After a quiet start to the first day of NFL free agency on Wednesday, things are picking up for the Dallas Cowboys on the defensive side of the ball, which is where they need help the most.
Early on Thursday, they signed Carlos Watkins to add some depth on the defensive interior. The next move the Cowboys would make, much like Watkins, won’t cause major headlines but it was a solid one. As first reported by his wife, as reliable a source as can be, defensive tackle Brent Urban has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cowboys.
The #Cowboys have agreed to terms with defensive linemen Brent Urban to a 1-year deal, per source.
— Kate Urban (@Kate_KanSkate) March 18, 2021
Urban was a fourth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2014 after spending a year in the CFL. He spent the last two seasons with the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears.
The former Virginia Cavalier had an 83.7 run defense grade according to Pro Football Focus in 2020, the third-best for all interior defensive linemen. Seeing as the Cowboys were 30th against the run last season, Urban is a welcome addition.
Urban bringing a solid presence inside will not only add to what the Cowboys have in promising young studs Neville Gallimore and Trysten Hill, but it will assist DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory on the edge with more pressure from the interior.
This is another step in helping a Cowboys defense that was arguably the worst in team history in 2020.
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