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Dallas Cowboys By: Lester Updated 4/22/99 Previous Reports: 3/14/99 Latest News on Free Agency The Cowboys worked out an extension for QB Troy Aikman. The new contract was a 6-year extension that would free up some needed money for the Cowboys. After Aikman signed the new contract, the Cowboys signed C Mark Stepnoski to a 5-year deal. After loosing WR Patrick Jeffers to Carolina, the Cowboys made it official by signing WR Rocket Ismail to a 7 year, $21.5 million contract. They also re-signed FB Daryl "Moose" Johnston. Finally, on draft day morning, the Cowboys signed LB Quentin Coryatt. These resigning allowed the Cowboys to concentrate on selecting the best player in the draft to fill one of their needs. The Draft The Cowboys were set with veterans across the board, but they needed to concentrate on bringing in some quality players that can come in and help immediately. The main target area going into the draft was a WR or LB. Well, they signed Ismail and Coryatt before the draft. With this being done, the Cowboys focused on a DE and got the man they wanted in North Carolina's DE Ebenezer Ekuban. The Cowboys liked what they saw in him enough to trade up 2 spots to pick him with the 20th overall pick in the draft. This was a much needed pick, especially, with Leon Lett failing yet another drug test. Ekuban will be teamed up again with former Tarheel teammate, DE Greg Ellis, who was the Cowboys first pick in last years draft. The Cowboys already addressed their need for a speedy WR with the signing of Ismail. But, they continued to address this need by drafting WR Wayne McGarity and WR MarTay Jenkins. Wayne McGarity is a 5'8'', 194lb WR from Texas who was drafted in the 4th round. He runs the 40 in 4.45 seconds. Jenkins is a 5'11'', 200lb WR from Nebraska-Omaha, who was drafted in the 6th round. He runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds. In the 7th round, they selected TE Mike Lucky from Arizona. Lucky is a 6'6'', 270lb TE who has decent hands and has showed improvement in his blocking. The Cowboys also addressed the need of depth at the offensive line position by drafting OL Solomon Page from West Virginia and OL Kelvin Garmon from Baylor. Page is 6'4'' and weighs 306lbs. He was the Cowboys 2nd round pick. Garmon is 6'2'' and weights 330lbs. He was selected with the Cowboys last pick of the draft in the 7th round. Besides Ekuban, defensively, the Cowboys drafted another DL in Hunnedens "Peppi" Zellner, from Fort Valley State (Georgia). Zellner was selected with the Cowboys 4th pick. He seems to be a good pass rusher. He is 6'5'' and weighs 246lbs. In the 3rd round, the Cowboys selected LB Dat Nguyen, from Texas A&M. Dat is 5'11' and weighs 231lbs. He is not a big LB, but fits perfectly in the Dallas defensive scheme. Draft Grade I give the Dallas Cowboys a (B). I think they did much better in this draft than they have done in the last couple of years. They picked up three quality players in Ekuban, Page and Nguyen. This three should make immediate impacts. The other guys will help them with their depth problem. Especially, with the offensive line and WR.
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