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The First day of the 2004 NFL draft contained some anxious moments for Dallas Cowboys fans. In the end, the Cowboys filled a need by selecting Julius Jones, a Runningback from Notre Dame in the 2nd round. Julius Jones will become the 7th Notre Dame alumni to play for the Dallas Cowboys joining Kurt Vollers, Steve Beurlien, Stan Smagala, Phil Pozderec, Raghib Ismail, and Lincoln Coleman.

The Cowboys also picked up some offensive linemen from the defending CO-National Champions USC and LSU. In the 2nd round the Cowboys selected Jacob Rogers, an OT from LSU will become the 6th LSU alumni to join the Cowboys. Jacob also becomes the 2nd LSU Tiger taken by the Cowboys in the last 2 NFL Drafts. Last year the Cowboys choose Bradie James from LSU. The other LSU alumni are; Al Jackson, David LaFleur, Warren Capone, and Billy Truax.

Then in the 3rd round, the Cowboys selected Stephen Peterman, a Guard from USC. Stephen will become the 14th USC Trojan to join the Dallas Cowboys. Other USC alumni to play for the Dallas Cowboys are; Marcus Steele, Rodney Peete, Scott Galbraith, Tony Slaton, Jack Del Rio, Garry Cobb, Tommy Haynes, Paul McDonald, Fred Cornwell, Dennis Thurman, Mike Montgomery, Tody Smith, and Monte Clark.

2nd Day of the 2004 NFL Draft.

In the 4th round the Cowboys finally select a cornerback to fill a void left by Mario Edwards departure. The Cowboys selected Bruce Thornton, CB, University of Georgia Bulldogs. Thronton will be trying to become only the 9th Geogia Bulldog to play for the Cowboys and only the 2nd Defensive Back. Greg Trimble was the other Georgia defensive back to play for the Cowboys. The other Georgia Bulldogs include current QB Quincy Carter, heisman trophy winner Herschel Walker, Brandon Tolbert, Randal Godfrey, Ray Donaldson, Orantes Grant, and Demtric Evans.

In the 5th round the Cowboys selected TE Sean Ryan from Boston College. Sean will trying to become the 7th player and 1st Tight End to play for the Dallas Cowboys out of Boston College! Other Cowboys who were Boston College alumni include; Kelvin Martin, Ron Stone, Dave Widell, Bill Thomas, John Fitzgerald, and Steve DeOssie.

This is when things started to get exciting for the Cowboys, they traded their 2nd pick of the 5th round to for 2 picks which they traded away. 1 to the Raiders for 2 picks and 1 to the Bucs for RB Darian Barnes and a 7th round pick. So in review, the Cowboys took a single 5th round choice and got 4 players in return. Not a bad deal if any of these players can help the team!

So, with their 1st pick in the 7th round, the Cowboys selected Nathan Jones a CB from Rutgers. The Cowboys have had 2 previous players from Rutgers, Bill Hill and Carl Howard. Both in the 80s and ironically, both were Defensive Backs.

With their 2nd pick in the 7th round, the Cowboys selected a WR from Northwestern Oklahoma Sate, Patrick Crayton. Not surprisingly, the Cowboys have never had a player from Northwestern Oklahoma State so Patrick Clayton will be trying to become the first. If he is to make the team, it will have to be on Special Teams.

And finally, with their last pick of the 2004 NFL Draft the Cowboys selected another CB, Jacues Reeves from Purdue. The Cowboys have had 3 previous players from Purdue including Tom Frankhauser, Jim Schwantz, and Fred Strickland.

When the draft began, the Cowboys had only 5 picks and needed to get a Runningback and a Cornerback. In the end the Cowboys ended up with 8 picks including a runningback with their top pick and 3 cornerbacks. Plus the Cowboys got a 2 year veteran RB from the Bucs (Darian Barnes), so 9 new faces from the draft alone will show up at training camp this summer hoping to find their way onto the Dallas Cowboys 2004 rooster!