Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: James Hanna

The sixth-round pick from Oklahoma could eventually become a weapon in the passing game for the Cowboys, but he'll probably need a year or two in an NFL weight room first.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Tyrone Novikoff Profile

Well, at least we know that the Cowboys are more fond of Tyrone Novikoff than they are of Taylor Dever. dallas made a eyebrow-raising move late last week, releasing UDFA OT Dever to resign castoff Pat McQuistan. McQuistan was with the team during the Bill Parcells era but never amounted to much. In fact, he didn't perform all that greatly during stops in Miami or New Orleans over the past two seasons so one could look at his return as an endictment on the young pups that are currently competing for spots along the line. In the case of Novikoff, at least he wasn't the low man on the totem pole.

Standing almost 6'7" and weighing 316 lbs, Novikoff comes from the University of Idaho. He started 25 consecutive games and played in 46 over his four-year career with the Vandals. He was invited to play in the Players All-Star Classic after the 2011 season he spent as a team captain; a trait that the Cowboys have come to appreciate over the Jason Garrett era.

There haven't been many reports of his performance in either the rookie minicamps or the OTAs, as linemen rarely get the chance to show their abilities until the full contact of training camp. For now, at least he knows that the brass saw more in him than one of his competitors as he wasn't the first man on the chopping block. Novikoff also has the ability to play at the guard position; which won't hurt him considering the problems the interior of the line had for Dallas last season. With only three known quantities at the tackle position (refusing to count McQuistan) in Tyron Smith, Doug Free and Jeremy Parnell, Tyrone Novikoff has the opportunity in front of him. What will he make of it?

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Andrew Szczerba Profile

With Dallas finally ridding themselves of the uber-disappointment that was former second-round selection Martellus Bennett, an opening was created on the tight end depth chart. John Phillips, hopefully fully recovered from a 2010 preseason ACL injury, slides into the number two position. However, Dallas entered the 2012 draft without anyone to finish off the depth chart or take up room on the practice squad.

The club selected Oklahoma Sooner James Hanna in the sixth round of the amateur draft and he will have every opportunity to fill that third spot on the 53 man roster; if Dallas chooses. That leaves George Bryan battling with Penn State free agent Andrew Szczerba for a place on the practice squad or a miracle training camp story of a spot on the big roster. As we all know, Dallas doesn't marry itself to it's late round picks so there are no guarantees with Hanna making the squad at all.

Szczerba missed the entire 2010 campaign with a back injury and had a career of other physical setbacks that curtailed his career. He missed time early in 2011 with concussion like symptoms. Also early in the season he suffered a family tragedy as his uncle, a Delaware police officer, was stabbed to death while on duty. He didn't miss a game, suiting up and saying his uncle was one of his biggest fans and wouldn't want him not to play.

Standing at an imposing 6'6" and weighing over 260 lbs, Szczerba certainly looks the part of potential roster player. Of course, looks ain't everything.

For his Pro Day, he ran a 5.12 40-yard dash with a 1.81 10-yard split. He is more of a blocking tight end, which could help him find a niche in a Dallas offense where the top two guys are expected to be put in pass patterns on a regular basis. NFLDraftScout rated him the 31st best TE prospect available in the draft. Playing nine games in '11, he only totaled 12 catches and only averaged 8.4 yards per reception. Still, Dallas obviously likes something that the kid provides and his inline blocking could be an asset that the team values.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: Danny Coale Profile

The fifth round pick's combination of route-running ability and excellent hands should allow him to contribute immediately as a rookie.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Taylor Dever Profile

Last season, Dallas rolled the dice and went dangerously thin at the tackle position. After the great offensive line purge of 2011, the Cowboys entered the season with only Tyron Smith, Doug Free and Jeremy Parnell on the roster as eligible offensive tackles. It appeared that Dallas will tempt fate again for 2012, unless it can find some UDFA magic. One candidate for the wizadry is Taylor Dever, a member of the 90 man roster out of Notre Dame University.

Dever has a limited profile. He sat for three years behind Sam Young, a four-year starter for the Irish who didn't accomplish much in a short tenure with the Cowboys. CBSSports/NFLDraftScout rated Dever the 46th best OT prospect available for the draft last season. He's 6'5" and weighs just under 300 lbs.At the NFL Scouting Combine, he ran a 5.46 40 yard dash with a 7.49 second three-cone drill. That was the fourth best performance out of all tested at Indy; indicating that he does seem to have some lateral agility to his game.

During the combine, NFL.com gave him the following evaluation:

He plays with his pad level too high, an obvious hitch in his game, but he has a strong anchor and fought to win many one-on-one battles throughout the year. He will have to hope to be given an opportunity to develop in the right situation in the NFL, as he could be years away from being able to compete on game days... Exposes his frame immediately out of his stance, but once rushers are into his space he usually does a good job of anchoring and keeping a base enough to sustain a block. Displays decent technique in his pass set and fights to maintain a grip on his man despite rarely having leverage... Can get caught off balance at times against fast bull rushers, as he stands straight up out of his stance on the snap. At times an oncoming rusher can get leverage on him to win at the point. He would have a tough time early on against physical, leverage-seeking pass rushers and will need to overhaul his technique to be able to even be competitive in camp.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Donavon Kemp Profile

What came first the chicken or the egg? What kind of third receiver do you want; someone capable of filling in for your one or two or a bonafide slot receiver?

It appears that while no one on earth can answer the former with any certainty, the Dallas Cowboys seem to be erasing their answer from the previous few seasons and switching directions. Over the last year and a half, it seems that Dallas is looking to find a number three receiver in the slot receiver mold. They drafted Danny Coale this season after drafting Dwayne Harris last year. In previous years, they had a depth chart full of 6'3" 220+lb receivers. Now, the competition is among 6'0", 6'1" shifty players, including UDFA Donavon Kemp; who is fighting to make the 53 man roster this year.

Kemp hasn't received many accolades in the limited camp reports we've received so far; but there is still one more OTA session remaining this week. Standing at 6'1" and weighing 194 lbs, Kemp ran a 4.40 in his Pro Day at University of Texas El-Paso earlier this offseason. His 10 yard split was a quick, 1.45 seconds. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury has affected his chances to impress the coaching staff during the rookie minicamp.

His collegiate stats were hampered by the offense he was a part of; never securing more than the 23 catches in a season he accrued in his redshirt senior season of 2012. He only scored seven career touchdowns, but the most intriguing number he produced was a 17.4 yards per catch average throughout his college career. A slot receiver with afterburner jets and the ability to make a big play? Now that's something Dallas could be interested in.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: George Bryan Profile

The Dallas Cowboys have little depth behind Jason Witten at the tight end position. Over the offseason, they decided not to pursue a new cntract with underwhelming Martellus Bennett; letting him sign a one-year deal with the rival New York Giants. That left only John Phillips as a viable option behind The Senator, and Phillips had yet to prove that he was completely healed from an ACL injury suffered in 2010.

Late in the draft, Dallas selected James Hanna out of the University of Oklahoma; however the depth chart must go more than three deep. One of the team's solutions? Signing UDFA George Bryan, a tight end out of North Carolina State.

Bryan isn't the quickest tight end on the planet, running a slow-footed 5.03 40-yard dash. He shouldn't be considered a blocking tight end only however; he lead the ACC in receptions by a tight end in 2009 and has been remarkably consistent over the last three seasons. 40 catches for 422 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore, 35 catches for 369 yards and three touchdowns as a junior, and 33 catches for 331 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. Blocking might be his strong suit, but he would be a great underneath threat after initially blocking and leaking out into open space. His skillset as a blocker? From NFL Draft Scout:

Bryan's game is finding soft spots in zones and using his frame to exploit his greatest asset: world class hands. As an NFL Draft prospect, Bryan is clearly a traditional block-first tight end. He has good technique and bend as a blocker and some power in his hands, and blocks well enough for lead tight end roles. However, his frame keeps his center of gravity high, preventing Bryan from getting a top blocking grade. As a receiver, the main issue is whether Bryan has the agility to shake tighter coverage at the next level. Bryan can turn and cut well, and if a strong-armed NFL passer can gun the ball into his hands, he will almost always catch it.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: Matt Johnson Profile

The Cowboys fourth-round pick will have a daunting transition to make coming from Eastern Washington, but he has the talent to be worth keeping an eye on.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Tim Benford Profile

The Dallas Cowboys are looking for someone to step up and take the third receiver position by the horns. They attempted to draft one, but he suffered an early offseason broken foot that has taken Danny Coale out of the running, at least temporarily. His inactivity has opened opportunities for other candidates to show their worth in the OTAs; first last week and continuing into this week. The competition will continue through training camp in August but one name that keeps surfacing as a potential winning bet is Tim Benford; a UDFA out of Tennessee Tech.

