News: Bleacher Report gives Dallas an A+ for their UDFA selections

Denim Chicken · May 29, 2020

rnr_honeybadger said:
How do you give grades when you have no idea how any of these guys will turn out?

The same way they give draft grades, power rankings, etc...

Pantone282C · May 29, 2020

Aaron Parker looks good on all aspects of the route tree. We need a good LBer prospect like Bernard.

Mr_437 · May 29, 2020

I vote Bernard. Gonna be tough for any of them to make under these conditions.

_sturt_ · May 29, 2020

_sturt_ said:
I vote for whoever got the biggest bonus.

Both logic and history suggest that's the best bet.

So... is that Carter?

Yes.

(Though, maybe one of those not listed got something better?)

lwehlers · May 29, 2020

I think that Hamilton has a really good chance. Gregory so far has not been reinstated and Armstrong has not shown anything his first two years.

eromeopolk · May 29, 2020

Luther Kirk, S could be the Mike Downs of this group. He is rangy, can tackle, make interceptions, and make impact plays (see him win DMVP at the Senior Bowl). Go look at the FCS Championship game vs. a Trey Lance a pro prospect who would not throw in Kirks area who had 5 ints in 2018.

Sewo Olonilua, FB, is big, fast, can catch, block, plays ST, and does not have much competition at FB.

Garrett Marino, NT/DT, is old but as Son of a Bum says "He's Strong like Bull".

Francis Bernard is this year's Justin Phillips. Hopefully they let him make the team.

All 4 will be either a Cowboy, on another NFL Team, hidden on a practice squad.

RustyBourneHorse · May 29, 2020

Hennessy_King said:
I think the marino kid can definitely make the roster he only has to beat out hill lol

Exactly why I voted for him. I think we might get at least 2 actually. Francis Bernard, I think, will be a jolly good player too. We could use a bit more help at LB.

fivetwos · May 29, 2020

John813 said:
Ron'Dell Carter for me

I think Bernard has the best shot from a numbers standpoint, but did he not mention Carter at all or didn't miss it?

If I'm not mistaken he was given a 100k bonus.

I appreciate the A+ from this guy but I cant give him one if he missed Carter.

fivetwos · May 29, 2020

Bernard ought to help out the coverage units as well.

This is why I expect to be much improved in that area this year.

The bottom of last years roster was awful.

_sturt_ · May 29, 2020

fivetwos said:
100k bonus

Read 5 posts above yours.

dallasdave · May 29, 2020

TheSkaven said:
Probably wouldn’t post this any other time but it’s a slow news week and it pushes a Dak thread off the main page.

We know that the Cowboys and McClay killed it in the draft this year, but they apparently also killed it with undrafted free agents. The author (@brentsobleski) said he would take the Cowboys’ UDFA class over most teams’ Day 3 picks!

—-
The amount of quality talent the Dallas Cowboys landed is staggering.

At running back, TCU's Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua are complementary pieces to compete for a spot(s) behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Anderson is an explosive slashing runner, while Olonilua is a thumper between the tackles.

Portland State's Charlie Taumoepeau can help at tight end, but he also worked as a fullback at the Senior Bowl.

Mississippi State's Stephen Guidry (6'3", 201 lbs), Rhode Island's Aaron Parker (6'2", 209 lbs) and Texas A&M's Kendrick Rogers (6'4", 208 lbs) are big-bodied targets to complement Dallas' smaller receivers.

Texas Tech's Terence Steele is a physically talented tackle who needs technique work to possibly back up Tyron Smith or La'el Collins.

UAB's Garrett Marino and North Texas' Ladarius Hamilton are both adept at shedding blockers. Kansas' Azur Kamara is a raw, albeit physically gifted, pass-rusher.

Francis Bernard became a top-three tackler at two different programs (BYU and Utah).

The quality of Dallas' undrafted class rivals any other franchise's Day 3 selections.

Grade: A+
—-

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2889081-grading-every-nfl-teams-2020-undrafted-free-agent-haul

Great news indeed

Typhus · May 30, 2020

xwalker said:
WR?

