The NFL Draft is like a Texas barbecue—everyone fixates on the prime cuts, but the secret sauce is often in the leftovers. For the Dallas Cowboys, a franchise built on star power and swagger, the real magic sometimes comes after the main event. Think of it like Tom Landry’s hat: timeless, understated, but impossible to ignore. While fans dissect first-round picks, Jerry Jones knows championships aren’t just won on Day 1. They’re forged in the grit of overlooked talent and late-night scouting hustle.

This year’s draft wrapped like a John Wayne western—dramatic, unpredictable, and leaving folks hungry for more. The Cowboys made their picks, but the buzz isn’t about who they grabbed early. It’s about who they’re chasing now that the spotlight’s dimmed. Stephen Jones, Jerry’s son and Dallas’ EVP, dropped a clue. He confirmed the Cowboys snagged five undrafted free agents. Including the “top player left on their board after the draft,” per Clarence Hill Jr. Hence, the Cowboys’ UDFA hunt is officially on.

But as of Saturday, the Cowboys locked in nine undrafted free agents (UDFAs), including Syracuse standouts DB Alijah Clark and LB Justin Barron. Clark, a Swiss Army knife in the secondary, boasts combine speed in the 73rd percentile and a knack for special teams…

“I’m comfortable on the field, I ain’t comfortable on the bench,” Clark said, echoing the hunger of past Cowboys UDFA legends like Tony Romo and Terence Steele. Meanwhile, Barron, a two-time team captain, brings linebacker-safety versatility and a Senior Bowl résumé that screams “sleeper hit.”

The Cowboys’ UDFA history is richer than a Texas oil tycoon. This year’s haul—featuring WRs Traeshon Holden (Oregon) and Josh Kelly (Texas Tech)—aims to replicate that magic. But Jerry Jones isn’t just betting on rookies. With Dak Prescott’s window wide open, the 82-year-old owner is eyeing veteran reinforcements. “Jerry Jones said the Cowboys could look at add to the wide receiver room with a veteran,” Todd Archer confirmed on X, hinting at moves beyond the draft.

The Mingo gamble: Jerry Jones’ veteran playbook

Last year’s trade for Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo remains a head-scratcher. Dallas surrendered a 2025 fourth-rounder for a receiver with 60 career catches and zero touchdowns. Mingo can become their WR2, Stephen Jones insisted, but confidence is thinner than Arlington’s patience for playoff exits. The Panthers used Dallas’ pick to grab Georgia RB Trevor Etienne, adding salt to the wound. Meanwhile, Jerry Jones, ever the optimist, sees Mingo as a reclamation project.

Mingoe’s yet to play with Dak due to Prescott’s 2024 injury. But with WRs like Parris Campbell and Jalen Tolbert also vying for snaps, Dallas’ faith feels riskier than a Hail Mary in a hailstorm. The Cowboys’ Day 3 draft strategy—snagging RBs Jaydon Blue (Texas) and Phil Mafah (Clemson)—did little to calm skeptics.

Jerry Jones’ legacy hinges on these calculated gambles. The UDFA class oozes potential, but the veteran WR hunt feels like a tightrope walk over a canyon. As Clark put it: “I can hit like a safety as well. Then I can play corner, play nickel, I can play in the post. I’m a versatile player and they said that will definitely help me get on the 53-man roster.” Will Dallas’ mix of rookie hunger and veteran bets finally end its 30-year title drought? Or is this another season of “next year” promises?

As the great Grantland Rice once said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” Cowboys fans are tired of getting up. They want to stay up. So, Jerry—does this draft finally give them a reason to?