Cowboys rookies ink $90M Friday, why it only used $4.4M in cap space
The Cowboys brought the majority of their draft class under contract Friday, but it doesn't cost them nearly as much as it appears.
There was a time when the Dallas Cowboys waited until just before training camp to present their rookies with contract offers. Then, there was a period they'd wait until after the rookie minicamp to complete the deals. But now, the Cowboys are signing their draft picks when they first get their hands on them.
On Friday, the Cowboys agreed to terms with six of their seven picks from the 2026 NFL draft, signing all but their second, first-round pick Malachi Lawrence. The six deals totaled a whopping $56. 6 million in total contract value, which combined with their non-pick rookie class totaled around $90 million worth of deals.
The contracts of today are much easier to settle on, thanks to the 2011 CBA. Each draft slot has a set amount of a signing bonus on top of the minimum salaries for each season; each NFL team has a rookie pool based on the placement of their picks . Safety Caleb Downs: $28.
95 million deal | 2026 Cap Hit: $5. 26 million Jaishawn Barham: $6. 815 million | 2026 Cap Hit: $1.