Machota: Expect Martin Extension During Training Camp
- The Cowboys are currently rostering quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Kellen Moore (as well as undrafted free agents Cooper Rush and Austin Appleby), leading ESPN.com’s Todd Archer to wonder if the team will pursue another veteran signal-caller. The writer specifically dives into Colin Kaepernick‘s fit with the team, with Archer ultimately concluding that the embattled quarterback would be a solid backup to Prescott. Furthermore, the writer points out that Kaepernick would be a much more attractive choice than the other available veteran quarterbacks, including Robert Griffin III and Zach Mettenberger.
- Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News expects Cowboys offensive guard Zack Martin to sign an extension during training camp, with the writer citing the extension’s signed by Travis Frederick and Tyron Smith. Martin hasn’t missed a regular game since entering the league as a first-rounder in 2014, and he’s been named to three straight Pro Bowls.
[SOURCE LINK]
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/17/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Mikey Bart
- Waived: DT Collin Bevins
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Cornelius Edison
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: G Dan Skipper
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: P Toby Baker
- Waived: T Mason Zandi
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: DT Toby Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Canaan Severin
- Waived: LB Akil Blount, QB Nick Schuessler
Cowboys Could Use Romo Savings On Martin
- The Cowboys will officially gain $14MM in cap space on June 2 when Tony Romo‘s release becomes official, and Dallas could use that savings to ink guard Zack Martin to a long-term extension, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com speculates. Martin, 26, is currently signed through the 2018 season thanks to the Cowboys exercising his fifth-year option, but executive VP Stephen Jones has called a Martin deal a “big priority.” As Archer details, Dallas could conceivably frontload Martin’s next contract in an attempt to fully realize the benefit of quarterback Dak Prescott‘s cheap rookie deal.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/16/17
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Desean Smith
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Darnell Leslie, TE T.J. McFarland
- Waived: C Michael Coe, LB Jeremiah George, T Levon Myers
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Mitchell Paige
- Waived: LB Carlos Fields
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed off waivers: C Austin Blythe (Link via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com), DB Dominique Hatfield
- Waived: LB Folarin Orimolade
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: DL B.J. Dubose
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Matt Galambos, QB Bart Houston (Twitter link via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
- Waived: CB Devonte Johnson, TE Ryan Malleck
Washington Redskins
- Signed: LB Nico Marley (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com)
TE Rico Gathers Could Play Big Role For Cowboys
- Cowboys tight end Rico Gathers earned an incredible $499,990 to play on the team’s practice squad last season. With Jason Witten‘s career winding down, the former sixth-round pick will have an opportunity to play a significant role in the team’s offense this season. “It’s night and day for [Gathers] in a good way from last year,” offensive coordinator Scott Linehan told Matthew Martinez of the Star-Telegram. “When you know what you’re doing and you’ve got your body in football shape, it’s amazing what you can do, and that’s the biggest difference from where he was a year ago until now.”
[SOURCE LINK]
Cowboys LB Rolando McClain Arrested
Rolando McClain was arrested in Georgia today on firearm and drug charges, as Anna Beahm of DecaturDaily.com writes. The Cowboys linebacker was initially pulled over for a window tint violation when he was found with marijuana and a gun that did not have a corresponding permit. McClain is facing charges for second-degree possession of marijuana, carrying a firearm without a permit, and a “misdemeanor equipment violation” stemming from his tinted windows. 
This is yet another sad development in the life and career of McClain. His most recent violation of the league’s substance abuse policy led to the league placing him under indefinite suspension in 2016. Right now, it’s hard to envision him playing for the Cowboys or any other NFL team in the near future.
McClain bounced back from his off-the-field demons in 2014 when he turned in a strong season with Dallas. He followed that up with another solid campaign in 2015 in which he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 28 linebacker. In that suspension-shortened season, McClain recorded 80 total tackles, two sacks, and three pass deflections.
Fun fact: This is McClain’s second known arrest involving illegally tinted windows on his car. He was first cuffed for the offense in January 2013 by Decatur police when he signed his citation as “F— y’all.”
