3 Cowboys players likely entering their final season in a Dallas uniform
By Randy Gurzi
2. Tyrone Crawford, Defensive End
Back in 2012, the Dallas Cowboys used a third-round pick on Boise State’s Tyrone Crawford. This was before we saw just how much Jason Garrett loved the Broncos pipeline as several others including DeMarcus Lawrence and Leighton Vander Esch ended up joining Crawford down the road as Cowboys draft picks out of Boise State.
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Crawford started his career as a defensive end in Rob Ryan’s 3-4 defense but then moved to defensive tackle when Monte Kiffin, and later Rod Marinelli, took over. The problem is, he never got to stick with one spot as he was then shifted back and forth as need dictated.
Eventually, he settled in as a defensive end and had one of the best seasons of his career in 2018 with 34 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Then in 2019, he was sidelined after just four games due to a hip injury. The defensive line still had success but Crawford is a savvy veteran that was missed.
He’s needed now more than ever with the departure of Robert Quinn as well as the fact that Dallas didn’t add a player early on in the 2020 NFL Draft. For Crawford, this would be a good season to get healthy and provide the team with the big season they need.
2020 will be the final year of his five-year $45 million contract that was signed in 2015. He will also be 31-years old when the season ends, meaning he could set himself up for one more sizable contract, even if it’s not a long-term one.
Sadly, that contract might not come in Dallas, since they have shown a desire to keep from overpaying outside of Lawrence. That could spell the end of the line for Crawford in Big D.