The Dallas Cowboys rounded out their defensive line rotation late Wednesday night, agreeing to a deal with one of the top remaining free agents, defensive end Everson Griffen.
The NFL lifted the ban on free-agent visits this week and just one day later, the former Minnesota Viking — who opted out of the final three years of his deal this past March — is now a Cowboy. The details of Griffen’s deal have started to emerge, as it’s a one-year deal for a maximum of $6 million, according to Kimberley A. Martin.
A one-year deal for Everson Griffen, source said. A big pickup for the Cowboys.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 13, 2020
The Cowboys entered the day with approximately $10.3 million in cap space, per Over The Cap, after signing their 2020 draft class and getting some space back after Covid-19 opt outs.
Although Griffen’s base salary is just $3 million, he played in all 16 games in 2019 so his roster bonuses are going to be difficult to count as not-likely-to-be-earned. It’s likely his cap hit will be close to or all of the $6 million totality of the deal if the structure Martin reports is correct.
If that’s the case, Dallas having $4.3 million in remaining space puts them right against the glass ceiling of the amount of room teams like to go into the season with.
Most NFL clubs like to have between $3 million and $5 million for free agent signings due to in-season injuries.
It also brings into question whether or not the Cowboys will look to make any salary-cap saving moves, such as restructuring or releasing fellow defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford.
Everson Griffen was better than his sack total showed in ‘19. 8th in QB knockdowns per @fboutsiders, higher than Nick Bosa, Aaron Donald, Cam Jordan. 19th in hurries. Huge signing for Cowboys.
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) August 13, 2020
Griffen currently slots as the third-highest cap hit among 2020 defensive linemen for the Cowboys.
Left defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will count $21.9 million against the cap;$16.9 million in base salary and another $5 million in prorated signing bonus. Crawford is on the books for $8 million in base salary, all of which would come back were he to be released, and another $1.1 million in prorated bonus.
Free-agent signings Gerald McCoy ($4.25 million) and Dontari Poe ($3.94 million) round out the top five along the defensive line.
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