Cowboys Sign 2 Quarterbacks
The Cowboys have added a host of undrafted free agents, including two quarterbacks. Here’s the full list plus some details on the team’s newest signal callers:
- Austin Appleby, QB (Florida)
- Woody Baron, DT (Virginia Tech)
- Brian Brown, WR (Richmond)
- Michael Coe, C (North Dakota)
- Kennan Gilchrist, LB (Appalachian State)
- Blake Jarwin, TE (Oklahoma State)
- Joseph Jones, LB (Northwestern)
- Levon Myers, OT (Northern Illinois)
- Lewis Neal, DE (LSU)
- Cooper Rush, QB (Central Michigan)
- Nate Theaker, G (Wayne State)
- Jahad Thomas, RB (Temple)
- Lucas Wacha, LB (Wyoming)
Appleby started out at Purdue but transferred to Florida for his final collegiate season. In 2016, he threw for ten touchdowns against seven interceptions with a 60.8% completion percentage in his nine games. It probably wasn’t as strong of a showing as he would have liked before shifting his focus to the NFL. Rush, meanwhile, started in all four seasons at Central Michigan and received high praise for his football IQ during the draft process.
Both players will compete for a spot behind Dak Prescott and Kellen Moore. It’s not clear whether the Cowboys want to carry three QBs on the roster, but it helps that the team did not select any QBs in the draft.
Jarwin will received a higher-than-average bonus of $15K, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter).
Cowboys Wanted To Trade Up For Charles Harris
- Before the Cowboys chose Michigan defensive Taco Charlton with the 28th pick in the draft, they spoke with the Ravens about trading up to No. 16 for Missouri DE Charles Harris, reports Charean Williams of the Star Telegram. However, the teams’ discussions died when the Ravens’ target, Alabama cornerback Marlon Humphrey, was still on the board for their pick. Harris ended up going 22nd overall to the Dolphins.
Cowboys Sign Seven Draft Picks
The Cowboys have agreed to pacts with seven draft picks, leaving third-round cornerback Jourdan Lewis as the only member of their nine-rookie class without a contract, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Dallas, which reached a deal with first-round defensive end Taco Charlton on Thursday afternoon, signed this group in the evening:
- Round 2-60: Chidobe Awuzie, CB (Colorado)
- 4-133: Ryan Switzer, WR (North Carolina)
- 6-191: Xavier Woods, S (Louisiana Tech)
- 6-216: Marquez White, CB (Florida State)
- 7-228: Joey Ivie, DT (Florida)
- 7-239: Noah Brown, WR (Ohio State)
- 7-246: Jordan Carrell, DE (Colorado)
Awuzie was reportedly gaining momentum as a potential first-rounder in the weeks leading up to the draft, but he ultimately come off the board late in the second. The four-year starter at Colorado had his most productive seasons from 2015-16, combining for 150 tackles, eight sacks and three interceptions, and should see plenty of playing time as a rookie in Dallas. The Cowboys, who ranked a mediocre-at-best 18th in DVOA against the pass last year, lost cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne to free agency. The club will try to make up for the veterans’ departures with a corner group consisting of Orlando Scandrick, Anthony Brown, Awuzie and Nolan Carroll, among others.
Cowboys, Taco Charlton Agree To Deal
The Cowboys have agreed to a deal with their first-round pick, former Michigan defensive end Taco Charlton, per Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram (Twitter link).
Charlton saw action in all four of his years with the Wolverines, and he was particularly effective last season in racking up personal bests in tackles (40), tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (10). That production helped convince the Cowboys to use the 28th pick on Charlton, who’s set to make over $10MM in guarantees – including $5.43MM-plus via signing bonus – on his rookie contract.
While the Cowboys went an NFC-best 13-3 last year, they did it without an elite pass rush, ranking a decent 13th in sacks and a below-average 26th in quarterback hurries. No one on the team finished with more than six sacks, leading owner Jerry Jones to make it clear early in the offseason that upgrading the pass rush was in order. The Cowboys’ hope is that Charlton will do that, while further defensive help could come from second- and third-round cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis. They’re among eight unsigned Cowboys draft picks, with Charlton being the only member of their class with a contract.