Dallas Cowboys re-sign a safety, but lose Jeff Heath to Raiders
The Dallas Cowboys will have a new starter at the safety position after they reportedly lose Jeff Heath to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency on Tuesday.
The number of free agents the Dallas Cowboys have lost since the start of the legal tampering period on Monday continues to mount. Cornerback Byron Jones is reportedly heading to the Miami Dolphins. Wide receiver Randall Cobb is joining the Houston Texans. Defensive end Robert Quinn is heading north to the Chicago Bears.
And both tight end Jason Witten and defensive tackle Maliek Collins are off to the newly relocated Las Vegas Raiders. Well, Witten and Collins better make some room on their trip to Sin City as it’s now being reported that safety Jeff Heath will be joining them in Vegas.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Heath has agreed to a two-year deal that could pay the seven-year veteran as much as $8 million. This will reunite the 28-year old with former Dallas defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and special teams coach Rich Bisaccia.
Undrafted out of Saginaw Valley State in 2013, Heath spent his first few seasons with the Cowboys as a special teams ace. He became the team’s starting safety in 2017 following the departure of veteran Barry Church.
Over the past three seasons, Heath has started in 44 games and recorded a combined 219 tackles, 17 pass deflections, four interceptions, and three forced fumbles. Last season, he posted 63 combined tackles and seven pass defends in 13 games.
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While the Cowboys lost one safety, they did re-sign another. According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, 26-year old Darian Thompson has agreed to two-year, $2.8 million contract to remain in Dallas.
A third-round selection out of Boise State in 2016 by the New York Giants, Thompson started in four games for the Cowboys last season. He recorded 45 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three pass defends in 15 games.