Cowboys sign defensive tackle Dontari Poe and kicker Greg Zuerlein

The Dallas Cowboys signed two free agents on Friday as they came to terms with defensive tackle Dontari Poe from the Carolina Panthers and kicker Greg Zuerlein from the Los Angeles Rams. Poe, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, signed a two year contract worth $10.5 million. Zuerlein, a native of Lincoln, Nebraska, signed a three year contract worth $7.5 million.

Poe, who is 29 years of age, is joining his fourth National Football League franchise. In addition to the Panthers, he has played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons. This past season in Carolina, Poe played in 11 games (10 starts) and had four sacks, 22 combined tackles (15 solo tackles and seven assisted tackles), seven tackles for a loss and six quarterback hits.

Initially the Chiefs first round draft pick, 11th overall, in the 2012 NFL Draft, Poe played in two Pro Bowls in 2013 and 2014 while with the Chiefs. He is currently 6’3″ and 345 pounds.

Zuerlein is 32 years of age. The Cowboys become his second team after eight seasons with the Rams organization (four seasons each with the St. Louis Rams and Los Angeles Rams). In 2019, Zuerlein completed 24 of 33 field goals and all 44 converts. In his career, he has completed 201 of 245 field goals for an execution percentage of 82%. Zuerlein has also averaged 64.8 yards on his 594 career kickoffs.

Giving a three year contract to a kicker is rather interesting. Zuerlein has been to the Pro Bowl (represented the Rams in 2017) and has successfully kicked a NFL field goal as far as 61 yards. However, giving a long term contract to a kicker could be considered a little risky when you consider the fact it is a position that requires a significant amount of self confidence. In an interesting note, Zuerlein, who is at 190 pounds, is 155 fewer pounds than Poe.