Benford isn't the prototypical Cowboys receiver, standing only 5'11" but weighing in at 205 lbs. In recent years, Dallas has tried to stockpile receivers in the 6'2" or 6'3" range; and subsequently have placed Miles Austin in the slot in three-receiver sets. Last year's fifth-round pick Dwayne Harris has the same physical traits as Benford; as does Danny Coale. All three share similarities with Dallas' last consistent slot threat, Patrick Crayton.

But can he play? Benford was given the second highest amount of guaranteed UDFA money by Dallas next to guard Ron Leary. More then Saalim Hakim who made a big buzz before any work was put in for being pursued by 18 different NFL teams. Benford is quicker than Harris and Crayton, running a 4.48 at his pro day. He earned accolades at the East-West Shrine Game for his performance; a theme that many of the Cowboys targets seem to share.

While only one day per week of the OTAs are open to the public; Benford has earned positive reviews from the media both weeks. Last week he earned praise along with Dez Bryant and Austin and this week he and fellow UDFA Cole Beasley got positive marks for making impressions.

It seems that if there's an opportunity, Tim Benford is going to make the most of it. Even if it's only for a roster spot... for the time being.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: Kyle Wilber Profile

The Wake Forest product has some Anthony Spencer in his game, but the Cowboys fourth-round pick is probably a year away from being a consistent NFL contributor.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Aston Whiteside Profile

Going into the draft, the Dallas Cowboys were still relatively thin at the inside linebacker position. The team decided not to tender offers to free agents Keith Brooking nor longtime Cowboys Bradie James, who had been part of the inside backer rotation for the last several years. They signed free agent Dan Connor away from the Carolina Panthers, but Connor has a storied injury history. Last season's second-round pick, Bruce Carter, for all his supposed athletic ability, remains a question mark as the team brought him along slowly his rookie season after suffering a serious knee injury his final year at North Carolina.

Dallas also had holdover youngster Orie Lemon at the position, but he received less than 20 snaps on the 2011 season.

So towrads the tail end of the draft, they selected Caleb McSurdy in the seventh round. They also chose to add small-school project Aston Whiteside out Abilene Christian University as an UDFA to the mix.

Whiteside played DE in college, but was originally recruited to play linebacker. He stands 6'2" and weighs 260 lbs, and has some pass-rushing ability that Dallas will look to add to their "multiplicity" defensive arsenal. For his career, he had 29.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and an outstanding six blocked kicks, which should help him earn some snaps on special teams; a unit he'll probably need to shine on to latch onto the team.

Whiteside doesn't have the best measurables (4.88 40, 33 inch vertical), which probably kept him from being selected in the draft. However, he seems to be willing to do what it takes to contribute to the Cowboys, now that he has an NFL team to call home.

"It is my ultimate dream," Whiteside said of the NFL. "I can play whatever they need me to play. I can play defensive end. I can play linebacker. Just give me a chance. That's all I want. I will give 110 percent effort into each game to show that I can play at the next level."

Morris Claiborne Will Not Be Ready For Dallas Cowboys Minicamp

Morris Claiborne, the defensive back the Dallas Cowboys traded up to take with sixth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, won't quite be ready for the team's mandatory minicamp in June because he will still be recovering from surgery on torn ligaments in his wrist, according to the team.

Talk of Mo Claiborne being ready to go in June. Not the case. Should be able to start running next week. Still looking at training camp.

— Bryan Broaddus (@BryanBroaddus) May 19, 2012

Claiborne has been able to participate in team workouts on a limited bases since having pins removed from his wrist last week. The Cowboys do expect for Claiborne to be fully healthy when training camp rolls around in July and definitely for the start of the season. Dallas is going to rely on the rookie, along with a host of free agent signings on defense, to help improve a unit that gave up around 244 yards a game in 2011.

For a more in-depth look at the Cowboys, check out Blogging The Boys.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Harland Gunn Profile

Now that's the name of a Dallas Cowboy. Harland Gunn received a $5,000 signing bonus from the club to participate in the rookie mini-camp and he made it past the first round of cuts. Now the guard out of the University of Miami will have to navigate through the remainder of the offseason to try and work his way to the 53 man roster or practice squad.

Gunn was the second best guard prospect the Hurricane's had to offer this draft season; behind Brandon Washington who was a sixth-round draft pick of the rival Philadelphia Eagles. Gunn would seem to be another body that Dallas is throwing at the interior line. He stands at 6'2" and weighs 320 lbs, but he did not participate in the scouting combine.

Gunn started in 30 games during his career at "The U" at the guard position, and there was some discussion that he could get the opportunity to play some center with the team.

The intriguing thing about Gunn is that he was offered a scholarship by the University of Nebraska; whose head coach at the time happened to be Bill Callahan, the Cowboys current Offensive Coordinator and Line Coach. Instead, he chose to attend the U and had to fight through four different head coaches and plenty of turmoil. Despite this, he didn't allow a sack in his final two years. Amazingly, he didn't have any penalties called on him either. His athleticism is a bit of a question, but he is an extremely strong player and that should serve him well on the interior.

His coaches at The U speak highly of Gunn.

Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said. "He's a solid, strong, high character, high work ethic, lunch pail guy. He's a true blue collar approach to offensive line play. He'll fit in great for the rest of his life playing offensive line. They love those type guys in the NFL." - Miami Herald

Well the Cowboys sure seem high on him for now. Let's see if he earns the right to have these types of accolades given to him at the professional level.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: Tyrone Crawford Profile

Their third round pick out of Boise State is still raw, but he could develop into a solid starter on the defensive line.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Ben Bass Profile

So, just who is this Ben Bass guy? He's a hard person to develop a profile for; but he obviously performed well enough in his rookie-minicamp tryout for the Dallas Cowboys to make the team sign him to the 90th and final roster spot available. Ben Bass plays defensive end and hails from Texas A&M and he's been added to the list of possibilities as Dallas attempts to garner more pressure from it's defensive front.

Bass stands 6'4" and weighs in at 285 lbs. Coming out of school, he seems to be the prototypical height/weight for what the Cowboys look for in a defensive end. Of course, Texas A&M wasn't known for their defensive prowess though as Bass amassed only two sacks and 4.5 tackles for losses in his final year as an Aggie.

Well, his second "final" year. In an interesting twist, it appears that Bass left the Aggie program after Mike Sherman's first year at the helm due to both football and academic reasons. He righted his ship however, cracking down on the books and earning his way back into school before earning his way back onto the football team.

"I [also] think that commitment lasts until your playing time is over. I'm real big on commitment and I'm real big on finishing what I started, and what I started was A&M and I have to finish." - AggieSports.com

That re-dedication makes Bass intriguing; though Dallas didn't invite him to Valley Ranch for a pre-draft visit despite him attending Plano West. It made sense, as he wasn't ranked by any of the "draft gurus", including Drafttek's 400 name database. Fortunately, one of Drafttek's key evaluators, Long Ball, is a Blogging The Boys member and provided us with the following insight.

"Outstanding prep career at Plano West High School (saw him play a few games) and was in a recruiting "tug-of-war" between OU and A&M . . . went to Aggie-land and had a so-so career, hurt more by lack of talent on defense as much as anything. Has an NFL-ready body for a 3-4 DE at 6'4" and 285, quick off the snap, needs to be coached up on recognition."

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: Talking Caleb McSurdy

The sixth in a series of Q&A's about the Cowboys draft class of 2012 with the people who knew them best: the writers who covered them in college.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Jamize Olawale Profile

When Valley Ranch opened for business today, the Dallas Cowboys didn't waste much time in getting down to official business. During the rookie minicamp, the team had several players in for tryouts in addition to their seven draft picks and almost two dozen UDFA signings. On Monday, the team officially signed two of those tryout players to contracts that will allow them to continue working with the team.

