NewsBot
New Member
- Messages
- 111,281
- Reaction score
- 2,947
SAN ANTONIO – The Dallas Cowboys’ thinning defense suffered another blow Thursday, when defensive tackle Jason Hatcher cashed in on a career season by signing a four-year, $27.5 million deal with the Washington Commanders.
Hatcher, 32, listened to offers from Seattle, Oakland and Tennessee before deciding to join the Cowboys’ NFC East rivals. He gained leverage on the open market after leading Dallas in sacks last season with 13, a career best that landed him in his first Pro Bowl.
The loss of Hatcher leaves the Cowboys came one day after seven-time Pro Bowler and salary-cap casualty DeMarcus Ware, the club’s career sacks leader, signed with the Denver Broncos. It also leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the Cowboys’ 4-3 Tampa 2 defense, where the three-technique tackle must be a disruptive force.
Dallas signed free agent defensive tackle Terrell McClain, but he’s not viewed as a long-term solution at that crucial spot. The Cowboys reportedly have interest in free agent defensive tackle and Texas-ex Henry Melton, but he’s scheduled to visit Minnesota today.
Melton, 27, played sparingly last season due to a torn knee ligament. He was a Pro Bowler in 2012 with six sacks and two forced fumbles.
Help could come via the draft. Dallas owns the 16th overall pick and likely has Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Florida State defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan on its radar.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft has the Cowboys selecting Jernigan. Donald likely has shot up draft boards after an impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine last month.
Jernigan declared for the draft as an underclassman after amassing 138 tackles, including 25 for loss, and 8.5 sacks in his three seasons.
Jernigan, who measured 6 foot 1 5/8 and 299 pounds at the combine, sees himself as a three-down player in the pros that can rush the passer.
“I feel like now in the NFL a lot of nose tackles, especially in the three-man front, the big 340-, 350-pound guys, have to come off the field in pass situations, and I feel like that’s where I can benefit a team,” Jernigan said at the combine. “I’ve played in the shade, I’ve played over the center, I’ve played in the three technique so I can play a three technique. When it’s a pass situation, when you want to go to a three-man front, you can put me on the nose guard, right on the zero. I can get pressure from the middle of the offense. I feel like that’s where my game changes from anyone else’s.”
Continue reading...
Hatcher, 32, listened to offers from Seattle, Oakland and Tennessee before deciding to join the Cowboys’ NFC East rivals. He gained leverage on the open market after leading Dallas in sacks last season with 13, a career best that landed him in his first Pro Bowl.
The loss of Hatcher leaves the Cowboys came one day after seven-time Pro Bowler and salary-cap casualty DeMarcus Ware, the club’s career sacks leader, signed with the Denver Broncos. It also leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the Cowboys’ 4-3 Tampa 2 defense, where the three-technique tackle must be a disruptive force.
Dallas signed free agent defensive tackle Terrell McClain, but he’s not viewed as a long-term solution at that crucial spot. The Cowboys reportedly have interest in free agent defensive tackle and Texas-ex Henry Melton, but he’s scheduled to visit Minnesota today.
Melton, 27, played sparingly last season due to a torn knee ligament. He was a Pro Bowler in 2012 with six sacks and two forced fumbles.
Help could come via the draft. Dallas owns the 16th overall pick and likely has Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Florida State defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan on its radar.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft has the Cowboys selecting Jernigan. Donald likely has shot up draft boards after an impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine last month.
Jernigan declared for the draft as an underclassman after amassing 138 tackles, including 25 for loss, and 8.5 sacks in his three seasons.
Jernigan, who measured 6 foot 1 5/8 and 299 pounds at the combine, sees himself as a three-down player in the pros that can rush the passer.
“I feel like now in the NFL a lot of nose tackles, especially in the three-man front, the big 340-, 350-pound guys, have to come off the field in pass situations, and I feel like that’s where I can benefit a team,” Jernigan said at the combine. “I’ve played in the shade, I’ve played over the center, I’ve played in the three technique so I can play a three technique. When it’s a pass situation, when you want to go to a three-man front, you can put me on the nose guard, right on the zero. I can get pressure from the middle of the offense. I feel like that’s where my game changes from anyone else’s.”
Continue reading...