Cowboys Sign Kerry Hyder
The Cowboys have been very busy visiting with free agents and lining up other visits today, but the club did make one transaction official. Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Cowboys signed former Lions DL Kerry Hyder (Twitter link). It will be a one-year pact for Hyder, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter).
Detroit opted to non-tender Hyder, a former UDFA, earlier this month. Now 27, Hyder missed the entire 2017 season due to a torn Achilles and only appeared in seven games last season. With just one sack last year and a limited sample of work, it’s not surprising the Lions didn’t want to give him the lowest tender.
On the other hand, he did post eight sacks in 2016, and as Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News tweets, Hyder is a good fit as a defense end in the Cowboys’ 4-3 scheme. He could be a low-cost boon to a pass rush that needs some reinforcements.
Eric Berry To Visit Cowboys
Former Chiefs safety Eric Berry is visiting the Cowboys tomorrow, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). After a long-rumored reunion of sorts with Earl Thomas never came to fruition, Dallas is still in the market for safety help, and the club is looking at another former First Team All-Pro.
Berry, 30, was cut by Kansas City after the Chiefs inked fellow safety Tyrann Mathieu to a lucrative free agent contract. Berry has always been a terrific player, but he has had difficulty staying on the field throughout his career.
In five of his nine pro seasons, Berry has failed to play more than five games. He’s been available for only three total regular season contests over the past two years after rupturing his Achilles in September 2017, but in spite of that, Berry doesn’t plan to undergo offseason surgery to correct his nagging heel concerns.
That is enough to give any team pause, but the Cowboys need a safety and may see Berry as a worthwhile gamble. The club met with Clayton Geathers earlier today, and while there is probably room in the defensive backfield to add both talented but injury-plagued talents, that is not an especially likely scenario.
This marks Berry’s first scheduled visit since he was cut.
Cowboys To Meet With Clayton Geathers
Free agent safety Clayton Geathers will visit the Cowboys on Monday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Geathers isn’t a household name – like one-time Cowboys target Earl Thomas – but he could be a quality addition to the team’s secondary. 
Geathers, 27 in June, started in all 12 of his games for the Colts last season. Over the course of four seasons with Indianpolis, Geathers appeared in 41 games (24 starts) and spent time at both safety spots. Last year, Geathers held down the strong safety position and recorded 89 tackles plus a forced fumble. Last year, Geathers graded out as the No. 51 safety in the NFL out of 93 qualified players, positioning him as a starting-caliber safety, albeit a lower-tier one.
Last year’s safety market was depressed, but high-priced deals for Thomas, Tyrann Mathieu, and others indicate that second-tier options such as Geathers could find decent short-term deals. At minimum, guys like Geathers shouldn’t have to wait around until the fall like Eric Reid, Kenny Vaccaro, and others did in 2018.
Cowboys To Meet With Randall Cobb
On Monday, the Cowboys will host free agent wide receiver Randall Cobb, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Cobb, a longtime fixture of the Packers’ offense, profiles as one of the best veteran free agents remaining on the market. 
The Cowboys’ need for help at wide receiver was glaring for the first half of the 2018 season, though they took a huge step towards filling that void with their midseason acquisition of Amari Cooper. More reinforcements are needed, especially with additional attention being paid to Cooper, so the Cowboys are exploring quality WR2 options such as Cobb.
Cobb has been a major producer in the Packers’ offense for a long time, but he is coming off of three straight down years. In 2016, he missed three games and finished out with 60 catches, 610 yards, and four touchdowns. In 2017, he put up a 66/653/4 line while missing only one game, though many of those contests were played without the services of Aaron Rodgers. Then, last year, injuries limited him to nine games and a 38/383/2 line.
His performances over the last three seasons are a world away from his career-high 1,287 receiving yards in 2014, or even his 800+ yard showing in 2015. Still, he won’t turn 29 until August and he could be a strong value addition for Dallas. If the Cowboys were to put Cobb and a healthy Allen Hurns alongside Cooper, they could have a potent group at WR. The return of tight end Jason Witten should also help with the Cowboys’ aerial attack.
Contract Details: Funchess, LaCosse, Golden
Some assorted contract notes from around the NFL:
- Devin Funchess, WR (Colts): One year, $10MM. $7MM guaranteed via roster bonus. $3MM base salary. $3MM in incentives for receptions, receiving yards, TDs, Pro Bowl, All-Pro. Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star.
- Tyrann Mathieu, S (Chiefs): Three years, $42MM. $26.8MM guaranteed, $14.8MM signing bonus. Base salaries: $850K (2019), $1.15MM (2020), $14.5MM (2021, nonguaranteed). Details via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
- K.J. Wright, LB (Seahawks): Two years, up to $15MM (original story). $8MM in 2019, including $5MM signing bonus, $1.5MM base salary, $1.5MM roster bonus. Second year isn’t guaranteed. Twitter link via ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
- Matt LaCosse, TE (Patriots): Two years, $2MM, $500K guaranteed for 2019 (original story). Base salaries: $700K (2019), $1MM (2020). $300K signing bonus, $25K per-game bonus. $500K in playing time/receptions incentives. Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate.
