Reviewing the Cowboys’ rookie performances in 2014
Five of the Cowboys’ nine draft picks got on the field this season. Defensive end Ben Gardner spent the season on injured reserve, and linebacker Will Smith spent time on the practice squad. Two other draft picks, safety Ahmad Dixon and cornerback Terrance Mitchell, were cut before the season began.
Player | Pos. | College | Acquired | Comment |
Zack Martin | OG | Notre Dame | 1st round | The only rookie in the league to make All-Pro. He allowed one sack. |
DeMarcus Lawrence | DE | Boise State | 2nd round | After missing most of the year with a broken foot, he had a sack, a forced fumble and two recoveries in the wild-card game. |
Anthony Hitchens | LB | Iowa | 4th round | He started 11 games, played all three linebacker positions, took 531 defensive snaps and made 100 tackles. |
Devin Street | WR | Pittsburgh | 5th round | He caught two passes for 18 yards, playing 148 offensive snaps and none on special teams. |
Ben Gardner | DE | Stanford | 7th round | He spent the season on injured reserve after undergoing shoulder surgery. |
Will Smith | LB | Texas Tech | 7th round | He spent seven weeks on the practice squad. |
Ken Bishop | NT | Northern Illinois | 7th round | He spent most of the year on the practice squad. But he played 22 snaps at Green Bay and played in three regular-season games. |
Dustin Vaughan | QB | West Texas A&M | Free agent | He made the roster as a developmental quarterback. |
Donald Hawkins | OT | Texas | Free agent | Inactive most of the season, he played one special teams snap this season. |
Keith Smith | LB | San Jose State | Free agent | He played in 10 games, mostly on special teams, after going up and down from the practice squad. |
Tyler Patmon | CB | Oklahoma State | Free agent | He played 71 defensive snaps and 90 special-teams snaps. Returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown vs. Arizona. |
Davon Coleman | DT | Arizona State | Free agent | He played 52 snaps in two regular-season games. |
Chris Boyd | WR | Vanderbilt | Free agent | He spent the past six weeks on the practice squad. |
Chris Whaley | DT | Texas | Free agent | He spent the season on the reserve/non-football injury list. |
This story was originally published January 17, 2015 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Reviewing the Cowboys’ rookie performances in 2014."