One of the two players was fullback Jamize Olawale, a converted wideout from the University of North Texas. With the free agent signing of battering ram Lawrence Vickers, it would appear that Olawale is currently just a camp body; but as we all know; luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

According to most reports, Olawale impressed with his footwork as well as his receiving out of the backfield. He definitely anticipated being signed by the club at the conclusion of the camp, as he tweeted "Cowboys called they wanna sign me!!! GOD is Glorious...all praise and glory to HIM!!! Gotta stay humble...time to go to work!!!" [DMN] It just took them a week to actually put ink to paper.

Olawale stands at 6'0" and weighs in at 235 lbs, checking in with a 4.53 40-yard dash. What the heck was he doing playing wide receiver? The Cowboys prefer their wideouts cookie cutter at 6'2" 220 lbs anyway. North Texas seems to run an option offense, which would explain he blocking skills being displayed repeatedly in his highlight video he posted himself to the worldwide web.

Take a look yourself and see if you might be watching the 53rd man on the Cowboys roster come September.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Levy Adcock Profile

How exactly does a two-time Big 12 Selection go undrafted? Not sure, but the Cowboys will take their chances that they've found a diamond in the rough in Oklahoma State's tackle Levy Adcock. In 2010, the OSU line ranked eighth nationally giving up less than one sack per game; and his teammates were ruining Adcock's average as he didn't allow a single sack the entire season.

Adcock stands at 6'6", weighing in at 322 lbs. He originally played right guard in JUCO for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M before transferring to Oklahoma State. he ran a 5.22 40 yard dash, bench pressed 225 lbs 26 times and did the 20-yard shuttle in 4.84 seconds. Unfortunately, a knee injury kept him out of the Senior Bowl and the Combine, so his numbers are from a OK State Pro Day; but the effect it had on his draft stock could be to the Cowboys benefit.

Adcock was projected to go anywhere from the 5th round to being what he ended up as; a UDFA. There were 18 tackles selected in the 2012 NFL Draft. National Football Post's Wes Bunting had him ranked as the 12th best OT prospect.

...settles his feet well, sits back into his stance and can anchor routinely on contact.... strong lower half and natural short area quickness when asked to mirror, even in space. Lacks ideal athleticism toward the edge, but has good enough range to get a look as a left tackle, athletically though looks better suited to play on the right side in the NFL

- National Football Post

The concern is that he has trouble with speed rushers and tends to give up on his generally quality technique when he knows there is a speed element he is going to have to deal with. Could a move to guard be in his future? It's a possibility.

Obviously, Dallas has depth issues at the tackle position, with only Tyron Smith, Doug Free and Jeremy Parnell signed. They've given Adcock a $9,000 signing bonus for the rookie camp; now we'll see if he can earn a permanent paycheck and add depth to a position of need.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Eddie Whitley Profile

In case you haven't noticed, Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett and Rob Ryan are quite serious about fixing Dallas' defense, specifically, the secondary. After signing Brandon Carr in the offseason, the Cowboys traded up for Maurice Claiborne, hailed as the top corner in the draft. Dallas' secondary improvements didn't stop with the draft, though, as the team signed a slew of defensive backs through undrafted free agency, including Eddie Whitley, a free safety from Virginia Tech.

Whitley stands at 6'1", 200 lbs, and started during his junior and senior seasons at free safety and rover. In 2011, Whitley was a second-team All-ACC selection, after registering 83 total tackles, intercepting two passes and forcing a fumble.

The folks over at the National Football Post posted a scouting report on Whitley prior to the draft:

He exhibits good initial depth off the line but he gets upright and leggy in his drop. He really struggles with balance, he just isn't a guy who can quickly get out of his breaks and close on the football. Gets caught up with his legs not under him, too often drifting backward and needing to chop his feet in order to collect himself. He also needs to routinely collect himself when asked to turn and run, and I have seen him trip himself up a number of times trying to get out of his breaks. Exhibits solid range when trying to close, but does not have enough of a second gear to make up for a false step. Doesn't play real quick in tight areas, isn't clean when trying to re-direct/close and gives up his fair share of completions under him because of his limitations driving on throws.

Impression: Wasn't much of an impact guy in either the run or pass game at the college level and is only an average size/speed free agent at this stage.

The folks over at Blogging the Boys also have posted some impressions of Whitley:

At 6'1", 191, Whitley lacks the true bulk that some (at least I) prefer at the Safety position. Of course, you can forgive that in a Safety when he's over 6 feet tall and runs a sub-4.4 (4.39) forty.

Whitley's future in the NFL as either a true corner or safety doesn't seem very promising, in all honesty. He's not the most agile defender, and doesn't appear to be either a ball hawk or a punishing hitter (though he amassed 2 interceptions, 6 pass deflections, and 80 tackles as a senior). He wasn't incredibly strong or explosive, and yet I think he'll be a great addition to the squad.

While Whitley isn't the most exciting rookie Dallas has to offer, he does have some interesting versatility that Rob Ryan could very well utilize, and if anybody will bring out the most of Whitley's abilities, it'll be Ryan.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: Talking James Hanna

The fifth in a series of Q&A's about the Cowboys draft class of 2012 with the people who knew them best: the writers who covered them in college.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Cole Beasley Profile

The Dallas Cowboys have two legitimate studs at wide receiver with Dez Bryant and Austin Miles. With Laurent Robinson leaving Dallas for Jacksonville, there's a bit of uncertainty at the wide receiver position after the Bryant and Miles. The Cowboys did draft Danny Coale to add to the mix at wide receiver, but there still figures to be competition at the position -- competition that will involve undrafted free agents, such as Cole Beasley.

Beasley is a speedy 5'9" receiver, who led SMU in receptions last year, hauling in 86 passes for 1,040 yards and two touchdowns. As you might imagine by his high number of receptions and low touchdown total, Beasley was SMU's slot receiver last season, where he profiles best -- and that's something that Dallas could certainly need.

Beasley was also named to the 2011 Conference USA First Team, as voted on by the coaches in the conference.

Unsurprisingly, as an undrafted free agent, Beasley did not attend the NFL combine, but did attend SMU's Pro Day, where he ran a 4.49 40.

With all the uncertainty after Miles and Bryant at the wide receiver position for Dallas, it seems like Beasley could have a legitimate chance to win a spot on Dallas' roster this season.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Isaac Madison Profile

Football is a game of attrition. On the field, it's whichever team can outlast the other through conditioning and injury survival. For late-round picks and undrafted free agents in the off season, it sometimes comes down to outlasting the competition that's been invited to fight it out for a roster spot. Cornerback Isaac Madison is fighting it out with several defensive backs to make the Cowboys 53-man gameday roster or at least its practice squad.

Madison hails from the University of Arkansas and was a redshirt senior in 2011. After tearing the ACL in his left knee during an August scrimmage in his 2009 junior year he sat out a season but he would return to the field in 2010. The native of Dallas was brought to Valley Ranch as part of Dallas Day and outlasted fellow UDFA CB Troy Woolfolk who was released yesterday.

Madison has decent corner size, standing at 5'10.5" and weighing in at 185 lbs. He runs a 4.48 40 yard dash as well. One of the NFL's coveted UDFA's was receiver Saalim Hakim; who was pursued by over half the league but chose Dallas to come to camp with.

Reports from the recently completed rookie mini camp have been scarce on Madison. However, former scout Bryan Broaddus did have this mention from Madison's first practice:

· Really liked the movement that cornerbacks Mario Butler and Isaac Madison showed. Was really impressed with how they were able to play with quickness and position in the routes. There was not much separation from receivers or windows for the quarterbacks to throw in.

It's a war of attrition, as Madison will face long odds trying to become the next Cowboys UDFA star. The next OTA's kick off May 22nd; Madison will have to put in a lot of work to survive another round of eliminations.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Lionel Smith Profile

Jason Garrett and the Dallas Cowboys focused heavily on defense in the 2012 NFL Draft, and that trend carried over to Dallas' undrafted free agent signings. Lionel Smith, a cornerback from Texas A&M, was among Dallas' 21 undrafted free agent signings, and he has one thing that can't be taught: speed.

