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The “How Were They Built” series is a 32-part set of pieces showcasing how each team’s roster in the National Football League was constructed. I’ll dive into how the players were acquired, either by trade, the draft, or free agency, how much money is spent on each position, and give a brief summary of the the team. I will also give a bit of a 2018 outlook.
To start off, here are the Dallas Cowboys.
All information is organized as follows:
Name, Position (PS if on Practice Squad), College, (How Player was Acquired), 2017 Salary, When Player is a Free Agent
Defensive Backs
Orlando Scandrick, CB, Boise State, (2008-5th Rd), $3,000,000, 2020
Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan, (2017-3rd Rd), $1,218,428, 2021
Byron Jones, S, Connecticut, (2015-1st Rd), $1,216,995, 2020
Jeff Heath, S, Saginaw Valley State, (2013 UDFA), $1,471,000, 2020
Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado, (2017-2nd Rd), $778,834, 2021
Bene Benwikere, CB, San Jose State, (2017 Trade with Bengals), $690,000, 2018
Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech, (2017-6th Rd), $624,888, 2021
Anthony Brown, CB, Purdue, (2016-6th Rd), $540,000, 2020
Kavon Frazier, S, Central Michigan, (2016-6th Rd), $540,000, 2020
Duke Thomas, CB (Injured/Reserve), Texas, (2017 FA), $348,000, 2019
Marquez White, CB (PS), Florida State, (2017-6th Rd), $122,400, 2020
Jameill Showers, S (PS), Texas-El Paso, (2015 UDFA), $100,800, 2020
2017 Cash Spending on DBs: $10,651,345
Defensive Linemen
Tyrone Crawford, DL, Boise State, (2012-3rd Rd), $7,250,000, 2021
Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan, (2017-1st Rd), $5,898,373, 2022
Benson Mayowa, DE, Idaho, (2016 RFA), $1,500,000, 2019
Demarcus Lawrence, DE, Boise State, (2014-2nd Rd), $1,170,907, 2018
Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska, (2016-3rd Rd), $612,500, 2020
David Irving, DL, Iowa State, (2015 Signed from Chiefs practice squad), $470,294, 2018
Brian Price, DT, Texas-San Antonio, (9-17 Claimed off Packers waivers), $456,708, 2018
Richard Ash, DT, Western Michigan, (2016 Signed from Jaguars practice squad), $349,415, 2019
Charles Tapper, DE (IR), Oklahoma, (2016-4th Rd), $404,648, 2020
Randy Gregory, DE (Reserve/Suspension), Nebraska, (2015-2nd Rd), $781,813, 2019
Lewis Neal, DE (PS), Louisiana State, (2017 UDFA), $218,823, 2019
2017 Cash Spending on DL: $19,113,481
Linebackers
Sean Lee, Penn State, (2010-2nd Rd), $9,000,000, 2020
Anthony Hitchens, Iowa, (2014-4th Rd), $1,797,000, 2018
Kyle Wilber, Wake Forest, (2012-4th Rd), $1,250,000, 2018
Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame, (2016-2nd Rd), $745,226, 2020
Damien Wilson, Minnesota, (2015-4 Rd), $615,000, 2019
Justin March-Lillard, Akron, (2017 FA), $381,176, 2018
Tre’Von Johnson, Weber State, (2017 FA), $27,353, 2019
2017 Cash Spending LBs: $13,815,755
Offensive Linemen
Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin, (2013-1st Rd), $14,221,000, 2024
Tyron Smith, OT, USC, (2011-1st Rd), $10,000,000, 2024
La’el Collins, OT, LSU, (2015 UDFA), $5,000,000, 2020
Zack Martin, OG, Notre Dame, (2014-1st Rd), $1,642,882, 2019
Bryon Bell, OT, New Mexico, (2017 UFA), $1,943,750, 2018
Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina, (2017 FA), $800,000, 2018
Joe Looney, OG, Wake Forest, (2016 UFA), $850,000, 2018
Chaz Green, OT, Florida, (15-3rd Rd), $630,375, 2019
Jarron Jones, OT (PS), Notre Dame, (2017 FA to PS), $108,000, 2020
Kadeem Edwards, OG (PS), Tennessee State, (2016 FA), $27,353, 2019
2017 Cash Spending on OL: $35,223,360
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State, (2016-4th Rd), $540,000, 2020
Cooper Rush, QB, Central Michigan, (2017 UDFA), $470,000, 2020
Kellen Moore, QB (PS), Boise State, (2017 FA), $72,000, 2018
