As the Dallas Cowboys still have a glaring need at the safety position, a new name has appeared on the available free agents list, and it’s a well known name. The Kansas City Chiefs just released one of the best at the position, Eric Berry. The move by Kansas City is likely salary cap related. The Chiefs had just signed Tyrann Mathieu for a three-year $42M deal. The five-time Pro Bowler will have to find a new home in the NFL.
Chiefs released five-time Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry. Had Berry been on KC’s roster Friday, $7.25 million of his salary would have become fully guaranteed.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2019
The question in many Dallas Cowboys fans minds’ right now is pretty obvious. Will the Cowboys be interested?
Eric Berry is one hell of a football player but injuries have plagued his career lately. Since he suffered a torn Achilles in 2017, Berry hasn’t been the same player as before. In the past two seasons, the 30 year old safety has played in only three games.
Eric Berry's tenure with the Chiefs:
* 88 games played
* 445 tackles
* 50 PBU
* 14 INT
* 5 TD score
* 5X Pro Bowler
* 3X First Team All Pro
More importantly: a cancer survivor who returned to the field and inspired countless people along the way.— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 13, 2019
Berry would be a nice fit for the Dallas Cowboys’ defense to pair with Xavier Woods. However, the front office has already passed on many available safeties. For Berry to come to Dallas, the price would have to be right. It’s tough to imagine where Berry’s value would land in such a busy safety market. Both Landon Collins and Earl Thomas have signed big time contracts.
Age and injury history could be factors that drop Berry’s price to a number that the front office would be interested in. I honestly would be surprised if he got top money today. A contract with little guaranteed money could get the Cowboys involved.
#Chiefs cut S Eric Berry. I’m told #Cowboys will investigate … but recent serious health issues and inactivity – Berry is great story as a cancer survivor – mean LOTS of research is merited. pic.twitter.com/D4ZKJSUxiv
— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) March 13, 2019
Mike Fisher took to Twitter to say the Cowboys will investigate the newest safety in the market.
The Cowboys have already seen Earl Thomas and others sign contracts elsewhere and while their free agency philosophy is clear at the moment, I believe it’d be a mistake to leave the need for a safety unattended until late April. There are quite a few options out there the team should explore.
Whether it’s Eric Berry or another player such as Tre Boston, Andrew Sendejo or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the Cowboys should sign a starting safety and leave the draft picks for other positions.
