Cowboys top-10 free agent additions under Will McClay’s guidance

1. Jayron Kearse, S, 2021

Of the three safeties signed in 2021, Jayron Kearse came in with the least amount of fanfare. Malik Hooker was a former first-round pick with an incredibly high ceiling and Damontae Kazee was a ball hawk early in his career for the Atlanta Falcons.

As for Kearse, he was a former seventh-round pick out of Clemson who was never a regular starter in his career.

He spent four seasons in Minnesota and had 79 tackles and one interception. From there, he spent one season in Detroit and had 59 tackles for the Lions. Then in Dallas, he topped all four seasons with the Vikings with 101 tackles in 2021.

Along with that, he had two interceptions and 10 pass defenses — plus eight quarterback pressures when blitzing. Like Hooker, Kearse earned a two-year extension and continued to play well in 2022.

He missed three games due to injury but still had 77 tackles and an interception in the regular season and then added another pick in the playoffs when he got one on Tom Brady in the end zone.

In addition to his performance, Kearse has become a vocal leader on the defense. He even recently went to bat for head coach Mike McCarthy when Mike Tannenbaum had some harsh criticism for the head coach.

A tone-setter on defense, Kearse has been the best addition made under Will McClay, which is impressive considering how quiet the move was at the time.

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