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At the end of last year's NFL draft, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones announced the signing of undrafted free agent guard Ronald Leary from Memphis. The Cowboys guaranteed $214,000 to Leary with the hope he would make the 53-man roster out of camp.

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Leary didn't, instead playing on the practice squad for the bulk of the season until the Cowboys had to promote him to the 53-man roster after the Oakland Raiders put in a claim for him.

Leary improved as the season progressed and again has a shot to make the 53-man roster in 2013.

Fast-forward to this year when the Cowboys signed undrafted linebacker Brandon Magee over the weekend. Magee received a $70,000 signing bonus, more than any seventh-round pick from last year's draft.

The Cowboys were interested in drafting Magee in the middle rounds, but his size (5-foot-11, 229 pounds) and health (he injured his elbow in Arizona State's bowl game) made selecting him a risky proposition. However, the Cowboys were impressed with his 113 total tackles last season at Arizona State, which earned him second-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Magee is completely healthy, according to his agent, Blake Baratz, and looking forward to next week's rookie minicamp.

The Cowboys project Magee as a strongside or weakside linebacker because of his speed (4.68-second 40-yard dash at Arizona State's pro day) and ability to make plays on the ball.

Some NFL teams were a little scared off by Magee's baseball ambitions. The Boston Red Sox own his rights, but Magee's desire is to play in the NFL.

The Cowboys are looking for good fits in Monte Kiffin's 4-3 defense, and once they find someone, Jones will make sure he spends the money to grab him, much like he did with Leary.

This year's pet project, if you will, is Magee, who will have to play well on special teams and on the defense with the backup units to make the roster.

IRVING, Texas – Over the years the Cowboys have excelled in landing undrafted free agents that make the 53-man roster, so it stands to reason a few of the 15 signings will make the club in 2013.

Last year, Cole Beasley, Ronald Leary and Ben Bass spent time on the active roster.

Here is the up-to-date list:

LB Brandon Magee, Arizona State
QB Dalton Williams, Akron
S Jakar Hamilton, South Carolina State
RB Kendial Lawrence, Missouri
CB Devin Smith, Wisconsin
CB Dustin Harris, Texas A&M
LB Cameron Lawrence, Mississippi State
WR Greg Herd, Eastern Washington
FB Paul Freedman, Virginia
LB Tank Reed, SMU
DB Jeff Heath, Saginaw Valley State
K Spencer Benton, Clemson
WR Eric Rogers, Cal Lutheran
CB Xavier Brewer, Clemson
LB Deon Lacey, West Alabama

Interesting to note the Cowboys did not sign an offensive lineman. Perhaps some could come in on a tryout basis for the May 10-12 rookie mini-camp. One tryout player, who is expected to sign is tight end B.J. Stewart from Cumberland.

The Dallas Cowboys signed guard Mackenzy Bernadau to a four-year $11 million deal last season with the goal of upgrading the interior of the offensive line.

One problem.

Bernadeau has undergone three surgeries since his arrival in Dallas, including one this offseason on his shoulder.

"It’s disappointing that Mackenzy has been hurt as much as he’s been," coach Jason Garrett said this week from the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix. "Since he got here, he was hurt all through the off-season last year, April, May, June, July, into August. He did a good job overcoming all of that and coming into a new system of football and becoming a contributing player for us."

A big issue for the Cowboys regarding Bernadeau is his play. He didn't get benched during the season, but shared first-team snaps in practice with Derrick Dockery because of his lackluster play.

Bernadeau started at center due to injuries to Ryan Cook, and improved his play as the season progressed. Moving forward, with young guards on the roster such as Ronald Leary and David Arkin, and the possibility of drafting a guard in the draft, can Bernadeau maintain his status as a starter.

"I think what we saw with him over the course of the season was he got better," Garrett said. "I think a lot of that had to do with just being in our system and understanding what we’re asking him to do. He dealt with some injuries during the year as well. He’s been dealing with some things over the last year or so, deal with an injury this off-season too. Certainly you’d rather have him on the field. But having a year under his belt certainly will help him. We think he’ll get better as a result of that."

The Cowboys liked the progress of Leary who got better in practices as a practice squad player and was moved to the active roster when another NFL team tried to sign him. Kevin Kowalski, who also battled injuries, is another player the Cowboys have some value in.

