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IRVING, Texas -- Over the last few years, the Cowboys have had draft picks who weren't ready to start practicing come rookie minicamp.

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Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Matt Johnson and Morris Claiborne were just some of the players whose careers were delayed by either post-college surgeries or an early injury in camp.

This class doesn't appear to have those issues, other than running back Joseph Randle, who has a thumb injury. But he will wear a brace and participate in the rookie minicamp in two weeks.

Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said that Randle most likely won't catch any passes but should be fine for training camp.

The Cowboys can't afford to deal with any more injured draft picks. It's one thing to get hurt once you start working for the Cowboys, but it's another having to deal with an injury before turning pro.

The Cowboys front office talked a lot over the weekend about how the seven draft picks could become starters at some point. The pressure on center Travis Frederick is great because of the Cowboys' decision to trade down in the draft and and acquire an extra third-rounder rather than a second-round pick.

The rest of the 2013 class can morph into a starting role in the future, but there's no pressure to do so now. However, becoming major contributors in 2013 is important to the success of the Cowboys.

In order to do that, this class has to remain healthy.

IRVING, Texas – Historically the Cowboys have never shied away from small-school players.

They found Hall of Famers at Fort Valley State (Rayfield Wright) and Sonoma State (Larry Allen) and a Ring of Honor player from Ouachita Baptist (Cliff Harris). You can add Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois) and Miles Austin (Monmouth) to the list of recent small-school successes.

But the recent run on small-school defensive backs has not paid off. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (Indiana, Pa.) never got a footing, and Matt Johnson (Eastern Washington) was not able to get on the field last year. The jury is still out on Johnson, who will have the opportunity to compete for a starting spot this year.

On Friday the Cowboys drafted safety J.J. Wilcox in the third round from Georgia Southern and on Saturday they took William & Mary cornerback B.W. Webb in the fourth round. Wilcox and Webb played in the Senior Bowl and showed they could handle the jump.

“You want to evaluate them against the best competition you can in a game setting,” coach Jason Garrett said. “You probably weigh those games more than others. But again, it is the whole package of evaluation that you are trying to do. Certainly the smaller school guys, almost by definition, have further to go and thus become a little more risky. But if you can get your arms how they played against bigger competition and how they stack up physically, I think you pull the trigger on them if you like the player.”

IRVING, Texas -- On his pre-draft visit with the Cowboys, safety J.J. Wilcox came away enamored with owner and general manager Jerry Jones.

“Mr. Jerry Jones is one of the best general managers and best owners I’ve ever met,” Wilcox said. “He’s calm, collected and energetic. You don’t see that much from an owner. They’re mostly laid back.”

You have to wonder how many owners Wilcox met in the draft process, but there would be a few who would not be as effusive about Jones among the fans.

Thin at safety, the Cowboys are hoping Wilcox can contribute his first year with designs on him starting I the future if not immediately. The team’s other forays into small-school safeties has not gone so well in recent years with Akwaski Owusu-Ansah (Indiana, Pa., fourth round, 2010) and Matt Johnson (Eastern Washington, fourth round, 2012) not contributing.

Wilcox has played one year of safety but caught attention from the Senior Bowl.

“There’s a lot of household names in the NFL from smaller schools,” Wilcox said.

IRVING, Texas – Over the last few years, the Cowboys’ top-30 visitors before the draft have been a good indicator into who they end up selecting.

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Guys like Dez Bryant, Sean Lee, Tyrone Crawford and Matt Johnson, among others, visited Valley Ranch and ended up getting picked by the team.

Here is the list of this year’s invites to keep handy for the next three days:

S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
S Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International
S Eric Reid, LSU
G Chance Warmack, Alabama
RB Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State
RB Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State
DL Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
RB Knile Davis, Arkansas
G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
OL Justin Pugh, Syracuse
DT Kawann Short, Purdue
DT Jordan Hill, Penn State
C Travis Frederick, Wisconsin
S Phillip Thomas, Fresno State
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
LB Sio Moore, Connecticut
LB Gerald Hodges, Penn State
CB B.W Webb, William & Mary
WR Charles Johnson, Grand Valley State
RB Giovani Bernard, North Carolina
OL Kyle Long, Oregon
S J.J. Wilcox, Georgia Southern
LB Brandon Magee, Arizona State
TE D.C. Jefferson, Rutgers
TE Dion Sims, Michigan State
WR Markus Wheaton, Oregon State
S Jakar Hamilton, South Carolina State
DT Bennie Logan, LSU

IRVING, Texas -- With the draft coming up Thursday, believe everything you hear from teams -- including the Cowboys, who held their pre-draft news conference Monday -- at your own peril.