Per Calvin Watkins:

The speedy cornerback -- clocked at 4.44 in the 40 -- can play both spots. During his college career, Smith stripped Cowboys sixth-round pick James Hanna after a reception and stopped Iowa State's James White at the goal line. The undrafted cornerback will have to make this team on special teams.

Watkins noted that Smith will have to make the team through special teams play, but that might be tough for Smith. In 13 games last year, Smith only handled three kickoff returns, for an average of 12.67 yards per return -- not exactly ideal from a return man.

Smith did have a good showing in 2009 on special teams as a sophomore, averaging 21.4 yards per kick return, and was second on his special teams unit with 10 tackles on kickoffs or punts.

Smith, who turns 25 in August, will have to showcase very, very good special teams skills in order to make the Cowboys this year, and frankly, it doesn't look likely. He, like Saalim Hakim, possesses a lot of speed, so if he can hone in his special teams skills, he may very well end up with a spot on the Cowboys roster.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: Talking Tyrone Crawford

What are the biggest strengths and weaknesses of his game coming out of college? Who was the best competition he faced while playing at Boise State? A discussion with someone who saw him up close and personal for the last four years.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Jeff Adams Profile

One of the few knocks on the Dallas Cowboys' 2012 draft class was the failure to beef up the offensive line. Jason Garrett and the Cowboys brass, to their credit, at least attempted to compensate for this after the draft, by signing undrafted free agent Jeff Adams.

Adams is an offensive tackle -- so he's not exactly the interior lineman that Dallas fans were clamoring for. Still, he's an intriguing prospect. Adams attended Columbia University, and in 2010 was named the team's most valuable lineman. Adams is a three-time first team All-Ivy League selection, and was named a third-team All-American in 2011 by the Associated Press.

At 6'6", 306, Adams is certainly a large presence. Over the weekend at Dallas' rookie minicamp, Adams had a chance to square off against third-round draft choice Tyrone Crawford. Per Todd Archer:

Rookie free-agent tackle Jeff Adams struggled with Tyrone Crawford's power on a pass rush, allowing the third-round pick to push him back in the pocket. But on the next play, Adams got his hands on Crawford first and was able to hold his ground.

Small sample size, but it's good to see that Adams was able to make adjustments and stop Dallas' third-round draft choice.

Adams certainly seems like an intriguing young player -- he's smart (Ivy League and all), and he had a successful collegiate career as one of the top offensive linemen in the Ivy League for three years running. We'll see how Adams progresses over the summer, but he's certainly an undrafted free agent to keep an eye on.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Saalim Hakim Profile

When the Dallas Cowboys opened their rookie minicamp last Friday, Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas highlighted Saalim Hakim as a player to watch during the minicamp, saying:

The brother of former NFL player Az-Zahir Hakim spent just one season at Tarleton State after playing at Palomar Junior College in California. Hakim, an undrafted free agent, caught 18 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns for Tarleton State, including a game-winning catch against Texas A&M Commerce in 2010. Hakim missed the deadline to declare for the draft after his 2010 season and spent 2011 in the United Football League. Hakim has been clocked at 4.29 in the 40.

Hakim, though, struggled during the weekend, with Todd Archer reporting that the wide receiver dropped two passes, and was pushed around by cornerback Isaac Madison.

The Locos list Hakim at 6' even, 195 lbs. It's not exactly big size, but for a guy who can run the 40 in 4.29, it's more than adequate. There's plenty more to being a wide receiver aside from size and speed, hands are crucial to the position -- and Hakim did not display good hands over the weekend, dropping two passes.

Hakim certainly seems like a long-shot to make Dallas' roster. There does appear to be plenty of talent you can't teach with Hakim, evidenced by his 40 time, but his lackluster collegiate career doesn't give a lot of room for optimism. Hakim's speed will keep him on Dallas' radar, but he's going to have to make great strides through the summer to be a legitimate candidate to make the 2012 Cowboys.

2012 Cowboys Draft Profiles: Morris Claiborne

The first in a series of in-depth scouting reports on the Cowboys draft picks in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Adrian Hamilton Profile

Dallas Cowboys coaches got their first looks at the 2012 draft class and undrafted rookie free agents over this weekend, as the Cowboys held their rookie minicamp. One of Dallas' undrafted free agents, Adrian Hamilton, reportedly opened a lot of eyes this weekend with his play.

Rookie free-agent linebacker Adrian Hamilton, a Dallas Carter grad, opened up a lot of eyes. He had a would-be sack coming off the edge and then pressured quarterback Nathan Dick into running to his right before throwing the ball away. In the morning practice, he also displayed the ability to drop in coverage to get in the throwing lane on a slant to Cole Beasley for a deflection.

So, who exactly is Adrian Hamilton? He's a 6'3", 250 lb defensive end and linebacker from Prairie View, who registered a team-high 81 tackles in 2011. Hamilton also notched a whopping 22 sacks, which illustrates his pass rushing ability. How that pass rushing ability translates to the NFL is the big question of course, and many teams who passed on him in the draft clearly don't think it'll translate well, but Rob Ryan is as good as any bet to utilize him properly and bring out his abilities at the pro level.

Hamilton did not attend the NFL combine. He did have his pro day in March, when he ran a 4.81 40, which isn't exactly blazing speed.

Hamilton also has taken a strange path to the NFL. After graduating from Dallas Carter, Hamilton went to Oklahoma State to play football, but had issues with the NCAA, and left Oklahoma State. Hamilton would walk on at Texas Tech, but once again, left the team. He eventually found his way to Prairie View, where he would break Robert Mathis' conference sack record -- quite the accomplishment.

Though he's a bit older than most rookies, he turns 25 prior to the season, he could very well end up being a nice signing for Dallas' defense. We'll see how far along Hamilton makes it.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: Talking Danny Coale

How did the Virginia Tech WR perform in college? Who were the best CB's he faced? A discussion with someone who saw him up close and personal for the last four years.

Cowboys Welcome Rookies To NFL, Rookie Mini-Camp Opens

The Dallas Cowboys kick off their first organized football activities today, as the rookie mini camp starts and runs through the weekend. All draft picks, undrafted free agents and eligible first-year players will be in attendance with the exception of the biggest name, Morris Claiborne. Claiborne is still sidelined by a wrist that he had postseason surgery on that gave him trouble throughout his junior year at LSU. He is expected to be fine in time for training camp.

Tyrone Crawford will be in attendance though, and so will Kyle Wilber, Matt Johnson, Danny Coale, James Hanna and Caleb McSurdy. The Dallas assistant coaches will get their chance to drop the rest of the draft picks into a professional football environment for the first time and for the defensive players a chance to see Rob Ryan's 3-4 scheme.

The undrafted free agents will have their first chance to turn some heads and get noticed this weekend as well. Here's a listing of those 21 signings.

OT Jeff Adams, OG Ron Leary, OT Levy Adcock, OT Taylor Dever, OG Harland Gunn, OT Tyrone Novikoff, WR Tim Benford, WR Cole Beasley, WR Donavon Kemp, WR Saalim Hakim, TE George Bryan, TE Andrew Szczerba, RB Lance Dunbar, RB Darrell Scott, CB Lionel Smith, CB Troy Woolfolk, CB Isaac Madison, DE/OLB Adrian Hamilton, DE/OLB Aston Whiteside, S Eddie Whitley, LS Charley Hughlett

Not to be outdone, there are several eligible non-rookies, players that have been on the roster but haven't received many snaps that have some experience in the schemes and can help install the systems for those that don't know. Be on the lookout for speedy Teddy Williams, Mario Butler and also Justin Taplin-Ross who has returned to the team after an injury release last season and is now working as a corner back.

The team also has several players "trying out" for one of the final two roster spots; camp limit was increased to 90 for the 2012 season.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: Talking Kyle Wilber

What were the Wake Forest's LB's responsibilities in college? How did he fare against elite competition? A discussion with someone who saw him up close and personal for the last four years.

Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents: Lance Dunbar Profile

A continuing series of mini-profiles on the Cowboys undrafted free agents.