2017 Cash Spending on QBs: $1,082,000
Running Backs/Fullbacks
Alfred Morris, RB, Florida Atlantic, (2016 UFA), $1,700,000, 2018
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State, (2016-1st Rd), $1,025,186, 2021
Keith Smith, FB, San Jose State, (2014 UDFA), $690,000, 2018
Rod Smith, RB ,Ohio State, (2015 Claimed off Seattle waivers), $615,000, 2019
Trey Williams, RB (PS), Texas A&M, (12/17 FA), $95,294, 2019
2017 Cash Spending on RBs: $4,125,480
Tight Ends
Jason Witten, Tennessee, (2003-3rd Rd), $7,400,000, 2022
James Hanna, Oklahoma, (2012-6th Rd), $2,250,000, 2019
Geoff Swaim, Texas, (2015-7th Rd), $615,000, 2019
Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State, (2017 UDFA), $273,530, 2020
Rico Gathers, (IR), Baylor, (2016-6th Rd), $348,000, 2020
2017 Cash Spending on TEs: $10,886,530
Wide Receivers
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, (2010-1st Rd), $13,000,000, 2020
Terrance Williams, Baylor, (2013-3rd Rd), $6,000,000, 2021
Cole Beasley, Southern Methodist, (2012 UDFA), $3,500,000, 2019
Brice Butler, San Diego State, (2015 Trade with Raiders), $1,100,000, 2018
Ryan Switzer, North Carolina, (2017-4th Rd), $1,030,987, 2021
Noah Brown, Ohio State, (2017-7th Rd), $536,938, 2021
Brian Brown, WR (PS), Richmond, (2017 UDFA), $115,200, 2020
Lance Lenoir, WR (PS), Western Illinois, (2017 UDFA) $27,353, 2019
K.D. Cannon, WR (PS), Baylor, (12/17 signed to PA), $7,200, 2020
2017 Cash Spending on WRs: $25,317,678
Special Teams
Chris Jones, P, Carson-Newman, (2011 UDFA), $3,300,000, 2022
Dan Bailey, K, Oklahoma State, (2011 UDFA), $3,200,000, 2021
L.P. LaDouceur, LS, California, (2005 FA), $1,100,000, 2018
2017 Cash Spending on special teams: $7,600,000
Summary
The 2017 NFL Draft was defensive heavy for the Cowboys with the selections of Taco Charlton and four defensive backs with their nine picks currently on the roster. The Cowboys spent three first round picks within four seasons on the Offensive line (2011, ‘13-’14) to help with protection on then-quarterback Tony Romo. Built to the run the ball, the Cowboys selected Ezekiel Elliott fourth overall in 2016. The quarterback position wasn’t a big need, spending a 4th round pick on Dak Prescott in 2016, the highest since selecting Stephen McGee (Texas A&M) in the fourth round in 2009. The Cowboys defense ranked 27th and 28th in quarterback sacks in years 2013 and 2014, leading to the draft selections of Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory, and the signings of Benson Mayowa and David Irving. Since then, they ranked 13th in sacks last year and finished 2017 ranked 17th in the league.
For 2018
Jason Witten and Dez Bryant have regressed in the receiving end which is a reason that Dallas could look for a top receiving threat for Dak Prescott in the offseason or through the draft. With Tyron Smith’s injuries suffered in the last month, the Cowboys would need to add depth at the left tackle position due to the lack of contribution from the backups. There is not a lot of dead money for Randy Gregory going into 2018 if he were to be released, meaning a decision will need to be made about his future with the team. Alfred Morris filled in well running the ball while Ezekiel Elliott was serving his suspension and he’ll be a free agent in March. There are some solid running backs coming out in the draft if Dallas decides to let Morris walk. Demarcus Lawrence and David Irving will also be free agents and should be the main priority to keep the defense together.
Follow Derek on Twitter @derekdonald91. Check out Derek’s other work here, including a breakdown of the NFC West, a look at each of Casey Hayward’s 2016 interceptions and his analysis of how the Lions use Golden Tate out of the backfield.
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