Jumbo075
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The Cowboys have an established history of giving legitimate chances to undrafted players to make the team. That history goes all the way back to players like Drew Pearson and Everson Walls under Tom Landry. It includes players like Mark Tuinei, and Nate Newton of the Great Wall of Dallas that helped with the Super Bowls in the 90's. Fast forward to this century, and you find key players like Tony Romo, MIles Austin, and Barry Church.
Looking at the current roster of players, several key players on this team will share that lack of draft pedigree. Not only will the Cowboys start a late 4th round pick at the vital quarterback position, but their entire starting receiver group could be made up of undrafted and late round draft picks.
The Cowboys could start a pair of undrafted wide receivers in Cole Beasley and Allen Hurns. Undrafted players Lance Lenior and Deonte Thompson are also battling for a backup position among the receivers. By many accounts, undrafted Blake Jarwin may get the nod as the starting tight end. If Jarwin doesn't win the starting position, it will likely go to Geoff Swaim, a 7th round pick selected just 10 spots before Mr. Irrelevant in the 2015 NFL Draft.
In addition to a starting QB that wasn't picked on the first two days of the draft, and their decidedly unpedigreed receiving corps, the Cowboys will also start undrafted La'el Collins at right tackle, undrafted Jamize Olawale at fullback, and Elliott's primary backup at RB will be undrafted Rod Smith. With Collins, Olawale, Jarwin, Beasley and Hurns, the Cowboys vaunted offense may have 5 undrafted starters to go along with their 4 offensive linemen who were top 50 picks, and their top 5 RB.
Ironically, the Cowboys have invested in a lot more players with a higher pedigree on defense - a defense that just hasn't been able to perform up to the same level as the offense over the last decade. Here are the top picked players on defense;
1st round picks - CB Byron Jones, DE Taco Charlton, LB Leighton Vander Esch, DT Datone Jones
2nd round picks - LB Sean Lee, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DE Kony Ealy, DE Randy Gregory, LB Jaylon Smith, DT Jihad Ward, CB Chidobe Awuzie
3rd round picks - DE Tyrone Crawford, DT Maliek Collins, CB Jourdan Lewis
But even on a defense with so many pedigreed players, the Cowboys will likely start undrafted Jeff Heath at Safety, and perhaps Brian Price at defensive tackle. Of course, when budding superstar undrafted David Irving makes his way back to the roster after his suspension, everyone expects him to take over the starting DT position as the incumbent 3-tech.
Of course, then you look at special teams, and all three starters are undrafted: PK Dan Bailey, P Chris Jones, and LS L.P. Ladouceur.
The Cowboys are not the only team in the NFL that will start a bunch of undrafted players. But their commitment to giving undrafted players a legitimate chance to compete for roster spots is why premium undrafted players keep finding their way to the Cowboys. In Dallas, history proves that the Cowboys will give them a chance, and the current regime continues that tradition.
Looking at the current roster of players, several key players on this team will share that lack of draft pedigree. Not only will the Cowboys start a late 4th round pick at the vital quarterback position, but their entire starting receiver group could be made up of undrafted and late round draft picks.
The Cowboys could start a pair of undrafted wide receivers in Cole Beasley and Allen Hurns. Undrafted players Lance Lenior and Deonte Thompson are also battling for a backup position among the receivers. By many accounts, undrafted Blake Jarwin may get the nod as the starting tight end. If Jarwin doesn't win the starting position, it will likely go to Geoff Swaim, a 7th round pick selected just 10 spots before Mr. Irrelevant in the 2015 NFL Draft.
In addition to a starting QB that wasn't picked on the first two days of the draft, and their decidedly unpedigreed receiving corps, the Cowboys will also start undrafted La'el Collins at right tackle, undrafted Jamize Olawale at fullback, and Elliott's primary backup at RB will be undrafted Rod Smith. With Collins, Olawale, Jarwin, Beasley and Hurns, the Cowboys vaunted offense may have 5 undrafted starters to go along with their 4 offensive linemen who were top 50 picks, and their top 5 RB.
Ironically, the Cowboys have invested in a lot more players with a higher pedigree on defense - a defense that just hasn't been able to perform up to the same level as the offense over the last decade. Here are the top picked players on defense;
1st round picks - CB Byron Jones, DE Taco Charlton, LB Leighton Vander Esch, DT Datone Jones
2nd round picks - LB Sean Lee, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DE Kony Ealy, DE Randy Gregory, LB Jaylon Smith, DT Jihad Ward, CB Chidobe Awuzie
3rd round picks - DE Tyrone Crawford, DT Maliek Collins, CB Jourdan Lewis
But even on a defense with so many pedigreed players, the Cowboys will likely start undrafted Jeff Heath at Safety, and perhaps Brian Price at defensive tackle. Of course, when budding superstar undrafted David Irving makes his way back to the roster after his suspension, everyone expects him to take over the starting DT position as the incumbent 3-tech.
Of course, then you look at special teams, and all three starters are undrafted: PK Dan Bailey, P Chris Jones, and LS L.P. Ladouceur.
The Cowboys are not the only team in the NFL that will start a bunch of undrafted players. But their commitment to giving undrafted players a legitimate chance to compete for roster spots is why premium undrafted players keep finding their way to the Cowboys. In Dallas, history proves that the Cowboys will give them a chance, and the current regime continues that tradition.
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