The Dallas Cowboys have been looking for help at the safety position over the past few years. Rumors have connected them to names like Earl Thomas and Jamal Adams, but there is a third name that has come up from time to time: Former Kansas City Chiefs superstar safety Eric Berry.
Many will remember Berry from his days with the Chiefs as a hard-hitting playmaker and top-notch leader. Unfortunately, a battle with cancer and multiple injuries have derailed his career. He took a full season off in 2019, but has been open to signing a deal this offseason.
Obviously, when a player with the injury and health history that Berry has comes available, teams are going to be slow to pursue him. That has been the case for Berry so far. But, the Cowboys should be the team that strongly consider pursuing him and giving him another chance to resurrect his NFL career.
Berry hasn't played a full season since 2016, when he put up huge numbers, recording 77 total tackles to go along with one forced fumble, four interceptions, two defensive touchdowns and nine passes defensed. While those numbers may never be what Berry is capable of again, he is well worth taking a flyer on.
Let's dive in and take a look at why the Cowboys should strongly consider signing Berry this offseason.
Why Eric Berry Could Make Perfect Sense For The Cowboys
The Cowboys need more leadership in their secondary. If there is one area that Berry has been elite in throughout his entire career, it would be leadership. He led with his play and by example with the Chiefs.
Currently, the Cowboys are heading into the 2020 NFL season with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Xavier Woods as their starting safeties. Berry may not come in and win a starting job immediately, but he could certainly play a role. Even if he didn't become a starter at all for Dallas, he could provide depth and the ability to step in and play in case of injury.
Simply giving a player like Berry, who has had life throw quite a few obstacles at him, another chance would be a feel-good story. If he can come in and play anything close to how he used to, he could be a starter and would make a major impact on the Dallas defense.
Berry is now 31 years old and time is running short for him to try to jump-start his career. If he is going to make his return to the NFL, it needs to be either this offseason or the next. Dallas may not end up signing another safety, but this move would make a lot of sense.
Not only would Berry come with the potential reward of being an impact player on the defense, he would come on a cheap deal. No teams would have to break the bank if they chose to sign him.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is all about star power and supports bringing in veterans to help revitalize their careers. He has done that numerous times in recent years — for example, the recent signing of Aldon Smith. Dallas should strongly consider doing that for Berry, who is more than deserving of another chance and doesn't have the red flags of someone like Smith.
Expect to hear Berry's name come up for a few teams as training camp and the regular season draws closer. There is always a chance that he will sit out another season and focus on pushing a comeback next year, but time is running short for the veteran safety. Dallas is definitely a team to keep an eye on for Berry this season.
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