Lance Dunbar certainly has an impressive resumes. He leaves UNT as the Mean Green's best running back of all time, finishing his career as the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,224 rushing yards.

He ranks first all-time at UNT in career touchdowns scored (49), career rushing touchdowns (41), all-purpose yards (5,375), and is tied for first in career 100-yard rushing games (21). Dunbar is the only running back in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.

Dunbar did not participate in the combine, but worked out at a pro day in March. At his pro day, Dunbar ran a respectable 4.47 40-yard dash, and posted good numbers in other drills as well. He has a good frame for a running back at 5'9" 203 lbs.

The Cowboys will have some great competition for the third running back position. Dunbar will battle for the spot with Phillip Tanner and fellow rookie free agent Darrell Scott. If Dunbar can translate his college success to the pro level, he could provide a great boost to the position, possibly challenging for the number two role.

A video of his pro day at North Texas:

For all the latest analysis on the Cowboys rookies, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Blogging The Boys.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: The View Nationally

A conversation with one of SB Nation's NFL draft experts about Morris Claiborne, some potential undrafted sleepers and the biggest holes on the Cowboys roster.

Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents 2012: Ronald Leary Profile

The second in a continuing series of mini-profiles on the undrafted free agents the Cowboys signed this week.

Dallas signed Memphis guard Ronald Leary in an effort to add some economically sound depth to their offensive line.

A three-year starter at Memphis, Leary was a left tackle much of his career, starting at that position in all 24 games through 2009 and 2010. However, in his senior season, injuries on the line forced him to move to right guard for the final six games, a position he is more suited for at the next level due to his size at 6'3 315.

Talent and skill-wise, Leary was projected as a third round pick, but he fell this far due to a chronic knee issue that may require microfracture surgery, a potentially career-ending procedure. Obviously, teams were weary to invest money and a draft pick on a guy who may never play.

But the Cowboys were confident enough to at least bring him in as a free agent. Pending Leary's knee health, this signing could provide a huge jolt for the interior of the offensive line. Dallas believes he could even earn a starting role at guard at some point.

Leary is a very versatile lineman that could even be a possible backup at tackle. If he stays healthy, he adds great depth on the offensive line, and may end up a starter at some point. If his knee fails, it's not a huge loss.

Pro Football Weekly broke down his draft stock earlier in the year:

For all the latest analysis on the Cowboys rookies, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Blogging The Boys.

Cowboys Undrafted Free Agents 2012: Darrell Scott Profile

The first in a series of mini-profiles of the Cowboys undrafted free agents:

South Florida RB Darrell Scott appears to be the most high profile of the Dallas Cowboys 17 undrafted free agents.

He was a beast in high school, amassing over 5,500 yards with 79 touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons. He was a 2007 Parade, SuperPrep, and USA Today high school All-American. He eventually committed to Colorado, foregoing offers from many top schools, including Texas, Florida, and LSU.

Scott never managed to break out during his college years. He posted a respectable 3.9 yards/carry his first year at Colorado, but raised controversy his sophomore year regarding playing time.

He would eventually transfer to South Florida. This past season at USF, Scott rushed for 824 yards and five touchdowns. He decided to give up his last season of eligibility and declared for the draft, where, as expected, he went undrafted.

He could add needed depth at the running back position. He only ran a 4.73 40-yard dash at the combine, but at 6'0" 231, Scott could potentially find a fit as a goal line or third and short power-back, a situation the Cowboys have struggled in over the past few seasons.

If Scott performs well in camps, he'll have a very good shot of making the roster as the third running back on the depth chart.

Video highlights from Scott's 92-yard performance against West Virginia last year:

For all the latest analysis on the Cowboys rookies, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Blogging The Boys.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: A Roundtable Discussion

We discuss whether Morris Claiborne was worth the trade, the most intriguing players from the second and third days of the draft and the biggest holes remaining on the Cowboys roster.

Top NFL Rookie Free Agent Signings: Aston Whiteside Among The Best Pickups

The Dallas Cowboys went kind of local with the signing of Abilene-Christian defensive end Aston Whiteside as an undrafted free agent, but the National Football Post considers this pickup to be a good one for the team. This from the Post:

The 6-2, 265-pounder is able to create a burst off the edge, counter off his speed rush and keep his pad level down while changing directions. He also displayed some violence when asked to shed with his hands and was a tough block one-on-one.

Whiteside is the cousin of Cincinnati Bengals running back Bernard Scott, and Clyde Gates who was a fourth-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2011, so he does have a bit of NFL pedigree.

In high school, Whiteside played as one of the top prep fullbacks in the state of Texas. He'll stay home and try find a fit with this newly loaded defensive Cowboys bunch.

Read more about the Cowboys at Blogging the Boys.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Cowboys Show Confidence In Offense

The Dallas Cowboys used five of their seven picks in the 2012 NFL Draft on defensive players because they knew the offense was already in tact. Even though head coach Jason Garrett is an offensive brainchild and former quarterback himself, this draft and offseason was spent focusing on areas with the most urgent needs.

It wasn't the Cowboys offense that gave up five fourth-quarter leads, which included a particularly embarrassing one to the Detroit Lions in early October last season.

Dallas emphasized defense because of the confidence in the offense and the confidence they'd like to have in the defense. This from Garrett to ESPNDallas.com:

"Well, we can improve in every area of our football team. We have our eyes open to that. And you have to look at every way to do that. We felt like we did a lot of that in free agency and we were certainly ready to do that in that draft. We didn't feel like our backs were to the wall where we had to take this position or that position."

Read more about the Cowboys at Blogging the Boys.

2012 NFL Draft Value Picks: Mike Lombardi Ranks Caleb McSurdy As 11th Best Selection

NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi says the Dallas Cowboys selection of Caleb McSurdy with the 222nd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft is the 12th best value pick of all selections outside of the first round. As it's been noted throughout the draft process, the Cowboys focused heavily on defense this year not only in the draft, but in free agency as well. That should help them on a defense that ranked toward the bottom of the league in 2011.

Here is what Lombardi had to say about the McSurdy selection:

"McSurdy might never start for Dallas, but he is capable of being a core special-teams member and playing a role in the Cowboys' sub defense. He is smart, tough and willing, which makes him a real value in the seventh round."

McSurdy went under the radar for much of his career because he played a Montana, a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school with a very solid reputation among those ranks.

Read more about the Cowboys at Blogging the Boys.

2013 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys Pick Ricky Wagner In First Round

Mocking the Draft has the Dallas Cowboys taking Ricky Wagner of the Wisconsin Badgers with the 20th pick in the 2013 NFL Mock Draft. Wagner is entering his senior season at Wisconsin is the top-rated offensive tackle by NFLDraftScout.com.

The Cowboys may have done well by themselves in this year's draft, going heavy on defense and addressing what were their obvious needs. But another weakness the Cowboys have been dealing with is the inconsistency in the offensive line, partly due to experience and health as well.

So if the Cowboys select Wagner, they'll have yet another body to go with their young nucleus, particularly Tyron Smith who Dallas drafted high in the 2011 draft. Wagner measures up at 6 feet 6 inches, 320 pounds.

Read more draft analysis at Mocking the Draft and the SB Nation NFL hub page. For additional news and notes on the Cowboys, be sure to visit Blogging the Boys.

2012 NFL Draft: SB Nation Weighs In On The Dallas Cowboys

Many viewed the Dallas Cowboys as one of the winners of the draft after they traded up to get LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, and a roundtable of SB Nation writers were no different. Dallas was given a B+ grade for the moves that they made over the weekend.

Getting Claiborne should be a boost to a secondary that had trouble slowing down the New York Giants' receiving duo of Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz and the Philadelphia Eagles' DeSean Jackson.

To watch SB Nation's analysis of the Dallas Cowboys and the rest of the NFC East, check out the video below.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit the SB Nation Dallas StoryStream, and for a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. For more on this pick go visit Blogging the Boys, and head over to Mocking The Draft has all the latest news and analysis on the draft.

Dallas Cowboys Draft 2012: Talking Morris Claiborne With An LSU Writer

Answers on what his Wonderlic score means (if anything), how he was used at LSU and how he compares to Patrick Peterson.

