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Cowboys strike deal with Panthers DL Gerald McCoy, who fits what they are looking for on the defensive line

McCoy fits three things the Cowboys want in their defensive line: Size, financial responsibility and scheme fit.

The Cowboys entered this offseason with many issues along the defensive line.

Regardless what was happening elsewhere, the Cowboys intended to stick to a plan.

And that’s what occurred Wednesday when it was revealed defensive tackle Gerald McCoy agreed to terms on a three-year deal worth $20 million.

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McCoy fits three things the Cowboys were looking for in their defensive linemen: Size, scheme fit and a deal that made financial sense.

The difference between McCoy and the man he replaced, Maliek Collins, is size. McCoy is 6-4, 300 pounds while Collins is two inches shorter and eight pounds heavier. McCoy’s added two inches is enough for the Cowboys, and the deal fits within their budget.

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Last season in Carolina, McCoy had five sacks, 37 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits. He’s been a durable player for the majority of his career — missing only five starts over the last five seasons — and is a player who can take up some space. Under previous defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, he wanted smaller, quicker defensive linemen to rush the passer. Mike Nolan, the new defensive coordinator, seeks bigger linemen to take on two blockers to cause problems.

The addition of McCoy doesn’t mean the Cowboys are done with the defensive line, and it should be noted this franchise continues to have solid players.

Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence isn’t getting paid an average salary of $21 million to sit around. While it can be debated that Robert Quinn was the best defensive linemen on the team because he complied a team-high 11.5 sacks, offenses worried about Lawrence, too. He was outstanding against the run last season and — though he’s paid to get sacks and disrupt the quarterback — don’t forget about the type of player he is.

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Tyrone Crawford, who plays defensive tackle and end, will also return in 2020 after having surgery to both hips. Crawford expects to recover fully, and can you imagine his 6-4, 290 pound frame lined up next to McCoy in 2020?

Then we have last year’s second-round pick in defensive tackle Trysten Hill. He’s 6-3 and 308 pounds. It’s expected he will bulk up to become stronger.

If you don’t believe Hill, Crawford, McCoy, Lawrence and whoever else the Cowboys add that’s understandable considering what the Cowboys let get away.

A deep look reveals Collins wasn’t coming back because of size and scheme fit. Quinn was mainly a money issue.

Stephen Jones said all the right things about bringing back Quinn, however, if the price wasn’t right, it wasn’t going to happen.

Quinn agreed to terms with the Bears on a five-year, $70 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. The departures of Quinn and Collins sent Cowboys’ nation into a panic because of what they represent — successful players on an inconsistent defense.

“We’re going to have some challenges with our [salary] cap,” Jones said at the NFL scouting combine last month. “Certainly, it’s Dak [Prescott] and Amari [Cooper] that are going to shrink it in a hurry. We’re going to have challenges, but they’re not challenges that we can’t overcome.”

Yes Dak and Amari, remember them? Prescott the quarterback and Cooper, the wide receiver, are going to take a chunk of the salary cap. This is the price you pay when you get good players.

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The Cowboys are paying them, well at least Cooper, so that means some other unit falls behind.

You can’t pay everybody. But the upgrades the Cowboys are working on are headed in the right direction and going according to plan.

Related reading: Film room — How Gerald McCoy fits on Cowboys’ D-line, and why he’s a short-term upgrade over Maliek Collins

Analysis

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