New UFA signing

Jacob Slade, DL, Michigan State

Second consecutive year the cowboys have signed a defensive player out of FAMU in priority free agency. Last year they signed S Markquese Bell https://t.co/E9BGhxjoZp

— Cowboys Due Diligence (@StevieJPTX) April 29, 2023

Assassin said:

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New UFA signing

Jacob Slade, DL, Michigan State

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CAREER NOTES: Four-year letterwinner played in 42 games with the Spartans, including 26 starts (seven in 2020, 12 in 2021, seven in 2022) . . . disruptive and powerful defensive tackle collected 88 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss (36 yards), 4.0 sacks (25 yards), four pass break-ups, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick in his career . . . graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics in May 2022.

2022 SEASON (GRADUATE SENIOR): Entered the season on watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award and was a second-team Walter Camp preseason All-American, but was limited to eight games due to an injury he suffered in Week 2 vs. Akron . . . was forced to miss four straight games from Weeks 3-6 . . . finished the season with seven starts at defensive tackle in eight games overall . . . played a total of 311 snaps . . . despite missing four games, still earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades by the coaches and media . . . finished the season with 20 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss (9 yards) and a half sack . . . still ranked fifth on the team with a total of 11 QB pressures, according to Pro Football Focus . . . started first two games (Akron, Western Michigan) at defensive tackle, before missing the next four games (Ohio State, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington) with an injury . . . returned to action in Wisconsin game in Week 7 and re-assumed starting lineup spot in last five games (Penn State, Indiana, Rutgers, Illinois, Michigan) . . . logged season-highs for tackles and tackles for loss with five stops and 1.5 TFL at Penn State game after starting at defensive tackle and playing 46 snaps . . . after starting Indiana game at defensive tackle, registered four tackles with 0.5 TFL (4 yards) on 0.5 sack, in 43 snaps . . . started Rutgers game at defensive tackle, notching his first career blocked kick, as well as two tackles, including 0.5 tackle for loss and one QB hurry, in 59 snaps, for not only the most snaps since returning from injury, but a season-high snaps . . . was starting defensive tackle in win at No. 16 Illinois, tallying two tackles with 0.5 TFL in 18 snaps . . . reclaimed starting spot in Michigan game, posting three tackles in 50 snaps . . . returned to action in Wisconsin game after missing previous four contests with an injury, and logged one stop in 32 snaps . . . started Akron game at defensive tackle and recorded one tackle in playing 17 snaps, before suffering injury . . . started in season opener vs. Western Michigan at defensive tackle, tallying two tackles with 0.5 tackle for loss, in playing 46 snaps, tying for the most among defensive linemen.

2021 SEASON (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades from Pro Football Focus . . . also garnered second-team All-Big Ten honors by The Associated Press, third team by the media and honorable mention by the coaches . . . saw action in all 13 games and made 12 consecutive starts to close the season . . . recorded career bests in tackles (40), TFLs (5.0 for 19 yards) and sacks (2.5 for 16 yards) . . . played a total of 651 snaps . . . graded out at 86.1 by Pro Football Focus, the best on the team . . . also according to PFF, had 40 QB pressures, the most of any Big Ten interior lineman and tied for 10th most among interior DL in the FBS . . . also had 33 QB hurries, which led Big Ten defensive tackles and ranked tied for third in FBS among DTs, according to PFF . . . named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team after an impressive performance in the win over No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, recording a career-high 1.5 sacks (11 yards) and tying a career-high 2.0 TFLs (11 yards) . . . had six stops overall against the Panthers as Pitt was held to a season-low 274 yards of total offense . . . logged three tackles with one TFL vs. Penn State, posting 40 snaps . . . registered pair of stops at Ohio State in 49 snaps . . . tallied two tackles in Maryland game, playing 53 snaps . . . posted pair of stops at Purdue, starting at defensive tackle and playing 63 snaps . . . started Michigan game at defensive tackle, tallying three tackles and one pass break-up in playing 60 snaps . . . started at Indiana and logged five tackles and one QB hurry in matching his jersey number by playing 64 snaps . . . registered four tackles and a 19-yard fumble recovery at Rutgers, recording 49 snaps . . . tallied two tackles against Western Kentucky in playing 58 snaps . . . had breakout performance in Nebraska game, notching a career-high eight tackles (five solo, three assists) with 2.0 TFLs and 1.0 sack, doubling previous career-best of four stops, surpassing that in solo tackles alone, in 57 snaps . . . was starting defensive tackle at Miami, logging 49 snaps and posting one tackle . . . started in Youngstown State game, posting one stop in 35 snaps . . . saw action in season-opening win at Northwestern, logging one tackle and one pass break-up, in playing 36 defensive snaps.

