The Dallas Cowboys have been very quiet, much to the chagrin of many fans across the country, with even Skip Bayless voicing his frustration about it.
The team finally made a move, signing linebacker Eric Kendricks. Bringing in Kendricks makes sense because of his familiarity with new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Here is a look at the newest Cowboy.
Who Is New Cowboys LB Eric Kendricks?
Kendricks played college football at UCLA, where he became a star. After redshirting in 2010, he put together quite the collegiate career as a Bruin.
His best year came as a senior when he won the Butkus Award.
During his four seasons at UCLA, he finished with 476 tackles, 10 sacks, and three interceptions.
After his senior year, he performed at the Combine. He ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash, which was one of the fastest times for a linebacker that year. He ended up being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 45 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and has put together quite a career.
Kendricks’ Contract Details
Kendricks signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys that could potentially be worth $3.5 million. The pursuit of Kendricks didn’t come without some controversy, though. Prior to signing with Dallas, it was reported that Kendricks would be signing with the San Francisco 49ers.
The rumored contract would have paid Kendricks potentially more money, but the opportunity to play for Mike Zimmer again was too good to pass up. Kendricks played his first eight seasons in the NFL in Minnesota, and Zimmer was the head coach for the first seven of those years.
At 32 years old, Kendricks is past the point in his career where he is going to get multi-year contracts. However, this opportunity in Dallas to come in and play for a defense that needs linebacker help could see him re-sign next offseason.
Kendricks’ Career Stats
Kendricks has had a very good career, as he has 1,036 tackles, 18.5 sacks, and nine interceptions. Early in his career, he showed the ability to make big plays, as he scored a touchdown in both his second and third seasons.
He was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2015, and he was named a Pro-Bowler and a First-Team All-Pro in 2019.
His best statistical season, though, was in 2021, as he had 143 tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions.
Last year, in his lone season as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers, he finished with 117 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He showed that he is still a guy who is capable of having a very solid season.
He will be more valuable to this team as the “quarterback” of the defense. He knows Zimmer’s defense very well and will be able to communicate with his new teammates and get them to where they need to be.
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