"We do have some young players we’d like to make sure we give them a chance to contribute and compete." Garrett said. "We drafted Arkin a couple years ago, he did a really good job of being a jack of all trades through training camp last year. (He) never played center before and did play a lot of that during camp and pre-season. We feel like this is a really important year for him to step up and be someone who contributes to our football team. Ron Leary made great strides during the season as well. We feel good about a couple of young guys who might possibly come in and compete for those spots along with the veteran players we do have."

If you want to talk about any offensive linemen who needs to play better, yes, you can talk about right tackle Doug Free, but Bernadeau is also high on that list.

This is third in a 10-part series breaking down the Cowboys' free-agency needs, position by position:

Centers/Guards

Who’s on the roster: G-David Arkin, G-Mackenzy Bernadeau, G-Ray Dominguez, G-Kevin Kowalski, G-Ronald Leary, G-Nate Livings, C-Ryan Cook, C-Phil Costa.

Analysis: The Cowboys signed Costa to a two-year deal and, at least for right now, he's the projected starter for 2013. Kowalski and Bernadeau can also play center, which gives the Cowboys position flexibility. The guard position has veterans Bernadeau and Livings, but Leary impressed the coaches as the season progressed, and he'll push to make the active roster this season. It's probably time to see if Arkin and Kowalski can prove to the coaches and scouts that they can play in this league. Both won't replace Livings or Bernadeau, however, and the Cowboys do need quality backups in the interior.

NFL free agents of interest: G-Derrick Dockery, G-Brandon Moore, G-Donald Thomas, G-Kevin Boothe, C-Jeff Faine.

Need meter: 4. The Cowboys might get a guard in the draft, which could push Arkin or Kowalski off the roster. What's left of the roster in the interior needs to improve badly. The Cowboys will most likely pass on Dockery, who filled in when needed last year. Thomas is an interesting pickup and should challenge for a starting job if given an opportunity. Faine had some injury problems last season, but he is a veteran who could provide security if there are problems with Costa and Cook.

INDIANAPOLIS – As a former offensive lineman, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones knows the offensive line has to play better in 2013 for his team to win more games.

Where the improvement comes from is up for debate.

On Saturday Jones mentioned the possibility of getting better through free agency and the draft along the line but he was not ready to dismiss in-house improvement either.

“We do need to have improvement there, but I think we can get that offensive line with some of the stuff we’re going to do with our offense and coaching,” Jones said. “I think we can get that offensive line with a better report card here this time next year.”

Left tackle Tyron Smith is Jones’ only sure bet, but he liked what he saw at the end of the year from Doug Free and Jermey Parnell. Jones acknowledged the Cowboys “need more,” from free-agent pickups Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau in 2013, and he could see center Phil Costa as the starter “for several years.”

He also touted the futures of Kevin Kowalski and Ronald Leary.

“Now does that make you sleep at night because you know you need depth? We might be talking about your depth there when I’m really alluding two five or six guys, which could be your starters,” Jones said. “I think we’ve got a chance to have a plus from a couple of these young guys, and we’re very likely, through a combination of free agency or this draft to get serious about another guard-center type there.”

Bernadeau started two games at center in 2012 when Ryan Cook was out with a knee injury and Costa was out with an ankle injury that led to him being placed on injured reserve. Costa had surgery and is a restricted free agent. Cook is also signed through 2013.

“A player could get us in better shape than a player ought to relative to what our offensive line is right here,” Jones said. “But again Bill Callahan, I agree with him when he saw more positive and on the come as the year went on as he instituted his coaching. It did make a change and he did do it differently. There was an adjustment.”

Ronald Leary

Position: Offensive guard

How acquired: Undrafted free agent, Memphis

What he did: Ronald Leary impressed the coaches in training camp after a slow start. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan said he could see Leary improve every day in practice with his strength and his overall knowledge of the game. Callahan said Leary is the type of player who needed to play against a better level of competition to get better. The Cowboys' goal was to keep Leary on the practice squad for the season, but the Oakland Raiders claimed him and Dallas blocked the move by promoting him to the active roster on Dec. 22. He was inactive for the last two weeks of the regular season.