2020 SEASON (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Started all seven games at defensive tackle, posting 13 tackles with 0.5 TFL, one pass break-up and three QB hurries, in playing 274 snaps . . . tallied two tackles at Penn State . . . compiled three tackles with 0.5 TFL and two QB hurries vs. No. 3 Ohio State . . . started Northwestern game at defensive tackle, logging 38 snaps, and registering one stop and one pass break-up . . . posting a pair of stops in 42 snaps vs. No. 10 Indiana . . . recorded career-high four stops at Iowa . . . tallied one tackle along with a QB hurry in 52 snaps in win over No. 13 Michigan . . . made first start of career in starting at defensive tackle in season opener vs. Rutgers and played 55 snaps.

2019 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in all 13 games to earn his first letter . . . played 262 snaps while rotating at defensive tackle . . . recorded 14 tackles, including 2.5 for losses (6 yards) and one sack (5 yards) . . . posted a career-best 2.0 TFLs, including his first career sack for 5 yards, while tallying a total of three stops in helping MSU to a win over Wake Forest in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl . . . had one pass break-up in Maryland game . . . had season-high three tackles and 0.5 TFL against Penn State.

2018 SEASON: Redshirted . . . played 11 snaps at defensive tackle and recorded one assisted tackle in his only appearance of the year in the season opener vs. Utah State.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: First-team Division 1 all-state selection as an offensive lineman by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association . . . also named a first-team All-Central District and Columbus Dispatch All-Metro honoree . . . named Ohio Capital Conference (Buckeye Division) Co-Defensive Player of the Year . . . ranked one of the top players in the state of Ohio by 247Sports (No. 34), ESPN.com (No. 47) and Rivals.com (No. 60) . . . listed as one of best defensive tackle prospects in Ohio by Rivals.com (No. 5) . . . rated one of the best defensive tackles in the nation by ESPN.com (No. 93) . . . named one of the top 150 players in the Midwest by ESPN.com . . . played for Coach Mark Solis at Olentangy High School . . . helped lead Olentangy to the Region 2 semifinals and an 8-4 record his senior season after recording 73 tackles, including 13 for losses with two sacks . . . led the Braves with eight sacks and had 53 tackles overall as a junior in 2016 to earn second-team All-Ohio Capital Conference honors . . . son of Rick and Shannon Slade . . . born Feb. 23, 2000 . . . twin brother of Zach Slade, who is a defensive lineman for the Spartans . . . graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics in May 2022.

He’s quite the athlete pic.twitter.com/PQLSqmWcMt

— CMP (@CMP_MD) April 29, 2023

Long and athletic with a chance to contribute as a special teams player and possibly more.

Get the full scouting report for Jalen Brooks out of @GamecockFB. 📝🧐↓#CowboysDraft | @MillerLite

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 29, 2023

UFA Signing

• Earl Bostick Jr., OT, Kansas

I like this...another mid round guy I mocked us.

Great pickup https://t.co/e0sQgBnP0V

— Dan Ruppert (@Dan_Ruppert) April 29, 2023

Thought Ben Sims would get drafted or someone might take a flyer on Connor Galvin. Worth a UFA signing?

Assassin said:

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Thought Ben Sims would get drafted or someone might take a flyer on Connor Galvin. Worth a UFA signing?

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Galvin yes...I think the TE room would not be a good place for Sims

BearForce said:

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Assassin said:

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Thought Ben Sims would get drafted or someone might take a flyer on Connor Galvin. Worth a UFA signing?

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Galvin yes...I think the TE room would not be a good place for Sims

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I thought Jaxon Player got drafted. No?

Assassin said:

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BearForce said:

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Assassin said:

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Thought Ben Sims would get drafted or someone might take a flyer on Connor Galvin. Worth a UFA signing?

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Galvin yes...I think the TE room would not be a good place for Sims

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I thought Jaxon Player got drafted. No?

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No, and as for Galvin:

#Baylor OL Connor Galvin is signing an UDFA deal with the Detroit Lions, per multiple reports.

