Eric Kendricks pivots from 49ers, agrees to terms with Cowboys

Linebacker Eric Kendricks, who earlier on Wednesday agreed to a one-year maintain the San Francisco 49ers, has as an alternative decided to hitch the Dallas Cowboys.

On Thursday, the Cowboys launched they’ve agreed to phrases with Kendricks. His settlement with Dallas is for one 12 months, sources instructed ESPN’s Todd Archer.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who coached Kendricks with the Minnesota Vikings from 2015 to 2021, wanted the earlier Skilled Bowl selection to help run his safety and Kendricks moreover most popular to play in Dallas, sources instructed Schefter.

The Cowboys had a critical hole to fill at linebacker after using remodeled safety Markquese Bell in that spot after shedding Leighton Vander Esch all through the season to a neck hurt and DeMarvion Overshown to a knee hurt in teaching camp. Vander Esch is anticipated to retire inside the coming weeks, nonetheless with Kendricks, they’ve anyone who’s conscious of Zimmer’s scheme and has been credited with higher than 100 tackles in all nonetheless one season in his nine-year career.

A gaggle captain who accomplished second on the Chargers with 117 tackles remaining season, Kendricks was launched by Los Angeles as a wage cap casualty March 5 after changing into a member of the group on a two-year, $13.25 million contract earlier to the 2023 season. The Chargers saved $6.5 million with Kendricks’ launch.

The linebacker had 3.5 sacks and a pressured fumble in 2023.

Kendricks, a 2015 second-round select, carried out eight seasons for the Vikings sooner than he was launched after the 2022 offseason. He had a team-leading 137 tackles with Minnesota in 2022, starting all 17 video video games.

He was chosen to his solely Skilled Bowl in 2019, when he moreover was a first-team All-Skilled selection. For his career, Kendricks has 1,036 tackles and 18.5 sacks in 132 video video games (127 begins).