How Many Cowboys UDFAs make it? Make it Big?

[T-RO]

Looking at the last 7 years of UDFAs... how many unsigned Cowboy free agents make the 53 man roster? What role and value did they achieve?



Summary

Starters/Impact Players in Year 1.................................................................1 of 101

Become Starters/Impact Players Only Later ...............................................2 of 101

Other Players who contribute as backups, ST players in Year 1..................4 of 101

Other Players who only contribute as backups, ST players after Year 1......5 of 101

Total Useful UDFA players over 7 years....................................................12 of 101









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Player Details - If Interested

My Minimum Requirement: Made Game-Day roster for 6 regular season games.
(It's possible I miss a couple of guys. Sometimes these guys are late season temp players)

2022: 3 of 19 (too early to assess staying power)

-Malik Davis​

-Peyton Hendershot​

2021: 0 of 13

None​

2020: 3 of 13

-Rico Dowdle, ST action in lots of games​

-Sean McKeon (played just one game in year 1, but stuck)​

-Francis Bernard, ST action in lots of games. 2 years as ST/BU and done​

-Terrance Steele, started lots of games as rookie, has developed to great player (he's #1 on this list)​

​

2019: 1 of 13

-Luke Gifford, almost nothing year one...became BU and ST Ace​

-Brandon Knight, very little year one, total JAG, 3 years and done​

​

2018: 1 of 16

- Charvarious Ward...became ELITE STUD by year 2 ...but for KC/SF (Doh!)​

​

2017: 1 of 14

- Cooper Rush...made team, suited up twice in year 1. A good backup QB qualifies as impact player.​

- Blake Jarwin...nothing in year 1, became useful later​

- Lance Lenoir...nothing in year 1, was ok backup later​

​

2016: 0 of 13

None​

​

​

​

 

[MWH1967]

I'm thinking Hunter Luepke might have a shot.

 

[Mannix]

One of the WR’s better get a spot…tired of do nothings stealing money just because Booger and Chuckles drafted them.

 

[doomsday9084]

I know this shouldn't be the case but: Is it just me or do UDFAs have a better shot than 7th rounders? Maybe its just because there are more of them but it sure seems to me that you get a handful of UDFAs contributing around the league whereas 7th rounders are just a waste.

 

[T-RO]

I'm thinking Hunter Luepke might have a shot.

Maybe. Here's the thing...

The draft experts are dialing it in. Ten or twenty years ago they missed a lot of good players. Not so much anymore. UDFA's are now mostly special team players...backups...longshot development players. There are still some gems, but they have become very, very hard to find.

Hunter better be very good at special teams, or have magic trix up his pants that 100 hyped fullbacks over the past decade have lacked... or he won't make the final roster.

 

[T-RO]

I know this shouldn't be the case but: Is it just me or do UDFAs have a better shot than 7th rounders? Maybe its just because there are more of them but it sure seems to me that you get a handful of UDFAs contributing around the league whereas 7th rounders are just a waste.

Good question, and I've got no hard data on that.

I think your hunch answers the question: "there are more of them." Teams grab over a dozen UDFA each season.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Hunter Luepke
Princeton Fant
Jalen Moreno-Cropper or David Durden
One OL?
Isaiah Land?

I expect a bunch to land on the PS.

 

[T-RO]

Hunter Luepke
Princeton Fant
Jalen Moreno-Cropper or David Durden
One OL?
Isaiah Land?

I expect a bunch to land on the PS.

Agreed. I won't be surprised if we see just one UDFA player make the roster........or none.

 

[doomsday9084]

Good question, and I've got no hard data on that.

I think your hunch answers the question: "there are more of them." Teams grab over a dozen UDFA each season.

I reviewed the history and kind of answered my own question.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/draft.htm

Cowboys have had 31 7th rounders in the past 20 years. Included in the list are Jay Ratliffe and Patrick Crayton. Also, Matt Farniok and Noah Brown.

Overall the odds of a 7th rounder contributing are better than a UDFA. Its just that there are soooo many more UDFA's.

 

[shabazz]

Amazingly enough, if a team is built correctly from top to bottom a Mr Irrelevant can actually lead you to an NFC championship game

 

[T-RO]

Amazingly enough, if a team is built correctly from top to bottom a Mr Irrelevant can actually lead you to an NFC championship game

Interesting post. Purdy was almost an UDFA.

I can't help but think of Romo when I consider him. Eludes the rush with preternatural anticipation. Mind works 10x faster than opponents around him. Resourceful as hell.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

1 immediate starter out of 100 and something.

So....you're saying there's a chance......

 

[Toro9]

If Leupke doesn't make it I'll be astounded.

 

[Typhus]

Luepke falling out of the draft had more to do with his position more than his talent level.
The FB position is devalued by most teams now.

 

[Dools29]

Luepke, Wheat and Bass are the guys who have the best shot I think.

 

[T-RO]

If Leupke doesn't make it I'll be astounded.

Why?

 

[DandyDon52]

I will say 2 make the roster or PS

 

[T-RO]

Over the past seven years here are those who have become, in time, starters/impact players:

-Terrance Steele. He started his rookie year because of injury to La'el Collins. Struggled but has perpetually grown. Now an above average tackle.

-Charvarious Ward. This one hurts. Cowboys let him get away. He became a starter in his second season and has become a top DB.

-Cooper Rush. A backup QB who plays a vital role...that's impact.

 

[T-RO]

2023 UDFAs (13)

FB Hunter Luepke
OLB Tyrus Wheat
DE Isaiah Land
WR David Durden
OT Earl Bostick Jr.
TE Princeton Fant
WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper
WR Jose Barbon
G T.J. Bass
OLB Durrell Johnson
CB Mile Brooks
CB D’Angelo Mandell
WR John Stephens Jr.

 

[john van brocklin]

Looking at the last 7 years of UDFAs... how many unsigned Cowboy free agents make the 53 man roster? What role and value did they achieve?



Summary

Starters/Impact Players in Year 1.................................................................1 of 101

Become Starters/Impact Players Only Later ...............................................2 of 101

Other Players who contribute as backups, ST players in Year 1..................4 of 101

Other Players who only contribute as backups, ST players after Year 1......5 of 101

Total Useful UDFA players over 7 years....................................................12 of 101









---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Player Details - If Interested

My Minimum Requirement: Made Game-Day roster for 6 regular season games.
(It's possible I miss a couple of guys. Sometimes these guys are late season temp players)

2022: 3 of 19 (too early to assess staying power)

-Malik Davis​

-Peyton Hendershot​

2021: 0 of 13

None​

2020: 3 of 13

-Rico Dowdle, ST action in lots of games​

-Sean McKeon (played just one game in year 1, but stuck)​

-Francis Bernard, ST action in lots of games. 2 years as ST/BU and done​

-Terrance Steele, started lots of games as rookie, has developed to great player (he's #1 on this list)​

​

2019: 1 of 13

-Luke Gifford, almost nothing year one...became BU and ST Ace​

-Brandon Knight, very little year one, total JAG, 3 years and done​

​

2018: 1 of 16

- Charvarious Ward...became ELITE STUD by year 2 ...but for KC/SF (Doh!)​

​

2017: 1 of 14

- Cooper Rush...made team, suited up twice in year 1. A good backup QB qualifies as impact player.​

- Blake Jarwin...nothing in year 1, became useful later​

- Lance Lenoir...nothing in year 1, was ok backup later​

​

2016: 0 of 13

None​

​

​

​

Miles Austin
Tony Romo
This team has a rich history of free agents doing well.
Drew Pearson HOF.