Dallas Cowboys cut Cedric Thornton; Add two defenders
The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly decided to cut veteran defensive tackle Cedric Thornton in order to make room for younger talent joining the team.
When the Dallas Cowboys signed former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Cedric Thornton in free agency in early 2016, it was initially viewed as their overall best veteran addition that offseason. A year and a half later and Dallas have apparently decided to part ways with him, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.
The Cowboys originally signed Thornton to a four-year, $18 million deal in March of last year, giving the defender $9 million guaranteed and a $5 million signing bonus. But the 29-year old underperformed in his first season in Dallas.
Thornton recorded 22 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, one pass defended and forced one fumble last year in Big “D”. He was generally considered a non-factor for the Cowboys, with other defensive tackles like then-rookie Maliek Collins and former teammate Terrell McClain having much bigger impacts.
The Cowboys cut defensive tackle Cedric Thornton, whose $3 million base salary was guaranteed this year,... https://t.co/CrCkoUPXe6
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) September 3, 2017
Now entering his sixth season in the NFL, Thornton hits the free agent market again and will likely find another home soon. Cutting him now means he’ll cost Dallas $4.25 million against their current salary cap and another $2.5 million next year, although the Cowboys could get a cap credit in 2018 if Cedric signs elsewhere. As for Dallas, the work on their final roster is far from finished.
On Sunday, the Cowboys were notified that they had been awarded the waiver claim on former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Brian Price, this again according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. The 6-foot-3, 318 pound second year player out of Texas-San Antonio is considered to be primarily a run stopper.
Lewis Neal had a fantastic camp, but the Cowboys were lacking that space-eating 1-tech that Rod Marinelli loves so much. Hence, Price.
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) September 3, 2017
Price will now replace Thornton on Dallas’ active roster. The young defensive lineman recorded 11 total tackles, 1.0 sack and had two forced fumbles in three games for the Packers this preseason.
But the Cowboys aren’t finished. According to multiple sources, Dallas has also traded for another Packers’ defender. The Cowboys have reportedly sent a conditional 2018 seventh round pick to Green Bay in exchange for fourth-year linebacker Jayrone Elliott.
Next: Cowboys trade for Bengals’ cornerback Bene Benwikere
Undrafted out of Toledo in 2014 where he recorded 43 total tackles, 14.0 tackles for a loss, 9.0 sacks and forced five fumbles his senior season, Elliott landed in Green Bay as a rookie. In his three seasons with the Packers, the 25-year old has been a core special teams player who has posted a total of 4.0 sacks in the past two years with very limited defensive snaps.