Cowboys take final step in concluding key offseason task ahead of 2024 training camp
The Dallas Cowboys took care of one last early offseason task ahead of July's NFL training camp by signing their eighth and final 2024 NFL draft pick, Marshawn Kneeland, to his rookie deal on Tuesday. Per Spotrac, Kneeland is on tap to earn $6.79 million over his first four seasons with the Cowboys. He also […]
The Dallas Cowboys took care of one last early offseason task ahead of July's NFL training camp by signing their eighth and final 2024 NFL draft pick, Marshawn Kneeland, to his rookie deal on Tuesday.
Per Spotrac, Kneeland is on tap to earn $6.79 million over his first four seasons with the Cowboys. He also gets a $1.75 million signing bonus.
Kneeland makes the jump to the NFL after starting 23 games as an edge rusher for Western Michigan where he racked up a total of 148 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, three passes defensed, and three forced fumbles.
The Cowboys had an obvious need at edge heading into the draft and Kneeland, a small-school guy with huge upside, was someone who they couldn't pass up at 56th overall in the second round of the draft.
"The number one thing about him is the high effort and motor that he plays with," Then to be talented, physically talented enough to play at this level. We noticed him early on," Cowboys' VP of Player Personnel Will McClay said shortly after the draft. [Brett] Maxie is the area scout who brought him to our attention early, and the more you watch him, the more you see NFL traits and the traits that we are looking for on the defensive side; playing hard all the time and having the ability to rush the passer outside and inside. We've talked about it before, as hard as DLaw [DeMarcus Lawrence] played at Boise State, there are some similarities there. That is what we thought about him."
Expectations are high for Kneeland, who is on tap to help fill a huge void on the edge of the defense left by former Cowboys stars Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler.
However, Kneeland believes he has what it takes to make an immediate impact.
"[From me they're getting] violence. Physical, high-motor, high-effort," Kneeland said. "Always find a way to get to the ball."
