FRISCO, Texas –Despite missing both the first four and last four games of the 2017 season, David Irving apparently did enough in between for the Cowboys to keep him around in 2018.
And if they don't have him, they'll be fairly compensated.
The Cowboys made sure of that Wednesday, issuing a second-round tender to Irving, who is a restricted free agent. Of the three tender amounts available to give, the second-round tender makes the most sense for Irving, who had seven sacks in eight games played last year.
He was suspended the first four games after violating the league's policy on performance enhancing substances, and the last four games because of a concussion.
The second-round tender of $2.9 million assures the Cowboys of either having him for this season on a one-year deal, or they will receive a second-round pick from another team that signs him to an offer sheet. The tender also gives the Cowboys the right of first refusal and the opportunity to match any deal Irving gets from another team.