Where he fits in the future: When Leary was signed there was concern about a chronic knee problem, but the Cowboys' doctors determined it wouldn't be a problem in the short term. With Leary getting better and with the inconsistency of the interior of the offensive line in 2012, there is a chance he could compete for a starting job. At this stage, with the NFL draft months away, it appears he does have a future with the Cowboys.

Our five-part series on what went right and what went wrong for the Cowboys continues with No. 4:

The Cowboys' offensive line problems started in training camp, when center Phil Costa struggled with his snaps and then his health. He lasted just three snaps into the season opener and was replaced by Ryan Cook.

As the season progressed, the Cowboys used three centers and four lineups.

In the first meeting with the Washington Redskins, the Cowboys missed left tackle Tyron Smith and Cook, and moved guard Mackenzy Bernadeau to center.

In the last four weeks of the regular season, right tackle Doug Free shared his starting spot with Jermey Parnell, and quarteback Tony Romo was moving around the pocket looking for time in the regular-season finale against the Redskins.

The Cowboys spent more than $30 million on two free-agent guards, Nate Livings and Bernadeau, and still had problems along the line.

Costa never finished the season, undergoing surgery to repair ligament damage to his ankle. Free's status with the team is in doubt because of his inconsistent play. Smith played uneven, though his future looks bright.

Penalties hurt this offensive line more than anything. The Cowboys led the NFL with 27 false start/offside penalties. Free led the league in total penalties for an offensive linemen with 14 and in false starts with eight.

Smith wasn't much better. He finished tied for second in the NFL with seven false starts.

The Cowboys tried to get younger along the offensive line this season but nearly benched two starters, Bernadeau and Free. The run game had its worst numbers during a 16-game season in franchise history with 1,265 yards.

There is hope in the future of guard Ronald Leary and Kevin Kowalski, and if Parnell takes over at right tackle full time in 2013 things could get better.

LANDOVER, Md. – The Cowboys de-activated running back Phillip Tanner in favor of linebacker Kyle Wilber for Sunday’s season finale against Washington.

Tanner was active last week vs. New Orleans in favor of Wilber, but with injuries to DeMarcus Ware (elbow, shoulder) and Victor Butler (groin), the Cowboys went with the extra outside linebacker.

Offensive linemen Ronald Leary, Darrion Weems, Kevin Kowalski and David Arkin are also inactive along with defensive lineman Robert Callaway and nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who is recovering from sports hernia surgery.

IRVING, Texas – Figuring out five inactive players for Sunday’s game at Washington is pretty easy: David Arkin, Kevin Kowalski, Ronald Leary, Darrion Weems and Jay Ratliff.

As we ponder the final 46-man roster of the season, coming up with the final two can be tricky.

Last week the Cowboys kept Kyle Wilber and Robert Callaway out with the New Orleans bringing a high-flying passing game. The Redskins are the best running team in the NFL, so they might want to go with fewer skill players, like receivers and cornerbacks.

Wide receiver Cole Beasley did not play a snap last week vs. the Saints, so the Cowboys might go with four wide receivers this week. With injuries to DeMarcus Ware and Victor Butler, the Cowboys might need Wilber to be active as an emergency.

To get Callaway, who missed Wednesday’s practice because of a cancelled flight, on the field, the Cowboys could go with four running backs with Phillip Tanner as the odd-man out. But then the special teams unit takes a hit. Can the Cowboys dress nine defensive backs? Maybe.

The guesses on the final two inactives: Callaway and Tanner.

We have some random thoughts following the Cowboys' 34-31 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday and heading into the regular-season finale:

1. Last weekend, the Cowboys prevented another NFL team from signing guard Ronald Leary off their practice squad roster. Leary was elevated to the active roster and while he was inactive for the Saints game Sunday this moves tells you plenty about his future. The Cowboys value Leary because of his progression at guard. He came in with concerns about his knee, which doesn't seem to be an issue right now. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan said Leary has gotten better from when he first arrived at Valley Ranch as an undrafted free agent from Memphis. If the Cowboys want to go in another direction at center -- Phil Costa endured health problems in 2012 -- maybe Mackenzy Bernadeau moves from right guard in 2013. Leary could compete for that spot along with Kevin Kowalski. Of course this all changes should the Cowboys draft a center. Given the money spent in free agency on Nate Livings and Bernadeau this past offseason, at least $30 million combined, it's doubtful if the Cowboys want another free-agent guard. Maybe Leary is the answer.

