Dallas Cowboys: Top 5 offseason additions, post 2018 NFL Draft

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 24: Jay Cutler #6 of the Miami Dolphins has his pass attempt defended by Kony Ealy #94 of the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on September 24, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

4. Kony Ealy, DE (from New York Jets)

This offseason, the Dallas Cowboys place the franchise tag on defensive end Demarcus Lawrence and with good reason. It would have been tough to see the four-year pro walk away in free agency and the club simply wasn’t going to let that happen.

Lawrence comes off a season in which he played all 16 games for the first time. He racked up 58 tackles and finished second in the league with a career-best 14.5 sacks. Consider that the 2017 Pro Bowler came up with well over one-third of the team’s 38 quarterback traps. Lawrence also finished with four forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries. Interior presence David Irving (when available) was second on the team with seven sacks.

Hence the team could use another veteran pass rusher off the edge and the signing of promising Kony Ealy. He had his moments with the Carolina Panthers after being the team’s second-round pick in 2014. You will recall his three sack performance on Peyton Manning against the Broncos in Super Bowl 50. But during the 2017 offseason he was dealt to the New England Patriots and then proceeded to fail to make the team.

He wound up with the New York Jets last year and still enjoyed a solid showing, despite finishing with only one sack. Now he joins the Dallas Cowboys looking to get his career back to where many people thought it should be. Paired with Lawrence, he could prove to be a very solid addition.

Next: No. 3

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