Five time Pro Bowler. Three time first team All Pro. And, still a free agent as of July 4th, 2019.
This describes safety Eric Berry, who despite meeting with multiple teams during the opening of free agency, is still without a team for the 2019 season. Berry’s resume is certainly an impressive one, but there’s good reason why he’s yet to be added to a roster for this upcoming season.
Eric Berry’s injury history is concerning to say the least. Berry has only played in 3 games over the past two seasons, and coming off severe heel pain, an Achilles tear, and a bone spur which still lingers, you never know how his body is going to respond to game action. Especially at 30 years old.
Reportedly, Berry’s availability is just about pain management at this point, as he won’t cause further damage by playing through the aforementioned bone spur. Still, concern from teams over his health is more than justified.
With all that being said, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski still penciled in Eric Berry as a potential free agent target for the Dallas Cowboys. The fit makes some sense, of course, at least on paper.
The Cowboys were deep into the Earl Thomas sweepstakes this offseason, were linked to just about every safety in the 2019 NFL Draft, and still have what most would call a hole at the safety position beside Xavier Woods.
Berry likely won’t command much money on the market either, and would probably come to the Cowboys on a short-term, flexible, “prove it” deal. Just the kind of deal the Cowboys love to make.
If it were to work out, and Eric Berry were to return to his previous form, the Cowboys would have greatly upgraded at safety over Jeff Heath, and added to what is already one of the league’s most talented defenses.
The more reasonable outcome, however, is that Berry would not find that former self with the Cowboys, and would rather struggle with injuries and age on the sideline for yet another season.
Is this move even possible for the Dallas Cowboys to make? Well, they haven’t had public interest in Berry in recent months, and don’t appear to be looking to add to their defensive back room any time soon. I suppose if the injury bug bites one or two of the wrong guys this preseason, though, Eric Berry could be getting a call from Stephen Jones.
