FRISCO, Texas – If another team wants to lure David Irving away from the Dallas Cowboys, they will have to give up a second-round pick to do so.
The Cowboys placed the second-rounder tender on the defensive lineman, which will pay him $2.9 million in 2018. The Cowboys would have the right to match any offer made between now and April 20 when the restricted free-agent signing period ends.
The Cowboys considered putting the first-round tender on Irving, which would have cost $4.149 million and probably prevented a team from making a serious run at Irving.
The Cowboys signed Irving off the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad in 2015 and he has flashed major potential but not been able to show consistency through a season. In 2016 he was credited with 11 tackles but also had four sacks, five tackles for loss, 26 quarterback pressures, five pass breakups and four forced fumbles. He was named the NFC’s defensive player of the week after forcing three fumbles, recovering one and coming up with a sack and a tackle for loss in just 19 plays in a win against the Green Bay Packers.
He missed the first four games last season because of a suspension and the final four because of a concussion. In between, he recorded seven sacks, 19 pressures, 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, six pass deflections and one forced fumble.
As expected, the Cowboys did not extend a tender offer to fullback Keith Smith, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Cowboys hope to keep Smith on a multi-year deal, but did not want to have him count $1.9 million against the cap. The Cowboys also did not tender exclusive rights free agent quarterback Zac Dysert, who missed last season with a back injury.
