Former Rams CB Derion Kendrick to sign with Dallas Cowboys

“I don’t know that since we’ve had free agency as we know it today, where it’s really very viable, most teams involved very actively making deals if you will. I don’t know since that has evolved and come about that we’ve ever had this kind of reshaping of an aspect of our team.” Cowboys GM Jerry Jones said while speaking at the Grand Prix of Arlington in mid-March, per the Cowboys' official website.

“Of course, we actually have touched some offense with a great blocker, but more importantly, what we’ve done on defense. That plus what we have set up for the draft, plus what we really have coming back from our veteran defensive players that really didn’t play that much last year, injury issues, things like that, gives us a lot of promise.

“I’ll tell you, when you have the challenges we had last year, there’s no place to go but up on the defensive side of the ball. Had we played a lick of defense last year, we would’ve had ourselves, I think, a real playoff run.”

Dallas Cowboys look to bounce back from second consecutive missed postseason

Dallas is coming off an extremely disappointing 7-9-1 season, in which it missed the postseason for the second consecutive year. While boasting one of the best offenses in football, the Cowboys simultaneously trotted out one of the worst defenses in football. The addition of Kendrick provides depth to that defense, now led by defensive coordinator Christian Parker.

Parker, who was formerly the passing game coordinator & defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, was hired to succeed former DC Matt Eberflus. Under Eberflus, Dallas’ defense ranked third-to-last in the NFL in yards (377) allowed per game and last in the NFL in points (30.1) allowed per game.

With Kendrick’s addition, the Cowboys have signed eight defensive free agents. They also traded for former Pro Bowl defensive end Rashan Gary.