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As expected, the Cowboys have begun signing their draft picks today. In a last-in, first-out approach, the first players the Cowboys signed today were the last three players selected in the draft: Seventh-round pick Caleb McSurdy, sixth-rounder James Hanna and fifth-round selection Danny Coale all signed their contracts today according to multiple reports out of the metroplex.
All three signed four-year deals that will pay them base salaries of $390,000, $480,000, $570,000 and $660,000 for the next four years.
The Cowboys weren't as quick as many other teams to sign their rookies because they didn't have enough cap space to sign all seven picks. They needed to wait until June 1st, when the Newman salary cap money came free. Today's signings mark the start of the signing process which Nick Eatman from Dallas Cowboys.com expects to be concluded by the end of the week.
With the entire team expected to be here this week with the mandatory minicamp (Tuesday to Thursday), the Cowboys are likely to get all of the players signed up before they depart on Thursday.
With the new CBA rules from last year, the rookies are slotted with their salaries and contract structure more than ever. Even signing guys like Claiborne won't be as difficult.