The Dallas Cowboys have gone out and bolstered their defensive line by adding a productive veteran. Per Todd Archer of ESPN, the team has signed 32-year-old defensive tackle Gerald McCoy to a three-year deal pending physical.

Financial details of the contract are not currently available, but the signing was much-needed for the Cowboys after starting DT Maliek Collins signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday.

After nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where McCoy proved himself as one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL, the former No. 3 overall pick signed with the Carolina Panthers on a one-year deal.

Last season for Carolina, the 6-foot-4, 300-pound tackle recorded 37 tackles, seven tackles for a loss and five sacks while starting all 16 games. While McCoy was unable to reproduce his All-Pro production from his Tampa Bay days, the veteran D-lineman has proven to still be an effective weapon in the middle of any defense.

Along with Collins, the Cowboys have also lost star cornerback Byron Jones (who signed a massive contract with the Miami Dolphins) and starting defensive end Robert Quinn (who recorded 11.5 sacks for Dallas last season).

Key losses in free agency might be tough for the Cowboys to overcome this offseason, but the signing of Gerald McCoy is a great start. Last season, Dallas ranked 11th in the NFL in terms of points allowed per game and gave up the 17th most rushing touchdowns among the league's 32 teams.