The Dallas Cowboys starting of organized team activities (OTA’s) on Tuesday wasn’t the only exciting news. They also decided to make a roster move and signed the former SMU Mustang defensive end, Zach Wood.
Of course, in order to add Wood to the roster the Cowboys had to release defensive end Jason Neill. Neill was signed as an undrafted free agent after the completion of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Cowboys have released UDFA DE Jason Neill from UTSA & added SMU DE Zach Wood, who was a tryout guy at rookie camp.
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) May 24, 2016
Under the tutelage of head coach Jason Garrett, the Cowboys have not been afraid to churn the bottom of the roster in hopes of finding players that can contribute on game days.
Garrett is a firm believer of creating competition throughout the roster and this is added evidence that no one should take their job security for granted.
Wood (6’3″, 282) was one of the players that took part in rookie mini-camp back in May, but wasn’t signed at the time. He worked out as both a defensive end and a long snapper. The organization must have seen something that they liked and Wood now has a chance to prove he has something to offer.
As a senior, Wood accumulated 39 tackles and led SMU with 9.5 tackles for loss.
Wood will join former SMU alumni Cole Beasley and he honestly couldn’t ask for better mentor. Beasley was another undrafted free agent that caught the Cowboys’ eye and has worked his way into becoming a fixture on the offensive side of the ball.
As a defensive end, Wood has the size that defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli looks for at the position, but at this point he is a longshot to make the final 53 man roster, even with the questions surrounding the position.
Former NFL Scout and current Staff Writer for the Dallas Cowboys, Bryan Broaddus, broke down game film and provided his own personal scouting report for our reading pleasure.
Broaddus’ assessment of Wood’s game film doesn’t sound too encouraging, but you never know what an undrafted free agent can do once they are given a chance.
Good luck Zach Wood! Take advantage of this opportunity.
