IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys signed rookie defensive end Randy Gregory on Wednesday afternoon, making him the fifth of their eight 2015 draft picks to sign on.
Gregory was widely-regarded as a first-round talent entering the 2015 NFL Draft on April 30, and he was given some consideration for the Cowboys' No. 27 overall pick. He fell to No. 60 overall, however, and Dallas was elated to add him to a draft class that included first-round pick Byron Jones.
The terms of Gregory's deal haven't been disclosed, but the rookie wage scale implemented in the latest NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement essentially slots a player's salary based on their draft standing. The No. 60 pick in 2014, Carolina's Kony Ealy, received a four-year deal worth $3.5 million along with a $1.25 million guarantee. The No. 60 pick in 2013, Atlanta's Robert Alford, received a four-year deal worth $3.4 million and a $1.10 million guarantee.
It's safe to say Gregory's deal is somewhere in that ballpark.
With Gregory officially under contract, the focus now turns to production. The 6-5, 245-pound pass rusher drew headlines for failed drug tests during the pre-draft process, but he also tallied 17.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss during his two seasons at Nebraska.
The hope is that Gregory, along with 2014 second-round pick DeMarcus Lawrence and veteran Jeremy Mincey, can help offset the absence of Pro Bowler Greg Hardy, who is currently appealing a 10-game suspension from the league.
The Cowboys have yet to sign fourth-round pick Damien Wilson, third-round pick Chaz Green and Jones, though it's a safe bet those three deals are coming in the near future.
