Cowboys show favor to nine undrafted rookie signees with hefty salary guarantees
The Dallas Cowboys are showing favor to nine of their undrafted rookie free-agent signees this offseason. Nine of the 13 undrafted rookies that the Cowboys signed after the 2023 NFL Draft agreed to contracts that include over $100,000 in guaranteed salary.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the high sums of guaranteed money signifies how likely each of those players is to make “at least the practice squad” this year.
Former Kansas offensive tackle Earl Bostick signed a fully-guaranteed deal for $220,000, which includes a $20,000 signing bonus. His figure is the highest among the nine undrafted rookies making over $100,000. Bostick spent six years at the collegiate level and it appears the Cowboys are paying a lot for that experience.
After Bostick, running back Hunter Luepke and edge rusher Tyrus Wheat signed for $180,000 guaranteed. The Cowboys signed five to deals with $140,000 in base salary: Wideouts David Durden and Jalen Moreno-Cropper, offensive lineman T.J. Bass, defensive end Durrell Johnson and cornerback Myles Brooks.
Defensive end Isaiah Land was the final undrafted rookie to sign a six-figure deal. He made it to $100,000 with a $95,000 base salary and a $5,000 signing bonus.
Contract details revealed for Cowboys rookies
The Dallas Cowboys inked all eight of their draftees before rookie minicamp with the official numbers trickling out throughout the week.
Rookie linebacker DeMarvion Overshown signed his four-year deal that’s worth $5.39 million and includes a signing bonus of $920,016, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Breaking down the contract from year to year, Overshown will get $750,000 in 2023, $995,001 in 2024, $1,240,002 in 2025 and $1,485,003 in 2026. Because he is not a first-rounder, his contract does not come with a fifth-year option. However, Dallas can extend or modify his contract after his third season in the league.
Contract numbers for first-round selection Mazi Smith were the first ones out. They revealed the former Michigan defender will receive $13.274 million over four years.
Smith’s deal includes $6.654 million in signing bonus money, dropping his 2023 base salary to $750,000. Following the 2023 season, his salary figures are $1.353 million for 2024, $1.956 million for 2025 and $2.560 million for 2026.
Tight end Luke Schoonmaker, selected No. 58 overall, inked for four years at $6.2 million.
As for the Cowboys’ selections’ salaries from rounds four through seven, they each get $750,000 in year one, $915,000 in year two, $1.03 million in year three and $1.145 million in year four. However, each player had a different signing bonus in their contract. Fourth-round defensive lineman Junior Fehoko‘s signing bonus was $690,000 while seventh-round pick Jalen Brooks got $82,356.