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Galloway & Company discuss Jerry Jones' comments from the Cowboys' pre-draft news conference. Listen

Like this from Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones:

“The good news is we really are in good shape over on the defensive side of the ball where that scheme is.”

If true, Jones is confident the Cowboys don’t need to upgrade their safety spot, where the four players under contract -- Will Allen, Barry Church, Matt Johnson and Danny McCray -- have a combined 47 starts, with 33 coming from Allen.

Allen, a free-agent pickup this offseason from Pittsburgh, started 16 games in a season just once (2006 with Tampa Bay).

Church is coming off a torn Achilles that limited him to three starts last season. McCray was exposed the more he played. Johnson never got on the field as a rookie last year because of injuries.

Jones said the Cowboys’ move to the 4-3 under coordinator Monte Kiffin has influenced the team’s evaluations, including the kind of safeties the Cowboys need.

With a deeper pool of safeties, the Cowboys might not have to use the 18th pick on a safety, but it remains a must-have and not just a need, right?

To help preview who might be on the Dallas Cowboys’ board for the NFL draft, ESPNDallas.com has identified five players at five key positions that we’d like to learn more about. Along those lines, we’ve asked former Cowboys assistant coach Glenn “Stretch” Smith – the official scout of Galloway & Company – to study tape of each player and give his thoughts.

No. 3 safety: Phillip Thomas

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 208 pounds

School: Fresno State

Why he’s on the radar: The Cowboys have newly-signed veteran Will Allen, but they want to get younger at safety. Barry Church made three starts last season before tearing his Achilles tendon. Matt Johnson missed last season because of hamstring injuries, so Allen provides insurance. Drafting another safety will add competition to a position of need.

Projection: Late second early third round

Stretch Truths: This safety plays with nastiness, and he’ll tackle you with force. ... Plays tough in the box. ... Adequate cover skills to play a tight end and backs. ... A concern: He missed the 2011 season after suffering a broken leg and a dislocated ankle during a non-contact drill. ... Adequate in zone coverage, but he lacks start-and-stop cover quickness in man coverage. ... Gets caught cheating on ball fakes; I question his pure speed. But this kid will bloody your nose.

IRVING, Texas – Last week the Cowboys had a private workout with Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro. They saw him again Wednesday at the Longhorns’ pro day in Austin.

Today the Cowboys signed veteran Will Allen to a one-year deal.

So does it relate to Vaccaro or the team’s potential to select a safety early in the draft?

It shouldn’t.

Allen has started 33 games in his first nine seasons. He started seven last year in Pittsburgh during Troy Polamalu’s absence. He has four interceptions and 11 pass breakups in 130 games. He played in Tampa Bay for coordinator Monte Kiffin, so that helps.

But the Cowboys did not sign (or pay) Allen to be a starter. He offers some veteran protection with Barry Church, Matt Johnson and Danny McCray the only safeties on the roster.

The Cowboys are expected to bring Vaccaro in for one of their top-30 visits and also had a private workout with LSU’s Eric Reid. ProFootballTalk reports that Florida International’s Jonathan Cyprien will also make a pre-draft visit to Valley Ranch.

Safety remains very much in play for the Cowboys early in next month’s draft, as it should.

The signing of Allen only gives them some insurance.

To help preview who might be on the Dallas Cowboys’ board for the NFL draft, ESPNDallas.com has identified five players at five key positions that we’d like to learn more about. Along those lines, we’ve asked former Cowboys assistant coach Glenn “Stretch” Smith – the official scout of Galloway & Company – to study tape of each player and give his thoughts.

No. 4 safety: Eric Reid

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 208 pounds

School: LSU

Why he’s on the radar: The Cowboys are thin at safety and if they stick with an offensive or defensive linemen in the first round, then finding a safety who can make plays down the field is a must with a later pick. While the Cowboys do like the play-making ability of Barry Church, he started just three games last season before tearing his Achilles. After the team released veteran Gerald Sensabaugh, it's pushed Matt Johnson, who missed his rookie season with hamstring injuries, into the forefront. The front office is concerned about the safety position, but isn't sure if it can get a good one in the early rounds. Reid could be available on Day 2 of the draft and would fill a major need.

