Teams are starting to sign their draft picks to contracts, but it will be a while before we get any reports of that kind out of Dallas.
The Cowboys won’t be signing any of their draftees until after June 1, according to a report from Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The issue is cap space, something that the Cowboys won’t have enough of until after that date because of the decision to cut Terence Newman. While Newman was released two months ago, it went on the books as a June 1 cut and that means the Cowboys don’t get $6 million of related cap relief until that date.
As of now, the Cowboys have about $2.14 million in cap space. They need roughly $5.7 million to sign their draft picks so the Newman money is crucial to the cause. Most of it will wind up going to first-round pick Morris Claiborne, whose addition could wind up forcing another cornerback, Mike Jenkins, off the roster.
Per Williams, the cap squeeze is also keeping the Cowboys from getting involved in the chase for wide receiver/kick returner Jacoby Jones. He could potentially help the offense and the special teams, but the Cowboys need the money for other players.