Cowboys news: Daniel Wise called Cowboys “most exciting” UDFA addition

Every NFL Team’s Most Exciting UDFA Addition - Kristopher Knox, Bleacher Report

Talent was added after the draft, too. Signing Daniel Wise could be a big and sneaky get for Dallas.

Dallas Cowboys: DT Daniel Wise, Kansas

The strength of the Dallas Cowboys defense is its defensive line. Undrafted interior defender Daniel Wise has the potential to make that line even better as a rotational player. The Kansas product is a stout 6’3” and 281 pounds and possesses enough attacking ability to disrupt pass plays from the middle.

”He is a busy-body pass rusher with the ability to find the edge early and then create his rush counters with footwork and agility,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote of Wise.

While Wise is not a pure pass-rusher, he is versatile, just like his brother, New England Patriot Deatrich Wise. In 2018, he produced 34 total tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and five sacks. At the very least, he should stick to the roster as a backup.

How the Cowboys can give Jaylon Smith Luke Kuechly-type money and still get a great bargain - DannyPhantom

Jaylon Smith and the Cowboys have reportedly began discussions about a new deal. Here is how Dallas can get a bargain with the star linebacker.

If Smith agreed to a five-year, $60 million extension, about half of that is going to be guaranteed money. And that includes about $20 million in signing bonus that will be new money in Smith’s bank account right now. So, rather than waiting until 2021 before that load of cash shows up, Smith instantly becomes very rich. That’s a very big deal for a guy who just a few years ago many thought wouldn’t have a career in the National Football League. Great things happen in you have a clear eye view and the absolute resolve to do everything it takes to get there. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that he was one of the most talented college prospects before his injury.

If it still seems premature for the Cowboys to address this right now, just remember - the team did something similar with La’el Collins a couple years ago. Rather than letting him finish out his rookie deal and slapping a tender on him for an additional year, the Cowboys gave him an extension. It may have seemed like they were frivolous with their money or were just doing him a solid after an unfortunate occurrence damaged his draft stock through no fault of his own. Well, you could say that type of thing happened to Smith as well, only the circumstances were different.

LC’s contract shows up as an annual salary of $7.7 million, but when you look closer, the Cowboys actually gave him $18 million over a three-year span, equating to just $6 million per year. That sure seems like a discount price for a reliable starting right tackle.

The Cowboys know what they have in Smith. They took a risk on him and it paid off, and if he can be a big part of their future, it could go down as one of the best gambles Jerry Jones has ever made.

CowBuzz: Jaylon Fulfills Graduation Promise - Taylor Stern, The Mothership

On the topic of Jaylon...

At the time it looked more likely for him to return to South Bend, Indiana than to pursue his NFL dreams after suffering a tragic knee injury in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl game. Many thought he’d never play football again, but the Cowboys took a chance on him selecting him with their second-round pick. They felt confident in trusting his recovery with solid insight from team physician Dr. Dan Cooper, who was selected to perform his surgery.

Smith sat during his rookie season, finally saw time in 2017 and had a true breakout season in 2018, finishing second on the team in tackles.

While some never thought he’d move the same way, there he was Sunday not just walking but dancing across the stage, a proud Notre Dame graduate with a bachelor’s degree in film and television. With a full load of 21 hours, Smith was juggling both offseason workouts and being a full-time student.

Dallas Cowboys depth along lines creates a good problem - Tyrone Starr, The Landry Hat

The recipe to success in the NFL begins in the trenches. The talent that the Cowboys have on the roster in that area is a good sign.

Ever since that time, Dallas has drafted either an offensive lineman or defensive lineman in every draft with one of their first three picks.

2012 – Tyrone Crawford, DL – 81st overall in round three.

2013 – Travis Frederick, OL – 31st overall in round one.

2014 – Zack Martin, OL – 16th overall in round one.

DeMarcus Lawrence – 34th overall in round two.

2015 – Randy Gregory, DL – 60th overall in round two.

Chaz Green, OL – 91st overall in round three.

2016 – Maliek Collins, DL – 67th overall in round three.

2017 – Taco Charlton, DL – 28th overall in round one.

2018 – Connor Williams, OL – 50th overall in round two.

2019 – Trysten Hill, DL – 58th overall in round two.

Connor McGovern, OL – 90th overall in round three.

