Marshawn Kneeland rookie contract figures with Dallas Cowboys revealed after NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys selected Western Michigan EDGE Marshawn Kneeland with the No. 56 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Per Spotrac, Kneeland is expected to earn a four-year contract worth $6.79 million or just shy of $1.7 million per year. He is also expected to reel in a $1.75 million signing bonus.

Marshawn Kneeland had a career-high 57 tackles this past season at WMU along with 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. All told, he had 28.0 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He was one of the best edge rushers available when the Cowboys’ pick came up on Friday night.

Dallas selected offensive lineman Tyler Guyton out of Oklahoma with the No. 29 pick in the first round. They traded down from No. 24, swapping with the Detroit Lions and picking up No. 73 overall.

Free agency deteriorates Dallas’s roster

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 NFL Draft with a variety of needs after a very quiet free agency period. Short on cap space, Jerry Jones and the front office let RB Tony Pollard, OT Tyron Smith, DT Johnathan Hankins, DE Dante Fowler Jr., DT Neville Gallimore, C Tyler Biadasz, DE Dorance Armstrong Jr., and CB Noah Igbinoghene walk. They also released wide receiver Michael Gallup and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, the latter for medical reasons.

Since the start of the league new year, Dallas has re-signed very few of their free agents. They signed long snapper Trent Sieg, running back Rico Dowdle, offensive tackle Chuma Edoga and cornerbacks Jourdan Lewis and CJ Goodwin. They all inked new one-year deals. The Cowboys did make two new free agency additions before the draft, signing veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks and running back Royce Freeman to one-year deals.

More on Cowboys 2024 NFL Draft picks

The Cowboys came into the 2024 NFL Draft with seven selections. They had four of their original picks (RD1.PK24, RD2.PK56, RD3.PK87, and RD7.PK244). Dallas also received two compensatory picks (RD5.PK174, RD6.PK216). They also acquired a seventh-round pick (RD7.PK233) via trade with the Raiders. The only round the team did not have a selection in coming into the draft was the fourth. They added pick No. 73 in the third round by trading down with the Lions from No. 24 to No. 29.

The Cowboys sent a fourth-round pick to the 49ers last year for former first-round QB Trey Lance. They also gave a fifth-round pick to the Chiefs for a six-round pick in last year’s draft, with which they drafted cornerback Eric Scott Jr. They gave up a sixth-round pick to Houston in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks last offseason as well.

The 2024 NFL Draft, which began Thursday, April 25, continues through Saturday, April 27 in Detroit, Michigan. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

On3’s Nikki Chavanelle also contributed to this article.