One of the more anticipated Cowboys free agency moves has finally happened. Defensive lineman David Irving has been given the 2nd-round Restricted Free Agent tender, which would result in a $2.91 million contract for 2018.
Source: the Cowboys have used a 2nd round tender on DT David Irving. The cost is $2.91 million.
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) March 14, 2018
If another team offers Irving a contract, that would have to send their 2018 second-round draft pick to the Cowboys.
There was no doubt that Dallas would extend an RFA tender to Irving, one of the bright young stars on their defense. The question was at what amount; they could have gone with the $4.1 million tender which raises the compensation to a first-round draft pick.
With a difference of only about $1 million, some might argue that the Cowboys went lower to entice other teams to try to sign Irving. Perhaps they don’t foresee giving him a big long-term deal next year, so want to get something for him now.
It’s a logical argument, and one that means there may be more to this story before the offseason ends. For now, though, David Irving’s closer to remaining a Cowboy than he was yesterday.