Projection: Late second or early third round

Stretch Truths: Combine stats -- 4.53 40 speed; 40 1/2 inch vertical; 17 reps at 225. ... Long safety with good range. ... Plays both the run and pass well and closes with a flash burst. ... Very aggressive to read and react. ... Gets caught cheating on pump fakes and is over-aggressive to read the quarterback's head. ... I question his natural ball skills, especially when trying to high-point the football. ... Has upside with his physicality.

PHOENIX -- Here are a few thoughts about the Cowboys as we enter the final day of the NFL owners meetings.

Derek Dooley impresses: While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is impressed with his new defensive coaches, he praised new receivers coach Derek Dooley in his chat with reporters Tuesday. Jones said he loves the ideas Dooley brings and says he has a fresh set of eyes for the offense.

"I like the fact Dooley is coming in here with college ideas, been around a lot of that fast-moving college game," Jones said of Dooley, who was fired after three seasons as the head coach of the University of Tennessee. "Jason (Garrett) has a lot of respect for him. He’ll end up having a lot of input in our passing game."

Slot receivers catching Jones' eye: Jones was asked if he regretted letting Danny Amendola go in 2008 when the Cowboys cut the slot receiver and re-signed him to the practice squad. Amendola eventually ended up with the St. Louis Rams and last week signed a five-year, $31 million deal with the New England Patriots to replace Wes Welker.

"No, I just see Welker. I regret Welker," Jones joked.

Jones, however, did praise young receiver Cole Beasley, who is built like Amendola and Welker and has the potential to become a good slot receiver. "Beasley's got some of that," Jones said. "You know Amendola and you know Welker, and he's neither of those two, but he can really create some problems for those guys over on defense. (Tony) Romo thinks a lot of him. He's got a shot for us."

Training camp dates: The Cowboys are still in the process of finalizing the training camp schedule. The veteran minicamp is tentatively scheduled for June 11-13. Training camp would start July 20 in Oxnard, Calif. After three preseason games, the Cowboys would return to Valley Ranch possibly on August 17 or 18, depending on the date of the third preseason game.

Safety working out for Cowboys: University of Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro tweeted he's going to work out for the Cowboys on Wednesday. Vaccaro is projected as the best safety in the draft and, with the Cowboys selecting No. 18 overall, there's a good chance he might be around. The Cowboys currently have Barry Church and Matt Johnson as their starting safeties, but the team is open to bringing in a veteran or drafting a safety. Jones said the Cowboys are not drafting for need, but for best player available.

Paying a franchise quarterback: The Cowboys are in the process of sealing a deal with Romo. Team officials won't go into specifics about how much it would cost, but you could assume Romo's new contract will average between $15 million to $18 million a season. It's a steep price at one position. Just ask the Baltimore Ravens, who signed quarterback Joe Flacco to a six-year deal for $120 million. "I’d say it’s a good problem to have," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "It’s the problem everybody wants to have. When you’ve got the young quarterback and you just drafted them and he’s playing well ... When you look at some of the teams that have the young quarterbacks, their cap situation is really good because they’ve got a player for a couple years that’s not going to be making top dollar. But you get to the fifth year of that contract and now it’s time for some of those things to change. We’re very willing to do what we need to do. It’s the nature of the league to have a quarterback like Joe Flacco."

PHOENIX -- As of today, the Dallas Cowboys' starting safeties are Barry Church, who is coming off a torn Achilles, and Matt Johnson, who didn't play a down his rookie season because of hamstring injuries.

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When the Cowboys released Gerald Sensabaugh, it pushed Church, who had four career starts in his NFL career before suffering the season-ending injury, and Johnson to the forefront.

It's not an ideal situation for the Cowboys and it's a concern as they head into the draft and this free-agency period. The Cowboys don't have enough room under the salary cap to sign a veteran safety, although it's something that could happen down the line, and the draft is an unknown because you're not sure if the player you want will be available.

"We think our two starters probably are on our team," team executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday. "We may get some insurance there, just like we did with Ernie (Sims), and then of course we’re going to draft. We’ve got some players to draft and college free agents to get, but we do think our two young guys could start for us."

Church beat out veteran Brodney Pool in the early stages of training camp to win one of the safety positions. The team drafted Johnson in the fourth round because of his playmaking ability. Johnson's health was a constant issue from the moment he was signed. When he finally did practice, brief thought it was, he impressed the Cowboys' coaches.

At the end of the season, Johnson said he was healthy enough to practice if the Cowboys' season had extended to the postseason.

The issues for the Cowboys is when and if Church will be ready to fully practice with the team and whether Johnson can remain healthy.