2. DeMarcus Ware most likely will make his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl when the NFC team is announced this week. The 2012 season hasn't been one of Ware's better ones. Hamstring, neck, elbow and shoulder problems have hurt his ability to rush the passer at times. He's still a dangerous man on the field, and he will get doubled from time to time, but opponents are noticing Ware's struggles. He was asked how he felt following Sunday's loss to the Saints and said, "like (expletive)." Ware is tied for seventh in the NFL with 11.5 sacks and combines with Anthony Spencer's 10 to form a solid duo for the Cowboys. But if Ware's health hadn't bothered him this season, the sack and most likely the pressure totals would be higher.

3. What makes the Saints game a difficult one to deal with from a defensive standpoint is the lack of pressures on Drew Brees (two hurries and zero sacks) and the zero turnovers. Out of 13 offensive possessions, the Saints scored six times and missed a 36-yard field goal. So in essence that's seven potential scoring drives the Cowboys defense allowed. Yes, the Cowboys are dealing with injuries on defense but at some point players need to make plays for Rob Ryan. One thing cornerback Mike Jenkins said after the loss was that players, especially the new ones, understand the scheme but are thinking too much and not playing on instinct. It seems the veteran players such as Dan Connor, Ernie Sims, Brady Poppinga and Charlie Peprah know what to do within the scheme, but injuries and Ryan's mixing and matching are messing things up right now. The Cowboys have just one game to solve these problems.

To make room for guard Ronald Leary, the Cowboys released wide receiver Anthony Armstrong on Saturday morning.

The Cowboys moved Leary from the practice squad to the 53-man roster because another team wanted to sign him. To protect Leary, whom the Cowboys value, they had to make this move.

It's doubtful Leary will be active Sunday when the Cowboys face the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys now have 11 offensive linemen on their 53-man roster.

IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys will call up rookie guard Ronald Leary from the practice squad after another team attempted to sign him to its 53-man roster.

Leary signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent and was guaranteed $214,000, the most money across the league for a non-drafted player. He became a favorite of owner and general manager Jerry Jones and was working with the first-team line during training camp in part because of injury.

Leary has been on the practice squad all season.

To make room for Leary the Cowboys will have to make a roster move.

The team remains reluctant to put nose tackle Jay Ratliff on injured reserve despite the fact that he will not play again in the regular season because of sports hernia surgery. Ratliff could possibly return for a playoff game but was given a 3-6 week rehab time from when he had the surgery last week.

When Leary gets called up the Cowboys will have 11 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster.

The Cowboys released defensive tackle Robert Rose from the practice squad on Tuesday.

Rose, 6-4, 291 pounds, was signed last week.

The Cowboys have seven players on the practice squad: Wide receiver Andre Holmes, wide receiver Tim Benford, cornerback Vince Agnew, safety Micah Pellerin, linebacker Brashton Satele, guard Ronald Leary and tight end Andrew Smith.

NFL teams can have a maximum of eight players on a practice squad.

Update: The Cowboys signed 6-4, 288 pound defensive end Ike Igbinosun to fill the vacant practice squad spot Tuesday afternoon. He was with the Pittsburgh Steelers in training camp until he was released on Aug. 31.

And don't think Igbinosun's first name is Ike. It's Ikponmwosa.

IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys lost a second player from their practice squad in as many weeks to another team when Chicago signed linebacker Jerry Franklin.

Last week Oakland added running back Jamize Olawale.

Franklin joined the Cowboys practice squad on Nov. 14. He went to training camp with Denver and was on Carolina’s practice squad before coming to Dallas.

With the death of Jerry Brown, the call up of Robert Callaway and the departures of Olawale and Franklin, the Cowboys have only four players on the practice squad: Tim Benford, Andre Holmes, Reggie Jones and Ronald Leary.

IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys signed tight end Chase Ford to the practice squad on Wednesday afternoon.

Ford signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted rookie from Miami. After getting released prior to the start of the regular season he was re-signed to the Eagles practice squad but was released on Sept. 11.

Here is the Cowboys practice squad roster: WR Tim Benford, LB Jerry Brown, DT Robert Callaway, LB Jerry Franklin, WR Andre Holmes, CB Reggie Jones, G Ronald Leary and Ford.