Maybe the Cowboys brain trust should spend some time at the combine watching how the Patriots go about this process.
There were a record 1,030 games started by NFL rookies in 2013. The Patriots had a league runner-up 57. Despite all that youth on the field, New England still won 12 games, another AFC East title and reached the AFC title game.
The league is getting younger. The number of rookie starts has increased by the year from 650 in 2008 to 706 in 2009 to 763 in 2010 to 853 in 2011 to 1,000 in 2012 and now 1,030 in 2013.
The Patriots have kept pace. They have retained 43 rookies on their roster over the last four years 27 draft picks and 16 college free agents. Those rookies have combined to start 186 games for New England.