The 2014m NFL Draft is over, and 256 college players have been drafted. They won't all make it on a NFL squad when the season when the season starts, but at least they have a shot at becoming an NFL player. They will get a contract and go to training camp -- and the rest is now up to them. The last player chosen in the draft (dubbed "Mr. Irrelevant") was Memphis safety Lonnie Ballentine, who goes to the Houston Texans.
Dallas seems to have filled some needs by drafting seven players on the last day of the draft (giving them nine players drafted this year). Hopefully several of them will make the team and become important contributors this year. Here are the nine players drafted by the Dallas Cowboys this year:
Round One (16th overall pick)
Zack Martin (Notre Dame)
Offensive Lineman
6' 4" - 308 lbs
Round Two (34th overall pick)
Demarcus Lawrence (Boise State)
Defensive End
6' 3" - 251 lbs
Round Four (119th overall pick)
Anthony Hitchens (Iowa)
Linebacker
6' 0" - 240 lbs
Fifth Round (146th overall pick)
Devin Street (Pittsburgh)
Wide Receiver
6' 3" - 198 lbs
Seventh Round (231st overall pick)
Ben Gardner (Stanford)
Defensive End
6' 4" - 277 lbs
Seventh Round (238th overall pick)
Will Smith (Texas Tech)
Linebacker
6' 2" - 230 lbs
Seventh Round (248th overall pick)
Ahmad Dixon (Baylor)
Safety
6' 0" - 205 lbs
Seventh Round (251st overall pick)
Ken Bishop (Northern Illinois)
Defensive Tackle
6' 0" - 306 lbs
Seventh Round (254th overall pick)
Terrance Mitchell (Oregon)
Cornerback
6' 0" - 190 lbs
Now the Cowboys will try to make sure they better their team by signing some undrafted rookie free agents. Most of them won't make the final team, but every now and then a team can strike gold with an undrafted player -- remember, Tony Romo was not drafted and was signed as a free agent. I'll list these free agents as soon as I know who they are.
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Micheal Sam was drafted in the seventh round (249th overall) by the St. Louis Rams. Sam was an All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year -- and he should have gone much earlier in the draft. But most clubs were afraid to draft him because he is openly gay (and they should all be ashamed of themselves). St. Louis drafted him later than they should have, but at least they gave him a chance. I believe they'll be very happy that they did. Gay or not, he's a very good player.
