he is not afraid to tackle. Brown needs to make plays on the ball, but he has rarely been out of position.

Most disappointing rookie: Honestly, this assessment is something of a stretch because the expectations should not have been high for Charles Tapper, who was picked before Prescott in the fourth round. The Cowboys hoped he could be part of the pass-rush rotation, but he has not practiced since early in training camp because of a back injury. Tapper might not play all season. There is a chance he will be called off injured reserve with a month to go, but it remains remote. Again, if this is a disappointment, then that speaks to the strength of the draft class.

The jury is still out on ... Jaylon Smith: The Cowboys felt like they took a calculated risk in selecting Smith in the second round, knowing he would not play as a rookie because of a serious knee injury at Notre Dame. He is still waiting for the peroneal nerve to regenerate to the point where he can run without a brace on his foot, but the knee is strong and sound. Smith was always about the future. If he can be the player he was at Notre Dame, the Cowboys will have a difference-making linebacker next to Sean Lee.

Undrafted rookie check in: The Cowboys’ draft was so successful that they did not have any college free agents make the 53-man roster coming out of training camp. Wide receiver Andy Jones remains on the practice squad, however, and with Terrance Williams and Brice Butler set to be free agents at the end of the season, Jones could figure into the plans in 2017. He turned heads in camp and had some moments in the preseason, but not enough to warrant a roster spot. He is big and runs good enough to be a potential player for the future.