Taking a Look at the Dallas Cowboys Undrafted Free Agent Class
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys front office recently had a highly graded draft class, headlined by the 12th overall selection, Tyler Booker, an offensive guard out of Alabama. Dallas also stayed true to a best-player-available mentality in the later rounds of the draft, landing great value in players like Donovan Ezeiruaku, Shavon Revel Jr., and Jaydon Blue. Typically, after the draft, the Cowboys are aggressive in signing undrafted prospects to fill out their roster ahead of minicamp and preseason. Let’s take a look at which undrafted free agents the Cowboys have signed — and whether they have a chance to make the 53-man roster.
In recent years, the Cowboys have had several undrafted free agents make the 53-man roster. For example: Brevyn Spann-Ford, John Stephens Jr., Markquese Bell, and even starting fullback Hunter Luepke. The Cowboys have brought in nine confirmed undrafted rookies, including Trashaun Holden, a receiver out of Oregon; wide receiver Josh Kelly from Texas Tech; tight end Tyler Neville out of Virginia; Rivaldo Fairweather, a tight end from Auburn; Syracuse linebacker Justin Barron; Kentucky cornerback Zion Childress; Bruce Harmon, a defensive back from SFA; and Alijah Clark, a safety out of Syracuse. This is a strong list with plenty of talent — the question is what availability is left on the Cowboys’ roster.
The player with the highest probability of making the team is Syracuse safety Alijah Clark, who was a three-year starter in the ACC after transferring from Rutgers. Clark has totaled 189 tackles over his collegiate career. The Syracuse product has made a career out of not being a liability in coverage, consistently being in the right place, and playing within the scheme. However, he only managed to rack up two interceptions and doesn’t consistently play the ball well. Clark has the ideal size for a defensive back at six-foot-one, 187 pounds, but lacks true NFL-level play strength. He would be joining a safety depth chart that includes Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, and Israel Mukuamu — all projected starters. Clark has a chance to be the fourth safety listed on the depth chart come Week One.
Another player with a potential opportunity to make the 53-man roster is Josh Kelly out of Texas Tech. Kelly is a highly productive player with plenty of experience after playing six seasons of college ball, and he is coming off his best year yet with 89 receptions, 1,023 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. Kelly fell out of the draft due to his slow performance in the 40-yard dash, revealing his limitations as an athlete. Kelly is not a burner but is a smooth route runner and solid at the catch point. He has a lot of ability, but it may take an elite-level preseason to make the 53-man roster as part of a wide receiver group that already has good depth.
