Free agent linebacker Justin Durant agreed to a two-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, according to a report from Nick Eatman.
Cowboys rumors: Justin Durant signs contract, Kyle Orton restructures
The Cowboys were busy on Wednesday, signing free agent Justin Durant while restructure the contract of backup quarterback Kyle Orton.
More: Blogging the Boys
Limited by a lack of salary cap space, the Cowboys have not been active in free agency. Durant is their first free agent acquisition of the offseason, although Dallas has agreed to terms with free agent safety Will Allen. In order to create enough salary cap space to sign Durant, the Cowboys restructured backup quarterback Kyle Orton's contract. According to Spotrac, Orton was scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.35 million in 2013. If the Cowboys reduced Orton's base salary and converted it into a signing bonus, they can spread the cap hit over the remainder of his contract.
The 27-year-old Durant should be a solid addition to Dallas' linebacker corps. He spent the last two seasons with Detroit, recording a career-high 103 total tackles last season. Durant started 26 of a possible 32 games during his two seasons with the Lions. As Dave Halprin of Blogging the Boys wrote, Durant is expected to compete for the starting strong-side linebacker spot with Kyle Wilber, Alex Albright and Ernie Sims.
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