Cowboys Contracts: QB DiNucci Agrees To His Rookie 4-Year Deal
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have reached a contract agreement with seventh-round QB Ben DiNucci as he will soon sign his four-year deal. But as with fellow rookie Bradlee Anae, these are "agreements'' - not "signings'' - and while some consider this minutiae, the Dallas front office views it as an important distinction.
The agreement is pending the passing of a physical, which figures to happen on Tuesday, when rookies are scheduled to begin training camp at The Star. Barring any issues, Anae and DiNucci (and maybe most of the rest of the seven-man class) will be signed officially by Thursday.
DiNucci played two seasons with James Madison after transferring from Pittsburgh. In his senior season, he earned CAA Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 29 touchdowns and 3,441 yards while completing nearly 71 percent of his passes.
He also ran for 569 yards and seven touchdowns on 122 carries and led James Madison to the FCS Title Game where they lost to North Dakota State. His senior season came to an unfortunate end with a late interception in the National Championship game against NDSU.
All of that - and new coach Mike McCarthy's personal endorsement of a kid who shares with him some Pittsburgh ties - causes the Cowboys to believe the 2020 rookie class, which filled major needs for the franchise with the chance to make an instant impact in some cases, might include a wild-card gem at QB.
First-round selection wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is sure to provide some excitement. Dallas added two cornerbacks - Alabama's Trevon Diggs in the second round and 'in your face' Tulsa's Reggie Robinson II. The Cowboys traded up from the fifth round to the fourth to grab Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz, who will compete for a starting role. Third-round selection defensive tackle Neville Gallimore and fifth-round pick Utah defensive end Anae round out the class.
DiNucci, who will work behind Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton and compete for a third-string job, is about ready to go to work. But first comes his physical, then comes his signing, and then comes the work.
