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IRVING, Texas – When the Cowboys hold their rookie mini-camp next week at Valley Ranch, there will be a small group of veterans on hand as well.

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Guard Ronald Leary, who quickly became a Jerry Jones’ favorite last year at this time for more than just the $214,000 he was guaranteed as an undrafted free agent, is among the first-year players to be on the field. Leary spent most of last year on the practice squad before getting called up to the active roster with two games to play. He will have a chance to win a starting job this summer and the early rookie camp work will give him some extra work.

Wide receiver Tim Benford, guard Charlie Bryant, tackle Aderious Simmons, wide receiver Jared Green, quarterback Nick Stephens, long snapper Charley Hughlett, defensive tackle Monte Taylor, defensive end Ikponwmosa Igbinosun and safety Micah Pellerin are also expected to practice next week. This group either finished the year on the practice squad or was signed to futures contracts after the season ended.

Wide receiver Danny Coale, a fifth-round pick last year, is also eligible to practice but will sit out as he continues his rehabilitation from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered late last season. He should be able to take part in the organized team activities and full-team mini-camp in June.

The vets will be joined by the Cowboys’ seven draft picks, 15 undrafted free agents and a handful of tryout players at the three-day camp.

IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys have signed 10 players to futures contracts, including former second-round pick Brian Price, who was out of football this year.

Price, a defensive tackle, was the 35th overall pick by Tampa Bay in 2010 but his career has been stalled by injury and misfortune. He needed radical pelvis surgeries after his rookie year to keep his hamstrings attached to his pelvis. His sister died last spring in a car accident, and he also reportedly had an incident with Mark Barron in a meeting room.

He started 14 games in 2011 and had three sacks. He was traded to Chicago last summer but was among the Bears’ final cuts and did not sign with another team during the year.

Price is an intriguing signing because he is still young and the Cowboys have defensive line issues going forward with Jay Ratliff’s health and Josh Brent’s intoxication manslaughter charge.

The Cowboys also signed practice squad players cornerback Vince Agnew, wide receiver Tim Benford, defensive end Ike Igbinosun, cornerback Micah Pellerin, linebacker Brashton Satele, tight end Andre Smith and linebacker Monte Taylor to future deals. Wide receiver Danny Coale, a fifth-round pick this year, was also re-signed. He is coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The Cowboys also signed quarterback Nick Stephens, a Flower Mound native. He started his career at Tennessee before transferring to Tarleton State.

The only practice squad player not to re-sign yet is wide receiver Andre Holmes