2016 Contract-Year Cowboys: DT David Irving

Wrapping up my long series of upcoming Cowboys’ players who will be playing in a contract year in 2016 with defensive tackle David Irving. Irving was signed from the Chiefs’ practice squad for the final …

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Wrapping up my long series of upcoming Cowboys’ players who will be playing in a contract year in 2016 with defensive tackle David Irving. Irving was signed from the Chiefs’ practice squad for the final 11 games of the season, and really made a name for himself as a disruptive force in the center of the defensive line near the end of the season.

Let’s take a closer look at David Irving, and how he may fit in Dallas past 2016:

Cowboys Blog - 2016 Contract-Year Cowboys: DT David Irving

David Irving

Irving, at 6 foot 7 inches, can wreak havoc in multiple spots along the Cowboys defensive line. This season, he mostly played on the interior next to Tyrone Crawford – who was never fully healthy at all in 2015.

The Cowboys may be looking at a defensive line without Greg Hardy in 2016. While DeMarcus Lawrence proved to be a big bright spot, a starting rotation on the edge between him and Randy Gregory leaves a lot to be desired in terms of size and run stuffing ability.

This is where Irving and Crawford will need to step up. While we know what to expect from a healthy Crawford, Irving will need to prove himself throughout training camp both against the run and in pass rush.

The Cowboys defensive line was supposed to be a major strength in 2015, but instead was a unit mired in inconsistency and unmet expectations. With the future of some of it’s most dynamic players up in the air, it may be up to a defensive tackle like David Irving to take great strides in 2016 and beyond for the Dallas Cowboys.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this series here at Inside The Star. Continue to check back right here for more Cowboys offseason news and updates – along with NFL Draft content!

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