Former Utah DE Bradlee Anae inks his contract with the Dallas Cowboys

It's hard to determine if there was a better value pick in the NFL draft compared to Bradlee Anae, who had a third round grade on him but was ultimately taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round

Former Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae is officially a Dallas Cowboy.

After lasting much longer than originally expected, Anae finally got the phone call from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in the fifth round when he was taken with the 179th overall pick. 

“Getting the phone call and talking to Jerry Jones, it was crazy. ... All I could say was ‘Yes sir, thank you sir.’ I was pretty speechless but just an exciting time and it feels surreal to be a part of this organization,” Anae told KHON2 sports director Rob DeMello in Hawaii. “It was pretty unexpected to fall down where I fell. ... Nobody would’ve guessed that but it’s just a blessing. I was thinking about it the other day that it was just a blessing to be a part of the NFL and to even have a shot like this. For me, it’s underdog mentality forever and just can’t wait to get going.”

He has now agreed to terms regarding his contract, as announced by DEC Management who represents Anae. The details of his contract have not immediately been released.

According to Luke Easterling of DraftWire, Anae was Dallas' steal of the draft, and one of the best overall value picks. The Cowboys are looking to take the next step forward into Super Bowl contenders, and Anae's development could become a huge part of that forward movement for Dallas' revamped defense.

Anae is currently listed as third on the depth chart behind starters DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford and backups Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory. But both Smith and Gregory are serving indefinite suspensions and while they're expected to be back this season, it's not official. Also, Crawford battled injuries last season, making Anae's selection valuable to the Cowboys for not only immediate depth, but someone who could project to be a starter if he develops in the manner he's expected too.

Not the most athletic or with the best 40-yard dash time — which is one of the reasons Anae dropped so much in the draft — Anae is simply relentless and gets the job done.

Physical and with great use of his hands, Anae racked up 13 sacks as a senior, 11 of which came on the right side against opposing left tackles. I think that's where he fits best in the NFL and where he'll get most of his opportunities. 

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