The Dallas Cowboys have signed seven of their eight draft picks ahead of rookie minicamp, which opened Friday.
Second-round selection defensive end Marshawn Kneeland is the only draft pick who has not yet signed his rookie deal. Inside the Star reports that there is still plenty of time for the Cowboys to sign Kneeland.
First-rounder Tyler Guyton signed a contract worth $13.2 million that includes a $6.4 million signing bonus. Guyton will take over as the starting left tackle after Tyron Smith signed with the rival New York Jets in the offseason.
“I was a big Tyron Smith fan my whole life because he plays for my team,” Guyton said, as reported by On3. “He plays for my favorite team, and once I started playing the offensive line position, knowing that he’s one of the best to ever do it, was kind of amazing for me.”
Guyton added that he is excited to play alongside guard Tyler Smith, who was pressed into action at tackle last season due to injuries, but is expected to slide back to his normal spot on the line.
The Cowboys will have another fresh face on the O-line with the signing of Cooper Beebe to try out at center. The team has expressed high hopes for the third-round pick out of Kansas State. Former Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz left in the offseason, signing with another division rival, the Washington Commanders.
“I would say I’m a pretty nasty guy,” Beebe said in a conference call with ESPN after being drafted. “I’m a dude that tries to ‘dirt’ people anytime I can, but I’m also a dude that focuses on technique. I have that kind of mindset that I want to dirt dudes any time I can. So it’s kind of that nasty play style.”
ESPN explains that the term means to shove a defender onto his back. Cowboys fans hope to see Beebe do plenty of that this season, opening gaping running lanes for running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is returning this year, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Linebacker and third-round pick Marist Liufau, fifth-round selection cornerback Caelen Carson, sixth-round receiver Ryan Flournoy, seventh-round offensive tackle Nathan Thomas, and seventh-round defensive tackle Justin Rogers have also signed their rookie deals and will be at The Star in Frisco for a two-day minicamp this weekend.
The minicamp serves more as an introduction for rookie players, a handful of invited tryouts, and free agent signings to get a feel for how the Cowboys run practices. The team will begin off-season organized team activities in mid-June.
