IRVING -- With their last pick in the NFL draft, the Cowboys took a shot on Rico Gathers, Baylor's 6-8, 275-pound power forward turned work-in-progress tight end.
Gathers hasn't played football since eighth grade, but he decided to pursue professional football instead. His size and physicality - he set a school record with 394 rebounds in 2014-2015 - intrigued more than 20 NFL teams that attended his pro day and inspired Dallas to set up a private workout and take the former Bear in the sixth round with the 217th pick.
He could hope to emulate Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez and Jimmy Graham -- NFL tight ends who are former basketball players.