2012 NFL Draft Grades: Dallas Adds Depth At Skill Positions, Receive B+ Grade

The Dallas Cowboys set out in the offseason to upgrade their cornerback position. One $50 million signing of free agent Brandon Carr and one trade up to draft Morris Claiborne later, and the position is revamped.

What about that Cowboys offense though? SB Nation NFL contributor Ryan Van Bibber gives the Cowboys a B+ grade after the 2012 NFL Draft, can Dallas find someone to replace Laurent Robinson and Martellus Bennett?

Dallas Cowboys: B+

A narrow loss to the Giants in Week 17 last season gave Dallas one offseason mission: find cornerbacks. They might have settled for signing free agent Brandon Carr, but they also grabbed Morris Claiborne. The two should match up well against Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. You have to gamble to win big.

They needed depth on offense to replace Laurent Robinson and Martellus Bennett. Did they find a sleeper in James Hanna from Oklahoma?

With Dez Bryant and Miles Austin locked in at the top two receiver spots, can Danny Coale step in and contribute immediately? We'll soon find out.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit the SB Nation Dallas StoryStream, and for a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. For more on this pick go visit Blogging the Boys, and head over to Mocking The Draft has all the latest news and analysis on the draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys Sign 17 Undrafted Free Agents

With the NFL expanding rosters to 90 players beginning in 2012, the Dallas Cowboys wasted no time bringing in a slew of players to compete for spots on their final 53-man roster. Dallas has brought in 17 undrafted free agents after the 2012 NFL Draft ended, and its clear that there's an emphasis on the offensive line with 5 players being brought in.

Here is the full list as of Sunday afternoon, be on the lookout for more players to potentially sign in the coming days.

Darrell Scott, RB, USF
Troy Woolfolk, CB, Michigan
Ronald Leary, OG, Memphis
Jeff Adams, OT, Columbia
Taylor Dever, OT, Notre Dame
Adrian Hamilton, DE, Prairie View A&M
Aston Whiteside, LB, Abilene Christian
Levy Adcock, OT, Oklahoma State
Eddie Whitley, FS, Virginia Tech
George Bryan, TE, North Carolina State
Andrew Szcrerba, TE, Penn State
Isaac Madison, CB, Arkansas
Lionel Smith, CB, Texas A&M
Lance Dunbar, RB, North Texas
Cole Beasley, WR, SMU
Tyrone Novikoff, OT, Idaho
Charley Hughlett, LS, UCF

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit the SB Nation Dallas StoryStream, and for a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. For more on this pick go visit Blogging the Boys, and head over to Mocking The Draft has all the latest news and analysis on the draft.

Caleb McSurdy Discusses Getting Picked By Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys took Montana linebacker Caleb McSurdy with the No. 222 overall pick and he talked to reporters on a conference call to talk about being selected by the Cowboys:

2012 NFL Draft: Matt Johnson Not Concerned About Health

The Dallas Cowboys took Eastern Washington defensive back Matt Johnson with the 135th pick, and prior to being drafted he was asked a lot about his health issues in college. Johnson missed the teams 2010 spring football game with a concussion and some of the 2011 season with a torn bicep muscle.

Johnson addressed these concerns one more time:

"Yes, I got a lot of questions," Johnson said, alluding to what NFL teams asked when it came to his health. "I went through the physical with every place I went and checked out my shoulder and got all of the background checks and got everything checked out and I'm ready to go."

He added: "My health is the best I've felt in all of college."

The concussion injury could be a long-term concern if he continues to have them at the NFL level, but a bicep injury is not something that says that Johnson is injury prone.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit the SB Nation Dallas StoryStream, and for a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. For more on this pick go visit Blogging the Boys, and head over to Mocking The Draft has all the latest news and analysis on the draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Cowboys Select Caleb McSurdy At No. 222 Overall

With the 222nd pick in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select Caleb McSurdy a linebacker from Montana. The Cowboys have gone mostly on defense in this years draft and the linebacker is a position where they are looking for depth.

By coming from a small school, McSurdy will need to be a versatile player who can contribute on special teams if he wants to make the team. At Montana, McSurdy had 131 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, two interception with one returned for a touchdown and a fumble recovery.

This was the last pick for the Cowboys in the 2012 NFL Draft.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit the SB Nation Dallas storystream, and for a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. For more on this pick go visit Blogging the Boys, and head over to Mocking The Draft has all the latest news and analysis on the draft.

NFL Draft Results 2012: Cowboys Select Oklahoma TE James Hanna In Sixth

The Dallas Cowboys continued to grab skill-position players in the third day of the 2012 NFL Draft, as they selected Oklahoma TE James Hanna with the No. 186 selection in the sixth round.

Hanna, a Dallas native who grew up in Flower Mound, was a second-team All Big 12 TE for Oklahoma as a senior last season.

At 6'4 250 with a 4.5 40, he has excellent athletic ability for the TE position, although he isn't considered a high-end pass-catching prospect. He had 37 receptions for 381 yards and 2 TD's in 2011.

While he doesn't have great size, he should be a solid blocker in the NFL, and his athleticism could make him a valuable special teams player as well.

An excerpt from the National Football Post's scouting report on Hanna:

Possesses average size for the postion, but can coil up into his stance, keep his pad level down and fire off the football. Exhibits solid first step quickness down the seam and good speed. Tends to gear down when asked to get out of his breaks, but can be a sharper route runner in time. Possesses good range when asked to go get the football, but at times will struggle to pluck off his frame. Looks natural running down the seam and making plays on the throw.

Tape from Hanna's game against Oklahoma State in 2010:

For the latest news and analysis on the Cowboys draft day plans, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Blogging The Boys.

Inevitable Wes Welker Comparisons Begin For Danny Coale

NFL Draft Results 2012: Cowboys Select Virginia Tech WR Danny Coale In Fifth Round

After loading up on defense with their first four picks, the Dallas Cowboys finally grabbed an offensive player in the fifth round when they took Virginia Tech WR Danny Coale with the No. 152 overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Coale, a 6'0 200 WR who ran a 4.4 40 at the Combine, was a four-year contributor at Virginia Tech. In his senior season, he caught 60 balls for 904 yards and 3 TD's.

While he was the Hokies leading receiver, he's seen as a No. 3 WR at best by most scouts, who doubt whether he has the physical ability to separate from press coverage.

The Cowboys, who have two lead WR's in Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, need some help in the slot after the departure of Laurent Robinson in free agency.

An excerpt from the National Football Post's scouting report on Coale:

Possesses decent height for the position with a very average build. He lacks much girth/muscle tone throughout his frame and isn't a guy who is going to be real physical in any area of the game. Struggles to fight off press coverage, is easy to re-route and needs to play nearly exclusively in the slot at the next level. He possesses a real savvy about his game; he knows how to change speed, set up routes and work himself open as a receiver. He exhibits good straight-line speed and does a nice job being deceptive, setting up corners with the gear to run away and create separation once he gains a step. Looks like a mid 4.4 guy.

Coale's game-winning catch in the 2012 Sugar Bowl which was eventually overturned on review:

For the latest news and analysis on the Cowboys draft day plans, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Blogging The Boys.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Cowboys Select Eastern Washington SS Matt Johnson In Fourth

With the final pick in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys continued to focus on their defense, taking Eastern Washington SS Matt Johnson with the No. 135 pick.

The Cowboys went deep into the weeds to find Johnson, an FCS player who missed most of his senior season after tearing a biceps tendon in his left shoulder. Dallas has had a fairly mixed bag with small-school players recently, so Johnson will be viewed skeptically until he can prove himself on the pro level.

Johnson, who red-shirted in 2007, was a four-year starter at Eastern Washington, and he was one of the defensive leaders on a team that won the 2010 FCS championship.

At 6'0 210 with a 4.5 40, he should contribute immediately on special teams, but it remains to be seen whether he can be a difference maker in the secondary.

