Oakland Raiders: Dallas Cowboys Trying To Poach A Pass Rusher?

The Oakland Raiders may soon be faced with a decision regarding an important piece of the defensive rotation – Benson Mayowa.

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Through a combination of savvy drafting and free agent adds, the Oakland Raiders have been steadily building a solid defensive line. With players like Justin Ellis, Dan Williams, Denico Autry, Justin Tuck, Mario Edwards Jr., and Shelby Harris among others in the rotation, Oakland’s defensive line has become a source of strength for that defense. But success has its drawbacks as other teams begin to covet the players that made them successful.

In this case, it’s being reported that the Dallas Cowboys are expressing interest in signing defensive end Benson Mayowa away from the Raiders.

The Seahawks signed Mayowa as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho in 2013, appearing in two games that year. But he was waived during final roster cuts the following season. In need of some help on the defensive line, the Raiders swept in and scooped him up. And he quickly became an important part of Oakland’s defensive rotation.

Mayowa appeared in all 16 games for the Raiders in 2014, making one start. In 2015, injury limited Mayowa to 12 games and a pair of starts. In his time in Oakland, Mayowa has accumulated 30 tackles (23 solo), a pair of sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and a pass defensed.

More than statistics though, Mayowa has provided a tough, physical presence on the defensive line. He’s been an important part of the rotation.

From Dallas’s standpoint, it makes sense. DeMarcus Lawrence continues to rehab from back surgery and Randy Gregory will miss the first four games of next season afer being suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. They’ve shown little interest in re-signing Greg Hardy – not surprisingly – and have two other free agents in Jeremy Mincey and Jack Crawford they’ve not re-signed yet.

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And after losing out on Chris Long, Andre Branch, and Adrian Clayborn, the Cowboys have a very serious need at defensive end.

Mayowa though, is a restricted free agent, with the Raiders offering him the low tender of $1.671 million dollars for the season. If the Cowboys sign him to an offer sheet, the Raiders have five days to match the offer. If Mayowa does sign an offer sheet with the Cowboys and Oakland opts to not match the offer, allowing him to leave, they receive no compensation.

With the signing of Bruce Irvin and the presence of Khalil Mack, along with the rest of the rotation – not to mention the possibility of bringing Aldon Smith back when he is eligible to return – the Raiders are going to be pretty loaded. But will having a fairly stacked defensive front make Mayowa expendable? Because as we’ve seen, you can never have too many pass rushers.

And though they improved dramatically last season, the Raiders can’t afford to let defensive talent who can help put pressure on the quarterback walk away.

Next: With Weddle In Baltimore, Some Options At Safety

Dallas’s interest in Mayowa at this point is very preliminary. No meeting has been scheduled nor has an offer been extended just yet. But with plenty of money still under the cap, the Raiders should be able to match any offer the Cowboys are able to put together.

The question becomes whether they will or not. Given that they tendered him at all suggests that they want to retain his services and keep him in the rotation. But if Dallas does indeed come calling, what will they be willing to pay to do that?

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