"That’s why we’re going to have to have insurance at the end of the day," Jones said. "But we really liked what we saw and think (Johnson) could be that guy for us. Obviously we think a lot about Church, but he’s coming off injury. It’s not perfect, but other teams have to hang out places too with their cap situations. That’s where we are with it. At some point it wouldn’t surprise me if we end up with a veteran safety, if not one in the draft, as well, somewhere. That doesn’t mean we take one out of need, but if we see one at the right place, right time, and he fits well where it is, you’ve got to look at it."

To help preview who might be on the Dallas Cowboys' board for the NFL draft, ESPNDallas.com has identified five players at five key positions that we’d like to learn more about. Along those lines, we’ve asked former Cowboys assistant coach Glenn “Stretch” Smith – the official scout of Galloway & Company – to study tape of each player and give his thoughts.

No. 5 safety: Jonathan Cyprien

Position: Strong safety

Height/weight: 6-foot, 217 pounds

School: Florida International

Why he's on the radar: The Cowboys released Gerald Sensabaugh for salary cap space and because he doesn't make enough plays on the ball. Cyprien impressed several NFL teams with his work at the Senior Bowl and his pro day. The Cowboys need a physical safety to pair with Barry Church in 2013 and Cyprien could be a nice find. He led Florida International with 93 tackles and had four interceptions last season. Durability isn't an issue; he didn't miss a game in three seasons. Cowboys safeties Matt Johnson Danny McCray and Church all battled injuries last season.

Projection: Second round

Stretch Truths: Good in-the-box safety who provides run support, is physical, will run and hit. ... Can punch and shed receiver blocks. ... The downside to this kid is that I don't see a burst to cover the deep half. Definitely not a single-high safety. ... Question his smarts to read and recognize route concepts. Definitely not a man-cover safety.

PHOENIX -- Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team is continuing its discussions with quarterback Tony Romo on a contract extension and that he believes they will eventually reach an agreement. Jones acknowledged it would be nice to reduce Romo's very high 2013 salary-cap cost, but he did not indicate any particular deadline or hurry for reaching a deal.

"There's never really a start or stop time with Tony," Jones said in the lobby of the Arizona Biltmore. "I do think it will get done."

The Cowboys would like to lock up Romo long-term before his contract expires at the end of the 2013 season. Reducing this year's cap cost by spreading out signing-bonus money from a new deal over future years would be one benefit of that, but that's not the sole motivation. The Cowboys like and believe in Romo as their starting quarterback and want him around for a long time. Asked which was a higher priority, Romo's new deal or a new long-term deal for defensive end Anthony Spencer, Jones didn't hesitate.

"Tony's," he said. "Quarterbacks take precedence."

Jones didn't make much of the extent to which the team's salary-cap concerns have limited its ability to maneuver this offseason -- even as he revealed that the team had re-signed linebacker Ernie Sims to a veteran minimum deal and was down to "five figures'" worth of cap space.

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"We were never going to be big players in free agency this year," Jones said. "We played there last year, and we felt like we did some good things, and we've got to see what the end results are. A big focus for us is on this draft. We need to draft well."

They do, indeed. Jones said he thinks that offensive linemen such as Nate Livings, Mackenzy Bernadeau and Doug Free will play better in 2013 than they did in '12. And he said the team thinks it has its two starting safeties already on on the roster, citing Barry Church and Matt Johnson. He acknowledged that the Cowboys can't count on Johnson, who was a midround pick last year and missed the whole season due to injuries, and he said he wouldn't be surprised if they added a veteran safety. But the draft is the Cowboys' only significant means of filling the holes on their roster right now, and they need to find 2013 starters in the early rounds. Especially on the offensive line.

In terms of line specifics, Jones said no decision has been made on Free, who would save the team $7 million in salary-cap space as of June 1 if cut.

"I think he improved last year," Jones said of the Cowboys right tackle. "Obviously, toward the end of the year, when the competition got going there, he played some of his best games."

I still think they'll upgrade at tackle, but since they don't know for sure whether they'll be able to do that with their first-round pick -- and since they can't get the savings until June anyway -- it makes sense for the Cowboys to hold on to Free for now and delay their decision until they know who his replacement will be.

The good people at ESPN Stats and Information broke down several key areas the Cowboys need to fix this offseason, whether it's through the draft or during the free-agency period that begins today.

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The Cowboys lost two players to injury along the defensive line last season -- Jay Ratliff and Kenyon Coleman.

According to Stats and Information, the Cowboys' defensive line was one of the NFL's most unproductive units in 2012. It finished 30th in sacks (7.5) and tied for last in batted passes (two) and tackles for loss (five).