An except from Pro Football Weekly's scouting report on Johnson:

Good-sized with a well-proportioned, toned build, Johnson is a tough, competitive, coachable strong safety with good linear athletic ability. Plays with and trusts his eyes. Drops downhill and supports the run aggressively - gets proper fits, runs the alley and takes effective angles. Effective in halves or thirds, can run with tight ends and has good hands to intercept (17 career interceptions). Smart, experienced four-year starter who made secondary calls. Struggles to man up receivers and shows average range and change of direction. Is not a violent striker and misses some tackles when he isn't under control. Character player with a professional approach who has an intangible makeup and athletic skill set to make a roster and contribute on special teams.

A lengthy highlight reel from Johnson's junior and senior seasons:

For the latest news and analysis on the Cowboys draft day plans, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Blogging The Boys.

ANIMATED: A Dallas Cowboys Fan Goes 'YOLO' At The Robert Griffin III Welcome Party

2012 NFL Draft Results: Cowboys Select Wake Forest DE/OLB Kyle Wilber In Fourth Round

The Dallas Cowboys continued to upgrade their pass rush on the third day of the NFL draft, taking Wake Forest DE/OLB Kyle Wilber with the No. 113 pick in the fourth round.

At 6'4 250, Wilbur shuttled between DE and OLB at Wake Forest, but he'll primarily play as a LB in the Cowboys 3-4 scheme.

In his senior season, he had 69 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks.

He's now the second defensive front seven player Dallas has taken in the 2012 NFL Draft, joining Boise State DE Tyrone Crawford, who they took in the third round.

Most draft analysts projected him as a pass-rushing specialist in the 3-4, so he wasn't even on the draft boards for some NFL teams. Victor Butler is the only player with NFL experience Dallas has at the position behind DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, and with Spencer likely gone after this season, Wilber will be expected to compete for a starting position sooner rather than later.

An excerpt of the National Football Post's scouting report on Wilber:

Impression: An intriguing 34 rush end to me. Has a good first step, can change directions on his pass rush and plays the run with good integrity. Could be posed for a jump up draft boards with a solid year. Reminds me some of Jaguars DE Aaron Morgan.

A video breakdown of Wilber from Pro Football Weekly:

For the latest news and analysis on the Cowboys draft day plans, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Blogging The Boys.

VIDEO: 2012 NFL Draft Grades For Day Two In NFC East

The Dallas Cowboys made the most noise on the first day of the 2012 NFL Draft with their big move up the board to get Morris Claiborne. That meant, however, that the team had to sit still through the second round. The rest of the division did not, however, and teams like the Giants, Eagles and Redskins added new players. How does it all grade out? SB Nation Studios is here with their day two draft grades for the NFC East.

Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones pick five more times on Saturday, so they'll have an opportunity to further bolster their grade through savvy drafting in the final rounds of the draft.

For more on the NFL Draft, be sure to check out this StoryStream for updates throughout the weekend. For complete draft results, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL hub. For even more comprehensive coverage, head over to Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys Have Five Saturday Picks

Despite trading up in the first round to draft Morris Claiborne, widely regarded as the top cornerback in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Cowboys are still in good shape on Saturday, as Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones will make five more picks.

Barring any trades, Dallas has a pair of fourth round picks to go along with a pick in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. So far, the Cowboys have focused solely on defense, drafting Claiborne in the first round before drafting Boise State defensive end Tyrone Crawford in the third round.

SB Nation Dallas' and Blogging the Boys' KD Drummond suggested that the Cowboys look for a developmental quarterback on Saturday, as well as an inside linebacker, safety, and interior offensive lineman. With a slew of picks on Saturday, the Cowboys should be able to address a few of these positions.

Here's a look at where the Cowboys will be picking on Saturday, barring a trade:

Round 4, Pick No. 18 (113)
Round 4, Pick No. 40 (135)
Round 5, Pick No. 17 (152)
Round 6, Pick No. 16 (186)
Round 7, Pick No. 15 (222)

For more on the NFL Draft, be sure to check out this StoryStream for updates throughout the weekend. For full draft results, check out SB Nation's NFL hub, and for even more comprehensive draft coverage, head over to Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Grades: Cowboys Earn 'A' Grade Through Day Two

The Dallas Cowboys don't even need to add another player in the second day to continue to earn an 'A' from SB Nation's Joel Thorman when analyzing the 2012 NFL Draft through the second day. That's because when you add such an impact player like Morris Claiborne at any point, the draft is pretty much successful no matter what you do. The Cowboys will also continue to add more depth and help at other positions in the coming rounds on Saturday.

Thorman writes, "Adding Morris Claiborne is huge, and it came at a reasonable price." That price was a second rounder to move up in place of the St. Louis Rams. The Rams themselves had a nice second day of the draft, but the Cowboys had a major weakness heading into the offseason in their aging secondary that lacked top shelf talent in a division that needs it. With Brandon Carr and now Claiborne, the Cowboys now own one of the top young tandems in the league.

For more on the NFL Draft, be sure to check out this StoryStream for updates throughout the weekend. For complete draft results, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL hub. For even more comprehensive coverage, head over to Mocking the Draft.

Cowboys Still Have Depth Concerns As Draft Enters Final Day

I did an impromptu poll on twitter and on Blogging The Boys, and at a rate of almost 10-to-1, most fans agreed that they liked the format of the draft when it was Saturday and Sunday. I'm sure the NFL will tell you differently based on the highest ratings in history or something of the sort.

Regardless, the new format had Dallas making a first round selection on Thursday, then due to their trade up, only one pick on Friday. While I'm happy with the haul, it hasn't exactly been a fulfilling way to spend 7 total hours. Now, however, the Cowboys will be on the clock in every round and the wait won't be as long between selections. It will be much easier to remain engaged as the franchise looks to continue it's transition.

So what holes are left to fill?

Dallas could use a developmental QB; and all things being equal I'd be estatic to see Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins fall to 113 and Stephen and Jerry snap him up to be Romo's heir.

Of course, the interior of the offensive line hasn't been addressed, but you have to wonder with so many young players already on the roster plus the free agents that were signed; how big of a priority is this for Dallas? Probably a 5th or 6th rounder would be my guess. They have to improve over Phil Costa's 2011 performance, but do they think that's already solved in-house?

Will they look for a Felix Jones replacement back? Possible, there are a lot of intriguing runners still on the board.

On defense, a fourth inside linebacker is needed to complete the rotation plus you have to wonder if the team is happy with the outside linebacker depth of Victor Butler and Alex Albright.By the way, Anthony Spencer is on a one-year deal if you've forgotten.

Also, even though it's a weak safety class, you can't rule out that this is now the weakest link of the team since the corner position has been addressed.

Depth concerns; certainly a better problem to have than searching for NFL starters. When you've reached that level, you can finally begin to get excited that the rebuilding process is starting to take effect.

Dallas Cowboys Draft Picks 2012: Jason Garrett Set To Make Five More Picks On Saturday

So far, it's been all defense for the Dallas Cowboys in the 2012 NFL Draft. Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones have opted to use their first two picks on defense, moving up in the draft to select Morris Claiborne with the sixth overall pick in the draft, before selecting defensive end Tyrone Crawford in the third round with the No. 81 pick in the draft.

Claiborne's selection helps complete an overhaul in the secondary for the Cowboys, something that clearly needed to be done. Claiborne and free agent signee Brandon Carr will headline a revamped secondary -- and unsurprisingly, Rob Ryan is thrilled.

Garrett and Jones will have ample opportunity on Saturday to continue to replenish the roster, as the Cowboys hold picks No. 18 and 40 in the fourth round of the draft. Dallas also holds the No. 17 pick in the fifth round, No. 16 pick in the sixth round and No. 15 pick in the seventh round.

Here's a complete breakdown of Dallas' 2012 draft:

Round 1, Pick No. 6 (6): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
Round 3, Pick No. 18 (81): Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State
Round 4, Pick No. 18 (113): Kyle Wilber, OLB, Wake Forest
Round 4, Pick No. 40 (135): Matt Johnston, SS, Eastern Washington
Round 5, Pick No. 17 (152): Danny Coale, WR, Virginia Tech
Round 6, Pick No. 16 (186): James Hanna, TE, Oklahoma
Round 7, Pick No. 15 (222): Caleb McSurdy, LB, Montana

For more on the NFL Draft, be sure to check out this StoryStream for updates throughout the weekend. For complete draft results, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL hub. For even more comprehensive coverage, head over to Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: TV Schedule, Start Time And More

The 2012 NFL Draft is set to conclude on Saturday, and football fans should get to their TV sets a lot sooner if they want to catch live coverage of rounds four through seven. The fourth round is set to begin at 12 p.m. in New York City, 11 a.m. locally in Dallas.

