Of the small free agency signings the Dallas Cowboys are working on, the closest one to being completed is their pursuit of Benson Mayowa, but at the moment the ball is in the hands of the Oakland Raiders.
The Cowboys signed the 24 year old defensive end to an offer sheet. A three year deal with a $3.3 million signing bonus, while the salary portion goes from $750,000 to $2.5 million and $2.75 million in each season. The Raiders, who have had Mayowa since 2014 (he joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 as an undrafted free agent), now have until Wednesday to decide on matching it or letting the Cowboys have him.
Mayowa hardly had any playing time while he was with the Seahawks, but he appeared in 28 games for the Raiders in 2014-2015, picking up two sacks and forced one fumble, starting in three of those games. He even produced two points last season for the Raiders with a safety in the 15-12 win over the Denver Broncos. The Cowboys feel he can become a much more influential player for them pass rushing off the edge than he has been in Seattle or Oakland during his first three years in the league.
The Cowboys have other things going on besides Mayowa. They’re hosting both Alfred Morris (running back, Washington Redskins) and Patrick Robinson (cornerback, San Diego Chargers). They’re expected to sign at least one of them. If it comes down to just one player, it’ll be Robinson, who the Cowboys really liked last season too but he preferred taking the Chargers offer.
The Cowboys don’t have a lot of wiggle room to work with, especially if the Mayowa deal comes through. However, they do still have over $10.6 million in cap space, giving them the flexibility of making some minor signings before the draft.