They don't have any roster locks at WR after the top 3. They'll keep at least 6. They kept 6 and sometimes 7 the past few years.

I know the rosters were expanded to 55 I believe, but did the practice squad expand as well?

xwalker · May 30, 2020

Typhus said:
I know the rosters were expanded to 55 I believe, but did the practice squad expand as well?

The Practice Squad size will expand to 12 starting in 2020 (It was 10).
- In 2022 it will expand to 14.

It's not a true 55 man roster in terms of players being "protected".

They can promote 2 practice squad players without having to cut somebody on the 53.
- Those players are still on the practice squad which means another team could sign them to the their 53.
- The promoted players don't have to go through the waiver process but that does not really mean much.
  - Normally when PS player is promoted and then sent back to the PS he has to go through waivers.
  - When he clears waivers he has the option to sign with a different team's practice squad.
  - Without having to go through the waiver process those PS players don't have the option to sign with another team's PS.
  - It's somewhat rare for a player that has been promoted and then sent back to the PS to want to sign with another team's PS anyway.
  - The rule that allows for avoiding waivers is limited to 2 moves up/down per specific player.

The game day roster size expands from 46 to 48.
- 1 of the 2 additional players must be an 8th OL (i.e. Team's can not have only 7 OL active and have 48 players active).
- Most teams would likely have the 8th OL active anyway with 48 players active.
- In the past with 46 players active teams preferred to only carry 7 OL but often had to carry 8 if any starters were dealing with injury issues prior to the game.

Carter · Jun 2, 2020

RonDell Carter and Francis Bernard will make the Team. Later only dropped cause of his off-field issues. If he stays motivated hes gonna make the Team.

Carter could have gone in the Draft earlier but small school didnt have much tape. 25 Teams tried to sign him.

Hamilton and Marino have a shot as a rotational D-Liner if someone gets hurt or if Gregory doesnt get reinstated and Hill still performs poorly.

One of the Receivers has a an outside chance.

Verdict · Jun 2, 2020

QuincyCarterEra said:
This is one area I've thought we needed to improve on. If you are a smart billionaire owner you should outspend/out resource your opponents in the following areas:

UDFAs
Coaching
Scouting department
Analytics department

None of these affect CAP space, and if your coaching and scouting departments are better then you can use your CAP more wisely saving money on the other side.

Another area that could affect CAP is guaranteed money. If you are willing to sign players to contracts with large amounts of guaranteed money you have a leg up on the franchises such as the Bengals, Raiders, Chargers, etc that are cash-strapped.

UDFAs affect cap space, but your point is still valid. Very nice post, my friend.

QuincyCarterEra · Jun 2, 2020

Verdict said:
UDFAs affect cap space, but your point is still valid. Very nice post, my friend.

Only if they are in the top 53 though, which UDFAs aren't. Who knows, might change with that new CBA but I hope it doesn't!

JoeKing · Jun 2, 2020

It's been an abnormally good FA firing period for the Cowboys. I don't expect this to continue into the future.

dallasdave · Jun 2, 2020

Risen Star said:
This seems very fan boyish.

As good as any team's Day 3 selections? Yikes.

HOw many Pro Bowlers ?

dallasdave · Jun 2, 2020

Pantone282C said:
Aaron Parker looks good on all aspects of the route tree. We need a good LBer prospect like Bernard.

I think Bernard makes the team. :starspin:

Captain43Crash · Jun 4, 2020

big dog cowboy said:
2-3 make the final roster. PS will be loaded with these guys. Watching preseason games will be interesting this year.

Yeah, are back ups usually look crappy vs other teams backups, especially our backup O line. Hopefully that changes this year and some of these guys will be quality depth.

News: Bleacher Report gives Dallas an A+ for their UDFA selections

Which UDFA has the best chance to make the roster?

Garrett Marino, DT (8 sacks in 2019)

Sewo Olonilua, FB (old school thumper)

Aaron Parker, WR (81 recs, 9 TDs)

Terence Steele, OT (physically talented tackle)

Francis Bernard, LB (85 tackles, flies to the ball)

Ladarius Hamilton, DE (7.5 sacks each of last 2 years)

None of em

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