Dallas fans will get to see Jason Garrett and the Cowboys make two selections in the fourth round. The Cowboys hold the No. 18 and No. 40 pick in the fourth round. Dallas holds one pick in each of the final three rounds as well, with the No. 17 pick in the fifth round, No. 16 pick in the sixth round and No. 15 pick in the seventh round.

Below is all the information you'll need to catch live coverage of the NFL Draft on Saturday:

Start Time: Round four will begin 12 p.m. locally from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

TV Schedule: Televised coverage of rounds 4-7 of the NFL Draft can be found on either ESPN or NFL Network, beginning at 11 a.m. CT.

For more on the NFL Draft, be sure to check out this StoryStream for updates throughout the weekend. For full draft results, be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL hub. For even more comprehensive draft coverage, head over to Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Results: Tyrone Crawford Selected By Dallas Cowboys With No. 81 Pick

After dealing their second round pick to move up in the first round, the Dallas Cowboys had to wait until the end of third round Friday before making another pick.

With the No. 81 selection, they took Tyrone Crawford, a defensive end from Boise State.

A 6'4 275 end from Canada, Crawford had 44 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks, in his senior season. He was a two-year starter for the Broncos after spending two seasons in junior college.

As a result of his unusual background, he is still somewhat raw and many draft analysts think he has not reached his full potential on the gridiron.

A look at how he performed against some of the tougher competition Boise State faced last year:

For the latest news and analysis on the Cowboys draft day plans, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Blogging The Boys.

With No Second Rounder (Currently) Cowboys Have Long Wait To Keep Improving

There's no way to hide it, the Cowboys universe (for the most part) is still giddy over the power move made by Jerry and Stephen Jones to move up in the first round to select Morris "Pick Six" Claiborne, cornerback out of LSU. They had to give up a second round pick however, and while most evaluators feel that this was highway robbery performed on the St. Louis Rams to move up from 14 to 6, it still leaves Dallas off the clock until pick #81; the 18th selection of the third round.

So now there are rumors that Dallas wants to trade last-year-of-his-contract corner Mike Jenkins to try and move up. To return to the second round though, that would have to be the first domino as you couldn't expect him to net more than a fourth or a fifth. Most likely there would have to be some sort of combination in order for Dallas to regain a second rounder.

So the focus is really on the third round, and fortunately, this is one of those drafts with a heavy middle. There should be plently of recognizable names remaining once Dallas hits the podium. Here are some of the names of prospects rated as third rounders that visited Valley Ranch in pre-draft visits:

• Guard's Jeff Allen and Josh LeRibeus
• OLB's Ronnell Lewis and Keenan Robinson
• WR Ryan Broyles
• RB Cyrus Gray

Other names that could slide to Dallas? QB Kirk Cousins, RB LaMichael James, FS George Iloka, DT Alameda Ta'Amu, RB Robert Turbin, TE Ladarius Green, FS Brandon Hardin, WR joe Adams, TE Orson Charles, G Brandon Washington, C Phillip Blake, DT Akiem Hicks.

There are so many directions Dallas can go, don't fall asleep during the 50 picks prior to the Cowboys.

For more on the draft and all things Dallas, go to Blogging The Boys.

Morris Claiborne Explains Wonderlic Score

Morris Claiborne doesn't see much of a reason to be embarrassed by his Wonderlic score, not because it was a low one, but because he saw the test as a pointless one when he received it.

Claiborne ended up being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night after the team traded up to the sixth overall pick to get him. He was a prized football player, leaving school behind. So when the Wonderlic test came and he saw it had nothing to do with football, he tanked it. Not on purpose or by accident. He was just ambivalent about it, which turns out to have made sense considering he was still highly sought-after at the draft.

Claiborne explained the situation like this:

"I looked at the test, and wasn't any questions about football. I didn't see no point in the test. I'm not in school anymore. I didn't complete it. I only finished 15 or 18 questions."

Read more about the Cowboys at Blogging the Boys.

Morris Claiborne Pick Could Create Mike Jenkins Trade, According To Reports

The Dallas Cowboys moved up in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft to grab LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, which could spell the end of corner Mike Jenkins' time in Dallas, according to several reports:

Per league source, with Mo Claiborne in the fold the Cowboys are shopping Mike Jenkins.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 27, 2012

ESPN Dallas is reporting that unless the Cowboys receive a decent value in exchange, they won't move Jenkins, a former first round pick in 2008 with one year remaining on his current deal. Jenkins is recovering from shoulder surgery after having one interception and 10 pass breakups in 2011.

The Cowboys signed free agent Brandon Carr as well in the offseason, and gave slot corner Orlando Scandrick a five-year contract, creating a crowded secondary for the veteran Jenkins.

For more on the Dallas Cowboys and the 2012 NFL Draft, check out Blogging The Boys, Mocking The Draft and SB Nation's NFL page.

NFL Draft Grades: Cowboys Earn An 'A' For Morris Claiborne

The team over at SB Nation's NFL page have conferred, and they've got their way-too-early grades for the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, with the Cowboys among only five teams earning an 'A' for their first round work:

Cowboys: I'm usually not a fan of trading up for a position other than quarterback. The Cowboys moved up from 14 to 6 but only paid the price of a second rounder, which is cheaper than usual, to pick up the top player at a premium position. After signing Brandon Carr in free agency, the Cowboys have a ton of potential in that secondary.

It's interesting to note that the rival Redskins are among the five 'A' teams as well for their no-brainer pick of Robert Griffin III at No. 2, while the rest of the NFC East (the Eagles and Giants) earned a 'B.' Granted, there's only eight teams in the entire league that had a first round pick who were graded average or worse, but it means that after one day of the 2012 NFL Draft, the NFC East isn't getting any easier.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft and the Dallas Cowboys, check out Mocking The Draft, Blogging The Boys and SB Nation's NFL page.

Morris Claiborne: The Answer To The Cowboys Secondary Problems

The Jim Thorpe Award winner was the best defensive player in the draft and he's a better CB prospect than his former LSU teammate Patrick Peterson.

NFL Draft 2012: Morris Claiborne Shocked To Become A Dallas Cowboy

Fans weren't the only ones who were surprised when the Dallas Cowboys moved up to take Morris Claiborne with the No. 6 pick; the Cowboys had never even contacted Claiborne before selecting him:

Morris Claiborne on Cowboys moving up to get him: "I didn't see it coming in a million years." Said he didn't talk to Cowboys at all.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 27, 2012

Dallas had brought in their last six first-round picks to Valley Ranch for a pre-draft workout. The last one they didn't bring in? DeMarcus Ware.

Cowboys fans can only hope that Claiborne has even close to the same impact.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit the SB Nation Dallas storystream, and for a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. For more on Claiborne from an LSU perspective, check out And The Valley Shook while Mocking The Draft has all the latest news and analysis from New York City.

NFL Draft 2012: New Cowboys Corner Brandon Carr Reacts To Morris Claiborne Selection

2012 NFL Draft Results: Morris Claiborne Selected By Dallas Cowboys With No. 6 Pick

After moving up eight spots in the first round from No. 14 to No. 6, the Dallas Cowboys have selected Morris Claiborne, the award-winning CB from the LSU Tigers.

The Jim Thorpe Award Winner, Claiborne was the No. 1 CB on most NFL draft boards, as he has the size, speed and talent to to immediately step into a starring role in an NFL secondary.

NFL Draft Tracker via Sports Illustrated

After giving up their second round pick as a part of the trade, the Cowboys don't pick again until the No. 81 selection in the third round.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit the SB Nation Dallas storystream, and for a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. For more on Claiborne from an LSU perspective, check out And The Valley Shook while Mocking The Draft has all the latest news and analysis from New York City.

A video profile of Claiborne from SB Nation's Youtube channel:

NFL Draft 2012: Cowboys Move Up To No. 6