NFL rumors: Dallas Cowboys will let David Irving hit free agency
By Matt Conner
Former Chiefs defensive lineman David Irving will hit free agency with word that the Dallas Cowboys aren’t interested in bringing him back.
The latest rumors coming out of Dallas are that two players will be hitting free agency who had less than stellar seasons over the last year: wide receiver Terrance Williams and defensive lineman David Irving.
While the former should garner zero interest from the Kansas City Chiefs, the latter’s name should ring familiar as a former member of the team stolen away by Dallas who blossomed into one of the most efficient pass rushers in the entire league.
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Irving, who is still only 25-years-old, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chiefs in 2015 and was placed on the team’s practice squad. The Cowboys signed him away to their active roster only a few weeks into the season and he was a rotational lineman by midseason. From there, Irving’s stock began to bloom with 4 sacks and 15 quarterback hits in 2016 and 7 sacks in 8 starts for the Cowboys in 2017.
Unfortunately, Irving’s talents have allowed him to coast through several instances that would have ended the careers of other players. The Cowboys have dealt with two four-game suspensions for Irving in such a limited time frame for taking a performance-enhancing drug and substance abuse. Add this to a questionable work ethic and an investigation of assault and the Cowboys have decided to wash their hands of him.
For teams who haven’t yet dealt with the drama, the addition of Irving presents an intriguing problem. If a team is able to get through to him emotionally and mentally, the potential to add game-changing talent along the defensive front for pennies on the dollar is one of the sexier propositions around for a GM. At the same time, signing a player who could be a public relations nightmare at any point—one who was already glowing with a “stay away” sign before he was even signed—is a risk better left alone.
Winning cures everything in the NFL these days, however, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see someone take a chance on Irving. If so, it will likely be the ultimate bust/boom transaction this entire offseason.