IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys know full well the search for rookie talent doesn't end with the NFL Draft.
The team's roster is filled with key contributors who signed as undrafted rookies: Tony Romo, Barry Church, Cole Beasley, Dan Bailey, Lance Dunbar, Jeff Heath and Ron Leary.
This year, the Cowboys expect to sign about 15 undrafted free agents leading into this week's three-day rookie minicamp that begins Friday.
A finalized list of signings will be announced by the team this week, but several names already have filtered out in reports as having agreed to terms:
-Chris Brown, WR, Notre Dame
-Rodney Coe, DT, Akron
-Andy Jones, WR, Jacksonville
-Rolan Milligan, S, Toledo
-Arjen Colquhoun, CB, Michigan State
-David Hedelin, OT, Purdue
-Jake Brendel, C, UCLA
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett has said many times it doesn't matter whether players on the roster are drafted or not – they'll get an opportunity to earn playing time. Last year, La'el Collins and Lucky Whitehead made the 53-man roster as rookie free agents.
This year's group of undrafted rookies will join the Cowboys' nine-man 2016 draft class: Ezekiel Elliott, Jaylon Smith, Maliek Collins, Charles Tapper, Dak Prescott, Anthony Brown, Kavon Frazier, Darius Jackson and Rico Gathers. Smith, the team's second-round linebacker at Butkus Award winner at Notre Dame, is still recovering from the knee injury he suffered in the Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl.