The Cowboys are moving to a 4-3 defensive alignment with the hopes of boosting the pass rush under new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Ratliff is moving from nose tackle to defensive tackle and Jason Hatcher will move from end to tackle. The Cowboys will convert outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer to end. The duo combined for 22.5 sacks and 59 quarterback pressures last season.

Safety is another position that needs improving, especially after the team released Gerald Sensabaugh. Barry Church, coming off a torn Achilles' tendon, is one starter. The Cowboys could opt for Matt Johnson, Danny McCray or a draft pick to start alongside him.

Last season, according to Stats and Information, the Cowboys' safeties combined for only eight pass breakups and one interception, tied for 29th in the NFL. Under Kiffin's defense, the Cowboys are expected to get more pressure on the quarterback which, in theory, allows for more forced throws. That should help create turnovers, especially in the deep secondary.

Getting younger at the position in 2013 might also help in creating turnovers.

Fixing the defensive line and safety position whether it's in the draft or free agency, are just two of the keys for the Cowboys in 2013.

IRVING, Texas – Having signed Phil Costa to a two-year deal last week, the Cowboys made a tender offer of $1.323 million Friday to safety Danny McCray, their only restricted free agent.

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The Cowboys will have the right to match an offer to McCray but would not receive any compensation if he were to leave.

McCray has been the Cowboys’ best special-teams player the last three seasons and finished second on the team with 18 special-teams tackles in 2012. McCray started 10 games at safety because of injuries and finished second on the team with 87 tackles and had five pass breakups, but his playing time decreased later in the season.

Safety is a position of need after the Cowboys cut their other starting safety last season, Gerald Sensabaugh. The only safeties signed for 2013 are Barry Church, who is coming off a torn Achilles, and Matt Johnson, who did not play in a game as a rookie because of hamstring injuries. McCray is a restricted free agent while Eric Frampton and Charlie Peprah are set to be unrestricted free agents.

The Cowboys will not tender an offer to defensive lineman Brian Schaefering, an exclusive rights free agent who signed late last season. Linebacker Orie Lemon is also an exclusive rights free agent.

IRVING, Texas – After the Cowboys released Gerald Sensabaugh on Monday, I wrote that the move was risky, considering the Cowboys do not have a known commodity currently under contract.

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After checking out the comments section, I soon realized Sensabaugh was the worst safety in NFL history and was responsible for the current sequester. Maybe I’m stubborn, but I believe Sensabaugh is solid. Great? No. Good enough? Sure.

Another reason why the move is risky is that the Cowboys have not been able to find a long-term safety since Darren Woodson.

And everybody believes the Cowboys struggle to identify quality offensive linemen?

Roy Williams had a good run for a few years but then tailed off badly. Ken Hamlin had one good season with the Cowboys, signed a big contract and then didn’t seem to like playing much again. Keith Davis was a special teamer turned starter out of necessity. At the prices the Cowboys paid Sensabaugh, I think they did OK with him for four years. Abram Elam lasted one season as a starter, which is better than Brodney Pool, who didn’t last a week in training camp.

(UPDATE: The original version forgot Lynn Scott, an undrafted player in 2001 that the Cowboys had hopes for early.)

Since 2001, the Cowboys have drafted nine safeties and the best has been Williams, and he was the eighth overall pick in 2002. People will remind you that Ed Reed is a Hall of Famer and went later to Baltimore. Tony Dixon (second, 2001) never panned out. Justin Beriault (sixth, 2006) was hurt and never played.

Pat Watkins (fifth, 2006) was tall and an OK special teamer. Alan Ball (seventh, 2007) was drafted as a corner, became a forgettable starter at safety and moved back to cornerback. Mike Hamlin and DeAngelo Smith were fifth-rounders in the forgettable 2009 draft and didn’t make an impact. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (fourth, 2010) was hurt when drafted, came from a small school and made switch from corner to safety – and never made an impact.

Barry Church and Danny McCray were undrafted players in 2010 that have made an impact. But Church, as close to an incumbent the Cowboys have at the position, is coming off an Achilles tear, and McCray showed he’s a special-teamer with the more work he got on defense last season.

Matt Johnson was a fourth-round pick last year and never played a snap because of recurring hamstring injuries. Judgment should be withheld until he actually gets on the field, but let’s just say history is not on his side.

The Cowboys needed to look at the safety spot before Sensabaugh’s release and now they must really look at it.

But do you trust they will find the right safety even in a draft that is considered rich at the position?