Look at the Cowboys history and you will find Hall of Famers, Pro Bowlers, and Super Bowl heroes drafted in rounds 8 through 17. Guys like Roger Staubach, Bill Perkins, Jethro Push, Larry Cole, Herbert Scott, Dennis Thurman and Kevin Gogan would have been undrafted free agents in today's NFL.
And then there is the history of excellence in UDFA's making an impact on the franchise, guys like Tony Romo, Drew Pearson, Bill Bates, Dan Reeves, Cornell Green, Dave Manders, Cliff Harris, Everson Walls, Michael Downs, Mark Tuinei and Myles Austin.
That's a lot of Super Bowl starters, Pro Bowlers, ROH, and HOFers.
I will give Jerry Jones this. He's willing to spend money to make the team better. He was intelligent enough to understand the value of scouting research and a strong UDFA program. This coming from one of his staunchest critics. This may be exactly where McClay's value is most illustrated.
Despite how some feel about the salary cap, nobody should ever accuse the Jones's of being stingy.