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There have been a few pressing matters concerning the Cowboys and considering it’s NFL Combine week, Jerry Jones talking to the media will likely give us information on them. Although this year, so far, Stephen Jones is taking the lead in providing information.
Tuesday Stephen passed on information regarding defensive tackle David Irving and what the Cowboys plan to do with him, well at least partly. They’re going to tender him, they just don’t know to what degree yet.
Stephen Jones also said that the Cowboys plan to tender DT David Irving, although they haven’t decided which tender. #cowboyswire
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) February 27, 2018
David Irving is a restricted free agent for those that forgot, and that comes with the option to be tendered. If you’re new around here or also forgot what that means, SB Nation did a great recap last offseason.
Teams have four different tender options they can place on their restricted free agent that usually keeps those players from leaving.
1. First-round tender: Free agent can negotiate with other teams, but original team has option to match any deal and will receive a first-round selection if it opts not to match the deal.
2. Second-round tender: Free agent can negotiate with other teams, but original team has option to match any deal and will receive a second-round selection if it opts not to match the deal.
3. Original-round tender: Free agent can negotiate with other teams, but original team has option to match any deal and will receive a selection equal to the round the player was originally selected in if it opts not to match the deal.
4. Right of first refusal: Free agent can negotiate with other teams, but original team has option to match any deal. The team will not receive any compensation if it opts not to match another deal.
Speculation all along has been that the Cowboys will hit Irving with a second-round tender, meaning another team risks parting with a second-round pick should they choose to sign him and the Cowboys don’t match. That’s a pretty hefty price to pay for any player, but Irving is talented.
If you’ll remember, the Cowboys poached Irving away from the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad in 2015. Cashing out now for a second-round pick does make some legitimate sense, but again, Irving is quite special.
For now we wait.