- Markus Golden, LB (Giants): One year. Worth up to $4.75MM, $2.225MM guaranteed. Twitter link via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
- Cameron Fleming, OT (Cowboys): Two years, $8.5MM. 2019: $1MM base salary, $1.5MM signing bonus, $2.25MM cap number. $300K for 60-percent playing time, $600K for 70-percent. Twitter link via ESPN’s Todd Archer.
- Bruce Ellington, WR (Patriots): One year, $25K guaranteed. Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
Cowboys To Re-Sign WR Tavon Austin
The Cowboys are keeping wide receiver Tavon Austin, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Clarence Hill Jr. of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that it’s a one-year deal, although financial terms of the deal are not yet known. 
The Rams made Austin the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 draft after being blown away by his blazing speed. So far, Austin has yet to live up to his draft billing, but the Cowboys are still intrigued by his ability. Last year, Austin notched just eight catches in seven games, but he averaged 17.5 yards per grab.
He also has the ability to make plays out of the backfield, as evidenced by his career 6.8 yards per carry average. The Cowboys talked up Austin relentlessly last offseason, and insisted they were going to get him involved on offense after acquiring him. That never really materialized, but they’re willing to give it another shot in 2019.
He can also contribute on special teams, and had a 51-yard punt return in the playoffs this past season that almost went for a touchdown. With Cole Beasley gone to Buffalo, Austin should be the team’s primary punt returner in 2019. Austin struggled with a groin injury in 2018 that ended up costing him nine games.
Cowboys To Sign DL Christian Covington
Christian Covington is staying in the state of Texas. The former Texans defensive lineman is signing with the Cowboys, a source told Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio (Twitter link).
Per Caplan, it’s a one-year deal. No word on the terms yet, but it’s a significant signing for Dallas. A sixth round pick of Houston back in 2015, Covington had a career year last season. In a rotational role, Covington racked up 3.5 sacks in just 12 games last season. He earned above average marks from Pro Football Focus during his time on the field.
He played just under 25% of the defensive snaps in Houston last season, so his production is notable. Covington has struggled a bit with injuries the past couple of seasons, as he played in only seven games in 2017. He’ll be joining a talented Dallas defensive front that took a big step forward last season.
With Randy Gregory suspended again and David Irving appearing to walk away from the game, there should be some playing time open on Dallas’ defensive line next year. Covington played his college ball at Rice, so he’s been in the Texas area for a long time now.
Latest On Saints, Bridgewater, Tannehill
The Saints have been linked to both Teddy Bridgewater and Ryan Tannehill as they search for a backup quarterback, and we have updates on both situations.
Bridgewater is reportedly deciding between deals from both New Orleans and Miami, but he may have concerns about head coach Sean Payton‘s longevity with the Saints. Payton has long been linked to a potential opening with the Cowboys, and Bridgewater may not be interested in re-signing with New Orleans if Payton isn’t going to be around, per Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, Tannehill has been floated as a potential replacement if Bridgewater doesn’t re-sign with the Saints, but that may not be likely. A source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link) there’s “no way” Tannehill lands in New Orleans. New Orleans assistant general manager Jeff Ireland originally drafted Tannehill in Miami.
Cowboys To Retain T Cameron Fleming
Cameron Fleming‘s one-year deal with the Cowboys will entice the franchise to retain him on a longer-term contract.
Dallas will bring back the veteran tackle on a two-year deal worth up to $8.5MM, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes (on Twitter).
Fleming served primarily as the Cowboys’ swing tackle last season, lining up as an in-case-of-emergency option behind Tyron Smith and La’el Collins. With both of Dallas’ first-string tackles due back, this will likely be Fleming’s role again.
He did start three games last season, keeping with his career pattern. The Patriots used Fleming as a part-time player as well but did not opt to keep him last year. He provides quality depth for the Cowboys, who are paying him a higher-end backup salary to work as insurance.
Cowboys To Re-Sign FB Jamize Olawale
Veteran fullback Jamize Olawale will have another opportunity in Dallas. The 2018 trade acquisition agreed to a new Cowboys deal, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter).
This agreement is worth $5.4MM over three years, per Machota, who adds $2.8MM is guaranteed. Olawale finished his first season with the Cowboys, playing 132 snaps and on special teams. A $1.8MM signing bonus is including in this pact, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic tweets.
The Raiders traded Olawale to the Cowboys nearly a year ago. The soon-to-be 30-year-old blocking back was not used as a ball-carrier, which was the case sparingly in Oakland. But he’ll nonetheless stay a part of Dallas’ backfield in 2019.
The eighth-year UDFA’s contract falls in line with the non-Kyle Juszczyk wing of this position, Olawale’s per-year salary placing him in the top five among fullbacks. He had previously played out a three-year extension, which he signed as a Raider near the end of the 2015 season.