After the dust settled on the 2017 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys had filled their biggest needs on defense.
The Cowboys used their first round pick — No. 28 overall — on Michigan edge rusher Taco Charlton. The team hopes he'll boost a pass rush that was 13th in the league with 36 sacks last season.
Dallas kicked off Friday's picks with the second round selection of Colorado cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, a candidate to start at outside cornerback in 2017.
With the Cowboys added another cornerback in the third round in Michigan's Jourdan Lewis. The team used the 92nd overall pick on Lewis, who could be used in the slot.
The team needed to add at least one defensive back to a secondary that was 27th in the NFL in interceptions last season — with nine — and lost cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr to free agency.
In the fourth round (133rd), The Dallas Cowboys selected North Carolina wide receiver Ryan Switzer, who would likely fit best as a slot receiver and special teams returner.
The Cowboys selected Lousiana Tech safety Xavier Woods in the sixth round (191st). Woods' best spot is a center fielder in Cover 3 looks.
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Also in the sixth round (216th), the Cowboys added Florida State cornerback Marquez White.
In the seventh round, Dallas drafted Florida defensive tackle Joey Ivie (228th), Ohio State wide receiver Noah Brown (239th) and Colorado defensive tackle Jordan Carrell (248th).
After the draft, the Cowboys signed more than a dozen undrafted free agents:
• Austin Appleby, QB, Florida
• Woody Baron, DT, Virginia Tech
• Brian Brown, WR, Richmond
• Michael Coe, C, North Dakota
• Kennan Gilchrist, OLB, Appalachian St.
• Blake Jarwin, TE, Oklahoma St.
• Joe Jones, OLB, Northwestern
• Levon Myers, OT, Northern Illinois
• Lewis Neal, DE, LSU
• Cooper Rush, QB, Central Michigan
• Dan Skipper, OT, Arkansas
• Nate Theaker, OG, Wayne St.
• Jahad Thomas, RB, Temple
• Lucas Wacha, OLB, Wyoming
