The Dallas Cowboys are "aggressively" attempting to lock up defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford with a new long-term contract, according to a Friday report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Per Rapoport, the team hopes to get the deal done prior to Sunday and their season-opener against the rival New York Giants.
Crawford, 25, was a third-round pick by the Cowboys and Stephen and Jerry Jones in the 2012 NFL Draft. Set to enter his fourth professional season out of Boise State, Crawford has turned himself in a disruptive force in the middle of the Cowboys defensive line. He finished last season for the surprisingly effective Dallas defensive with 33 tackles and three sacks, though his final statline doesn't tell the whole story of his effectiveness.
While Crawford came into the league having never played defensive tackle and missed the entirety of his sophomore NFL campaign with an Achilles injury, he told ESPN recently that he feels as though he's finally settling into his role on the Cowboys front.
"I wasn't sure I was going to like it because I'd never played inside," Crawford said, "but it's worked out great because I was never an elusive player. Inside, I don't have to be elusive, I can bang and wreak havoc.
"It's my second year at the position and now I'm getting a good feel for it. I'm just working to get better. I'm never going to be satisfied and I'm never going to stop working."
With sleek outside pass-rusher Randy Gregory selected in the second-round of the 2015 NFL Draft and monster defensive end Greg Hardy signed in free agency, Crawford's job should be even easier this season as offenses key on stopping other players.
With Crawford seemingly on the rise and anchoring the middle of the Cowboys defensive, it makes sense for the team to lock him up now.
