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.
I agree that A LOT of research is needed. If he’s anywhere close to the player he used to be and he’s not looking for a ridiculous contract, then he may be a decent option. But realistically he’s probably headed down that steep hill toward retirement. I think a younger option would probably be a better fit. Really, the only way to get a S who would be like DLaw is to the DL would be in the draft or through scouting and luck, like say with Tony Romo, Cliff Harris, Drew Pearson, etc. But those are ridiculously rare to find so it would be smart to sign a S who would at least be an upgrade to Heath. Even Ha Ha would fit that category IMO. I guess we’ll see.
Yes! They already sat on their hands and let Earl Thomas get away, whether or not he was worth what the Ravens are giving him. They need to stop being cheap and address the safety position now and this is too obvious of a call. Give him a 1-year or 2-year deal to prove himself with a lot of incentives like they did with Sean Lee.
No way way to much injury concerns
Go get Tre Boston before it’s to late
Its atleast refreshing to know that they will kick the tires on researching if its worth it. It appears that Eric Berry was giving Gronk fits in the AFC championship game. If thats losing a step, then Ill take it. His lost step is better than Heath’s best step. 8 mill for 1 year is doable. The front office can see what a real safety looks like and work to put their resources into drafting a top tier safety.
KC cut him rather than guarantee $7.5 million.
I believe that we are in need of a safety to replace Heath on defense. I think he can still be an asset as a ST player and good depth as a backup. However, I am not going near Eric Berry. While talented and an amazing story to overcome cancer, I do not think it would be best to sign him. At 30 years old, he would be at best, a bridge player until we have to draft another safety to replace him. Most years, that isn’t a bad thing. However, with the depth of safety’s available in this FA class, I’d feel much more comfortable getting a younger, cheaper guy like an Adrian Phillips. Phillips is one of these hybrid safety’s that is an ideal fit to play the in the box safety in a cover 3 scheme. That would allow Woods to remain as a ball hawking center fielder and give the fact he played his rookie year as the nickel corner, I am good with that. Phillips presents, a young, cheap fit that would allow us to upgrade 2 positions (ST with Heath) and still have plenty of cap space for other needs.
I agree with Russo, we can check and see what Berry is wanting $ wise, but seems to me that Phillips and Boston would be great fits and yes It isn’t splashy to get fans hopes up, but if we continue to use money wisely we can add depth which is HUGE and re-sign our young studs then sign/trade that missing piece down the road! Also this way Big D can draft best player available instead of drafting position.