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Turns out, the Cowboys wanted to be more than just observers in the first few days of NFL free agency.
After sitting mostly quiet Thursday -- having to watch three starters leave for other teams -- the Cowboys finished the second day of free agency with a flurry.
The team agreed to terms with four players all after many of you had clocked out for the week.
The Cowboys re-signed receiver Terrance Williams and added three fresh faces to the defense: cornerback Nolan Carroll, tackle Stephen Paea and end Damontre Moore, sources said.
All four players help fill glaring holes on the roster and should at least put the Cowboys in much better position to execute a pure draft in April without having to reach for need.
The four additions also didn't force the salary-cap strapped Cowboys to go outside of their comfort zone and break the bank.
Williams, the Cowboys' No. 2 receiver from W.T. White who was a third-round pick in 2013 out of Baylor, was expected to command at least $6 million a season on the open market.
Instead, the Cowboys were able to re-sign Williams to a four-year deal for $17 million, sources said, with $9.5 million guaranteed. The Williams' agreement came a day after the Cowboys re-signed free-agent receiver Brice Butler to a one-year, $1.1 million deal.
The Cowboys also hope their three new defensive players turn out to be bargains. They agreed to terms with Carroll on a three-year, $10 million deal, sources said. Paea and Moore agreed to one-year deals, sources said. Paea's contract is for $2 million, a source added.
The Cowboys certainly needed the bodies after going into free agency with 18 unrestricted free agents and only $8.5 million in cap space. How much the four players can help the Cowboys improve in 2017 remains a big question mark.
Williams hasn't shown the ability to be a team's lead receiver but does give the Cowboys a deep threat. He finished last season with 44 catches for 594 yards and four touchdowns after he caught a career-high 52 passes in 2015 for 840 yards and three touchdowns. He set a career high for touchdown catches in 2014 with eight.
Re-signing Williams and Butler keeps the Cowboys from having to use an early-round pick in the draft on a receiver.
Williams did receive some other interest from teams but wanted to stay home.
"You can say anything bad about me, but you can't Ever question my loyalty," Williams posted on Instagram on Friday after agreeing to his new deal.
The addition of Carroll helps a Cowboys secondary that could lose starting cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, both of whom are free agents. Cowboys starting safety Barry Church signed a four-year, free-agent deal with Jacksonville on Friday.
The speedy Carroll (6-1, 205) has long been a target of the Cowboys. The club brought in Carroll on a free-agent visit last offseason but didn't sign him because of concern over his injured ankle.
Carroll, 30, ended up re-signing with Philadelphia in 2016 on a one-year, $2 million deal. He started every game for the Eagles and had 55 tackles, one interception and 11 pass breakups (that would have led Dallas).
The addition of Carroll could spell the end for either Carr or Claibornoe -- perhaps both -- in Dallas.
The Cowboys' biggest offseason need is defensive line. That became even more of a concern Thursday after starting tackle Terrell McClain agreed to a four-year, $21 million deal with Washington.
The Cowboys quickly responded by adding the New Zealand-born Paea. The Cowboys had interest in Paea in free agency in the 2015 offseason, but he ended up signing a four-year, $21 million deal with the Redskins.
Washington released Paea after one season. He played for Cleveland last season and had only 12 tackles in 13 games and one-half sack.
The Cowboys hope defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli can help Paea return to the form he showed early in his career. Paea played under Marinelli in Chicago his first two seasons in the league in 2011 and 2012.
The Bears drafted Paea in the second round (No. 53 overall) in 2011 out of Oregon State. Paea (6-1, 300), who will turn 29 in May, started 40 games for the Bears in four seasons and recorded a career-high six sacks his last year in Chicago in 2014.
Twitter: @DMN_George
After sitting mostly quiet Thursday -- having to watch three starters leave for other teams -- the Cowboys finished the second day of free agency with a flurry.
The team agreed to terms with four players all after many of you had clocked out for the week.
The Cowboys re-signed receiver Terrance Williams and added three fresh faces to the defense: cornerback Nolan Carroll, tackle Stephen Paea and end Damontre Moore, sources said.
All four players help fill glaring holes on the roster and should at least put the Cowboys in much better position to execute a pure draft in April without having to reach for need.
The four additions also didn't force the salary-cap strapped Cowboys to go outside of their comfort zone and break the bank.
Williams, the Cowboys' No. 2 receiver from W.T. White who was a third-round pick in 2013 out of Baylor, was expected to command at least $6 million a season on the open market.
Instead, the Cowboys were able to re-sign Williams to a four-year deal for $17 million, sources said, with $9.5 million guaranteed. The Williams' agreement came a day after the Cowboys re-signed free-agent receiver Brice Butler to a one-year, $1.1 million deal.
The Cowboys also hope their three new defensive players turn out to be bargains. They agreed to terms with Carroll on a three-year, $10 million deal, sources said. Paea and Moore agreed to one-year deals, sources said. Paea's contract is for $2 million, a source added.
The Cowboys certainly needed the bodies after going into free agency with 18 unrestricted free agents and only $8.5 million in cap space. How much the four players can help the Cowboys improve in 2017 remains a big question mark.
Williams hasn't shown the ability to be a team's lead receiver but does give the Cowboys a deep threat. He finished last season with 44 catches for 594 yards and four touchdowns after he caught a career-high 52 passes in 2015 for 840 yards and three touchdowns. He set a career high for touchdown catches in 2014 with eight.
Re-signing Williams and Butler keeps the Cowboys from having to use an early-round pick in the draft on a receiver.
Williams did receive some other interest from teams but wanted to stay home.
"You can say anything bad about me, but you can't Ever question my loyalty," Williams posted on Instagram on Friday after agreeing to his new deal.
The addition of Carroll helps a Cowboys secondary that could lose starting cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, both of whom are free agents. Cowboys starting safety Barry Church signed a four-year, free-agent deal with Jacksonville on Friday.
The speedy Carroll (6-1, 205) has long been a target of the Cowboys. The club brought in Carroll on a free-agent visit last offseason but didn't sign him because of concern over his injured ankle.
Carroll, 30, ended up re-signing with Philadelphia in 2016 on a one-year, $2 million deal. He started every game for the Eagles and had 55 tackles, one interception and 11 pass breakups (that would have led Dallas).
The addition of Carroll could spell the end for either Carr or Claibornoe -- perhaps both -- in Dallas.
The Cowboys' biggest offseason need is defensive line. That became even more of a concern Thursday after starting tackle Terrell McClain agreed to a four-year, $21 million deal with Washington.
The Cowboys quickly responded by adding the New Zealand-born Paea. The Cowboys had interest in Paea in free agency in the 2015 offseason, but he ended up signing a four-year, $21 million deal with the Redskins.
Washington released Paea after one season. He played for Cleveland last season and had only 12 tackles in 13 games and one-half sack.
The Cowboys hope defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli can help Paea return to the form he showed early in his career. Paea played under Marinelli in Chicago his first two seasons in the league in 2011 and 2012.
The Bears drafted Paea in the second round (No. 53 overall) in 2011 out of Oregon State. Paea (6-1, 300), who will turn 29 in May, started 40 games for the Bears in four seasons and recorded a career-high six sacks his last year in Chicago in 2014.
Twitter: @DMN_George
