[1] For all of the accolades that the Dallas Cowboys scouting department had received throughout the years, the team had never kept more than nine draft choices and the average number was keeping six.
In 1962, 14 rookies made the team - 7 draft choices, 4 undrafted free agents, 2 obtained in trades and one claimed off waivers.
In 1975, eleven picks and one undrafted free agent (Percy Howard) made the team, hence the nickname "The Dirty Dozen" for the 1975 Cowboys draft class.
This group of rookies didn't even include linebacker Mike Hegman, who was drafted that year but did not enter the NFL until 1976, nor future Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback undrafted free agent Jim Zorn who made the team, but was later cut to make room for running back Preston Pearson, who had been waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
[3] This group helped the Cowboys reach Super Bowl X that season, and moving forward would play a key role in the franchise being given the nickname "America's Team".