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We were told that NFL Free Agency began on Wednesday, March 14th at 4pm ET. That, apparently, was a lie.
Many an NFL domino have begun to fall and among them is a soon-to-be former member of the Dallas Cowboys. Per reports, Anthony Hitchens is expected to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The #Chiefs are now adding a big weapon on defense: They plan to sign former #Cowboys LB Anthony Hitchens to a deal worth $9M per year, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2018
Cowboys fans really wanted Anthony Hitchens to return, but $9M per year might be too rich for their blood. Hitch is a solid player, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody who was willing to commit that type of money.
What makes it hard for the Cowboys to give Anthony that type of pay day is that he’s not a starter in Dallas. Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith are expected to do the heavy lifting, Hitchens has only been insurance.
Now, for what it’s worth, there was some discussion of Jaylon Smith moving to the SAM linebacker spot, and if that happens permanently then losing Anthony Hitchens will sting all the more, but the price tag just seems too difficult to tango with.
Stephen Jones has said “there is no one I want to have more money than Anthony. ...But at some point, it’s too much for us.” Great deal for Hitchens, who Cowboys drafted out of Iowa in 2014. LB now glaring need for Dallas. https://t.co/hu6B4ThOxP
— Kate Hairopoulos (@khairopoulos) March 13, 2018
Whatever happens with Jaylon Smith, and to be fair this was true before Hitchens walked, linebacker is a pressing concern for the Cowboys. It’d serve them well to address it to some degree in free agency, and they’ll likely walk away with one among their top picks come draft day.