Dallas Cowboys set to sign Jeremy Mincey, Terrell McClain
Denver Broncos defensive end Jeremy Mincey (57) at a press conference in advance of Super Bowl XLVIII on the Cornucopia Majesty yacht on the Hudson River. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The big news right now is obviously the Denver Broncos decision to sign star pass rusher DeMarcus Ware to a massive contract, and they were always considered the favorites to nab him. That organization is clearly going all-in on a Super Bowl run with Peyton Manning’s career winding down, as they signed star DBs T.J. Ward and Aqib Talib yesterday.
Ware’s former team, the Dallas Cowboys, won’t be making any splash signings this offseason, but it is possible that they have one significant deal in them after deciding to save money on Ware, who seems overpaid on his deal with the Broncos. But anyway, the Cowboys are set to sign two defensive linemen, as beat writer Nick Eatman reports that they are “close” to signing defensive end Jeremy Mincey and defensive tackle Terrell McClain, with both deals pending a physical.
The Cowboys could go after Henry Melton to replace free agent defensive tackle Jason Hatcher as a top-notch interior pass rusher, and pass rush is clearly a need with Ware gone and Anthony Spencer in free agency. Mincey and McClain are ideally depth guys, but both specialize as pass rushers. I’ve never been a fan of McClain’s game, and he was tossed by the Carolina Panthers after just one season due to his lack of strength and complete inability to get off of blocks in the running game. The USF product is a depth DT at best, but he can rush the passer in sub-package situations.
I like the decision to sign Mincey, and the deal is likely a cheap one. He was a rotational pass rusher for the Denver Broncos last year, and he was a quality piece for them. He’s a decent No. 3 DE and pass rusher, but he isn’t a true starter in this league and definitely isn’t an adequate replacement for Ware. That said, Mincey is a nice add, and hopefully the deal goes through without any issues.