— Craig Smoak (@CraigSmoak) April 29, 2023

Vikings signing Sims

That is the seventh UDFA that the #Cowboys have signed that ranked inside Dane Brugler's top 255 players. https://t.co/7IZsOHuL2i

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 30, 2023

BearForce said:

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That is the seventh UDFA that the #Cowboys have signed that ranked inside Dane Brugler's top 255 players. https://t.co/7IZsOHuL2i

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 30, 2023

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sweet

Cousin of Ernest T Bass?

Assassin said:

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BearForce said:

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That is the seventh UDFA that the #Cowboys have signed that ranked inside Dane Brugler's top 255 players. https://t.co/7IZsOHuL2i

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 30, 2023

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sweet

Cousin of Ernest T Bass?

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It will interesting how many here even get that reference.

BearForce said:

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Assassin said:

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BearForce said:

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That is the seventh UDFA that the #Cowboys have signed that ranked inside Dane Brugler's top 255 players. https://t.co/7IZsOHuL2i

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 30, 2023

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sweet

Cousin of Ernest T Bass?

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It will interesting how many here even get that reference.

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We are old

Assassin said:

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BearForce said:

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Assassin said:

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BearForce said:

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That is the seventh UDFA that the #Cowboys have signed that ranked inside Dane Brugler's top 255 players. https://t.co/7IZsOHuL2i

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 30, 2023

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sweet

Cousin of Ernest T Bass?

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It will interesting how many here even get that reference.

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We are old

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Just like the Darling family

BearForce said:

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Assassin said:

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BearForce said:

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Assassin said:

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BearForce said:

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That is the seventh UDFA that the #Cowboys have signed that ranked inside Dane Brugler's top 255 players. https://t.co/7IZsOHuL2i

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 30, 2023

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sweet

Cousin of Ernest T Bass?

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It will interesting how many here even get that reference.

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We are old

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Just like the Darling family

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ha!

The #Cowboys are signing former Mississippi State OLB Tyrus Wheat to a deal that includes a $20,000 signing bonus plus $185K salary guarantee, per source.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 29, 2023

Cowboys agreed to terms with versatile ex-Tennessee TE Princeton Fant, person familiar with situation said. He caught 22 passes for 241 yards and three TDs in 2022. Undrafted rookie has cousin in NFL: Seahawks TE Noah Fant. He now joins him.

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) April 29, 2023

#Cowboys signing Temple wide receiver Jose Barbon, per his agent @svanyoesq to @KPRC2

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 30, 2023

The #Cowboys are signing former Mississippi State OLB Tyrus Wheat to a deal that includes a $20,000 signing bonus plus $185K salary guarantee, per source.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 29, 2023

Former Liberty OLB Durrell Johnson is signing with the #Cowboys, per source.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 30, 2023

Assassin said:

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Former Liberty OLB Durrell Johnson is signing with the #Cowboys, per source.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 30, 2023

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The folks on 105.3 were very interested in him late in the draft.

BearForce said:

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Assassin said:

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Former Liberty OLB Durrell Johnson is signing with the #Cowboys, per source.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 30, 2023

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The folks on 105.3 were very interested in him late in the draft.

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Signed lots of LBs

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on possibly trying to re-sign Ezekiel Elliott: “The ship hasn’t sailed there. We haven’t made a decision at all. As far as our interest in Zeke, nothing we did today changes that. I haven’t ruled out Zeke.”

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 29, 2023

Former #LATech CB Myles Brooks (@myles_brooks10) is signing with the #Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, per source.

Led the Bulldogs with 8 PBU last season and has 9 career INT.

— Matt Belinson (@BelinsonMatt) April 30, 2023

From the BYU site, UDFA Signing

D'Angelo Mandell | CB | Dallas Cowboys
Mandell, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback, appeared in 53 games, including 24 starts from 2017 to 2022. He posted 79 total tackles (48 solo). In 2022, Mandell tallied 18 tackles (six solo), a 0.5 tackle-for-loss and a pass breakup. He registered a career-high six tackles against No. 24/25 Oregon.

Mandell started all 13 games in 2021, becoming one of only three defensive players and six players overall to do so. His 2021 campaign included 36 tackles (25 solo, one for loss) and four pass breakups during BYU's 10-3 finish and No. 19 final AP ranking.

Mandell played in eight games in 2020 with one start and in 2019, he had 21 total tackles, including 17 solo stops. He also added two tackles for loss. As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Mandell appeared in all 13 games with four starts at corner.

Head coach Kalani Sitake on Mandell
"He has overcome quite a bit of adversity and has been someone who we can always count on. He has gratitude for every day that he lives and gets to play football, and that carries over into the way he conducts himself on and off the field. He is very athletic and has a lot of speed. He is a tough player, always ready to tackle and strike."

