Cowboys Sign Draft Pick Ben Gardner To 4-Year Deal

The Dallas Cowboys have made their first signing of a 2014 draft pick. A four-year deal, the standard deal, was reached with defensive lineman Ben Gardner. The Cowboys used pick #231, the 16th pick in the seventh round, to draft the defensive lineman out of Stanford. The deal was first announced by Field Yates, an ESPN Boston writer.

Gardner tore his pectoral muscle that ended his 2013 season and was passed over for the scouting combine. But when he performed drills at the Stanford pro day, some of his numbers were off the charts. Scouts came away impressed and this helped get him drafted in the seventh round. Gardner's size, 6' 4" and a playing weight of 277 lbs. would seem to dictate him playing as a defensive end. But his style of play may be suited more toward a defensive tackle. It's likely he'll get a shot at multiple positions along the line before the Cowboys finally settle on his role.