That is a lot of draft capital focused on building depth in the trenches. Of course, the Dallas Cowboys have also used free agency to augment their draft selections. This offseason, Dallas signed Christian Covington, Kerry Hyder and Robert Quinn to go along with their second-round pick in Hill. They also re-signed offensive tackle Cameron Fleming besides drafting McGovern.

Dallas Cowboys D-Line: More Good Players Than Roster Spots - Reid Hanson, SportDFW

The defensive line in particular has some talent.

If Tank, Quinn, and Gregory are locks on the edge, and Collins, Hill, Woods, and Covington are locks inside, and Craw is a lock as a swing lineman, that only leaves 2-3 spots for everyone else to fight over.

My best guess is Armstrong beats out Taco on the edge (winning in attitude, age, cost, and career arch) and Hyder is kept for his flex and overall competence. If the Cowboys go with 11, I think Daniel Wise wins out over Jelks and Jackson.

No matter how you look at it, it is likely drafted players are going to miss the final cut on the D-line even if the Dallas Cowboys go deep at the position group. Additionally, going 10 or 11 deep on the D-line will mean Dallas must go thin at other positions.

How do Connor McGovern and Mitch Hyatt fit with the Cowboys? It’s about depth and the future - Saad Yousuf, The Athletic

On the other side of the trenches, Connor McGovern and Mitch Hyatt have an opportunity to make an impact for America’s Team.

McGovern, despite how highly the Cowboys regard him, comes with a more ambiguous role. If Williams struggles at left guard, the answer is easy. If he succeeds, then he joins Williams, Frederick and Martin as the nucleus of the team’s interior for years to come. My colleague Bob Sturm did a fantastic job breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of McGovern, projecting his future as perhaps the best player the Cowboys selected in the 2019 draft. He’s also a snug fit for a team with a run-to-set-up-the-pass identity.

“I’d say it’s a 50-50 split between run-blocking and pass protection, but I love putting a guy on his back, so I’d say it leans towards run-blocking,” McGovern said what he enjoys most on the field.

The Cowboys currently appear to have an offensive line surplus, but it’s tenuous. Frederick is coming back from a career-threatening illness, Smith has an injury history and three of the top seven are likely out the door next offseason. The Cowboys have always done a good job bracing for significant losses along the offensive line, from incorporating role players like Looney and Fleming to starters such as Doug Free, Ron Leary and Collins, himself a former undrafted free agent. Now, McGovern and Hyatt represent the next wave of present depth that Dallas hopes to develop into valuable future cornerstones.

The Dallas Cowboys 3 most underrated players are … - Nathan Jones, The Landry Hat

Who are the 3 most underrated players on the Dallas Cowboys? Jones gives his three.

3. Tyrone Crawford, Defensive lineman

Crawford is perfect for the Rod Marinelli’s (defensive coordinator) defense. He can line up everywhere on the defensive line, play the run, and rush the passer.

Last year, Crawford recorded six sacks, 27 quarterback hurries, and 19 tackles. These stats may seem pretty insignificant for those that only see Crawford as a defensive end. But last year, Crawford lined up as a defensive tackle for 327 snaps out of his total 631, per Pro Football Focus.

One could debate whether or not Crawford is worth the $7 million cap hit, but when it comes to talking about the key players on Dallas’ roster, Crawford’s name is rarely mentioned. Unfortunately, Crawford could be facing a misdemeanor charge for getting into a physical altercation earlier this year.

The Cowboys might be without Crawford for a few games, but Dallas has invested many resources into getting more depth around the defensive line. Hopefully, this would mitigate the potential loss of Crawford.

What Could June 1st Mean for 2019 Dallas Cowboys? - Jess Haynie, Inside The Star

June 1st is right around the corner; what could that date bring this year?

For the 2019 Dallas Cowboys, the one player whose situation and contract speak to a possible June-1st move is Defensive Lineman Tyrone Crawford.

Crawford’s deal runs thru 2020, which is key since you need at least two year’s left on the contract to utilize the June-1st deferment. A player with only one year left, like WR Allen Hurns, has the same cap relief regardless of when you cut him.

Releasing Tyrone Crawford either after June 1st or with the early designation would push $1.1 million of his total $4.2 million in dead money to 2020. It would increase the total cap savings from $5.9 million to $7 million for the Cowboys’ 2019 salary cap.

Now Crawford is one of those guys, a valued veteran and team captain, who you’d think a team would’ve cut earlier if that was their intention. But Tyrone’s value to the Cowboys has been fluid throughout the offseason.