Cornerback coach Jernaro Gilford on D'Angelo Mandell
"He is a player who is going to work hard every single day. He's got the length, speed and is not satisfied with being mediocre. He will put in the work to be his best. Any program would be lucky to have him."

The Mazi Smith weight room stories are Larry Allen legendary. They literally had to call the manufacturer of this machine to add more weight to it so Mazi could do 800 lbs. This is impossible strength.

pic.twitter.com/Kk1CSW6EWq

— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) April 28, 2023

Mel Kiper, ESPN: Grade B

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After another early playoff exit that saw the offense sputter late in the season, the Cowboys fired coordinator Kellen Moore and promoted Brian Schottenheimer. Coach Mike McCarthy will go back to calling the plays, like he did in Green Bay. With tight end Dalton Schultz leaving in free agency and running back Ezekiel Elliott getting cut, Dallas had holes at both positions heading into the draft, and I thought it could address each of them on the first two days.

In Round 1, however, the Cowboys went a different direction, and I have no qualms about it. Mazi Smith (26) is the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in this class, a 323-pounder who will instantly improve their run defense. Their D-line too often last season was blown up at the line of scrimmage, so adding an anchor like Smith will help the entire front seven. If you look at the other NFC East teams, Dallas needed to beef up to stop the run.

I would have taken other tight ends over Luke Schoonmaker (58), but he does have intriguing traits. Tucker Kraft and Brenton Strange were available and higher on my board. Schoonmaker will turn 25 as a rookie, so the question is about how much more room he has to develop. DeMarvion Overshown (90) is one of analyst Louis Riddick's favorites in this class; he can be impressive as a blitzer.

Edge rusher Viliami Fehoko (129) had 23 sacks over the past three seasons; I highlighted him as a potential sleeper in December. Running back Deuce Vaughn (212) is a great player in a 5-foot-5 package. I'd love to see him succeed in Dallas, where his dad is a scout.

There's not much flash in this class, which is not usually how team owner Jerry Jones does things, but I can't knock many of these selections. Dallas did well.

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Forgot about Hankins being part of this draft:

David Moore adds an extra twist, arguing that the Cowboys' use of their draft capital was an unqualified success.

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What the Cowboys did with the capital they had in this draft makes it an unqualified success.
Dallas added a Pro Bowl cornerback and a perennial 1,000-yard receiver with a couple of fifth round picks. A sixth round pick yielded a veteran run stopper. No other team can make that claim.

The acquisitions of Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks must be factored into the assessment of this class. The same goes for defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, who was picked up during last season for a sixth round pick in this draft.

Do that, and an otherwise pedestrian haul for a team coming off consecutive 12-5 seasons takes on a much different look.

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Btb;

Perhaps the prize of this undrafted class is Hunter Luepke. Don't be fooled by the fullback designation next to his name. Luepke is a dynamic piece that has experience playing in several positions. He has played tailback, fullback, and tight end. Luepke compares more closely to Kyle Juszczyk than a traditional fullback and as McCarthy has shown in the past, he knows how to incorporate the fullback into the passing attack.

Assassin said:

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Btb;

Perhaps the prize of this undrafted class is Hunter Luepke. Don't be fooled by the fullback designation next to his name. Luepke is a dynamic piece that has experience playing in several positions. He has played tailback, fullback, and tight end. Luepke compares more closely to Kyle Juszczyk than a traditional fullback and as McCarthy has shown in the past, he knows how to incorporate the fullback into the passing attack.

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Pack your fiddle @HunterLuepke, you're headed back to Texas. @dallascowboys | #ProBison pic.twitter.com/9NS1LT2xEM

— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) April 30, 2023

btb;

In addition to the skill positions, the Cowboys also signed offensive tackle Earl Bostick Jr. who is an athletic offensive talent that was converted from a tight end to an offensive tackle. According to Next Gen Stats, Bostick Jr. had the eighth-best athletic score among offensive tackles at the combine. He has good footwork in pass protection and could compete as a swing tackle in the future. There is some concern about his immediate playing strength and ability to block in the running game, but the team feels good enough about his future to sign him to a guaranteed contract of $200,000.

#Cowboys are looking "more of a veteran kicker" following the 2023 #NFLDraft — Jerry Jones says Dallas had prospects in mind but they went off of the board.

"We didn't get the kicker opportunity we thought we'd have, and we had other priorities [at the time]."

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) April 29, 2023