INDIANAPOLIS -- As a number of teams flirted with the idea of making Will McClay their general manager, including the Houston Texans this offseason, the Dallas Cowboys made sure to show their appreciation to their vice president of player personnel.

According to sources, the Cowboys signed McClay to a two-year extension after he declined the opportunity to interview with Houston.

McClay has been one of the more sought-after general manager candidates across the league the past few years, but he has declined the chance to move on. He has been in the organization since 2002 but has been in his role as the chief of the college and pro personnel departments since 2014.

Last season, the Cowboys gave him the vice president of player personnel title. Though it does not carry the powers of a traditional general manager -- that remains Jerry Jones' domain -- he is their leading voice when it comes to personnel.

Since 2014, the Cowboys have drafted four players that have made the Pro Bowl -- Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott -- and 14 players who start or play key roles.

With the Cowboys opting to stay out of the chase for big-name free agents, they have to draft well and develop players. According to Pro Football Focus, the Cowboys had the third-most "homegrown" snaps played in the league last season with 16,808. The Cincinnati Bengals were No. 1 (18,559) and the Green Bay Packers (17,018) were No. 2.

The Cowboys have 10 picks in the upcoming draft, including No. 19 overall in the first round.