Cowboys agree to sign Damontae Kazee; Best move so far?

The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly agreed to terms with safety Damontae Kazee. The deal is supposedly a one-year deal, though the exact terms of the deal have not been disclosed yet. The move reunites the 27-year old safety with his former head coach Dan Quinn, the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator.

Kazee had 20 total tackles and a forced fumble in four games played with the Atlanta Falcons last year before suffering a season-ending torn Achilles. Obviously, this is the biggest concern with the former Atlanta Falcon who turned into a playmaker for the Falcons defense early in his career. Although his coverage ability is another potential area of concern as well.

The former fifth-round pick led the league in interceptions with seven back in 2018 while racking up an impressive 10 pass deflections and a (still) career-high 82 total tackles. Kazee followed up that excellent year with a little bit of a decline back in 2019. He managed to get three interceptions and 74 total tackles that year.

The Cowboys’ most recent acquisition in an underwhelming free agency period for the team became known for being able to get takeaways, something the teams’ defense has struggled to do for a long time. The fact that Kazee might genuinely be the teams’ most impactful move thus far in free agency probably says more about Dallas’s strategy this offseason than the abilities of the veteran safety.

The addition of Kazee comes only a day after the organization brought in safety Jayron Kearse. Kearse started seven games for the Detroit Lions last year and accrued a career-high 59 total tackles. The former Lion was largely expected to be a signing to bolster the depth of the safety position and possibly provide help in special teams as well.

The former Falcon will also be reunited with one of his former teammates, safety Keanu Neal. Neal was signed by the Cowboys earlier in free agency and is expected to mostly play weakside linebacker for the team.

Regardless of how one feels about the rest of the Dallas Cowboys free agency strategy thus far, it is clear that this most recent signing addresses a position of need with a player who, injury concerns aside, was a legitimate playmaker just a few seasons ago. The fact that Kazee will be reunited with Quinn, and is probably at least somewhat familiar with the type of defense he wants to run, only adds to the wisdom of this decision.

Hopefully, the Dallas Cowboys still commit to finding a long-term solution to address their dire needs in the secondary (possibly in the draft?). However, this is a solid move by the team at this stage in free agency that gives the team an upgrade at a position they have for too long treated as an afterthought.