Cowboys Trading for Michael Bennett Shows They're Serious About Replacing Tyrone Crawford

The Dallas Cowboys defensive line has been much-maligned this season. The team confidently moved on from 2017 first-round pick Taco Charlton, but were snake-bitten after finding out that Tyrone Crawford is done for the season with a hip injury.

So, what does Jerry Jones do? He acquires a disgruntled Michael Bennett from the New England Patriots for just a conditional seventh-round pick. That goes to show that the team is prepared to be without Crawford.

After several strong seasons after being selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Cowboys rewarded Crawford with a massive five-year, $45 million contract.

That investment proved to be costly. Once putting pen to paper, Crawford suffered a torn rotator cuff and additional shoulder injuries. Not to mention his hip injury that he played through since last season. While it didn't result in missed games until now, Crawford's effectiveness suffered.

The defensive lineman has never recorded more than 34 tackles or 5.5 sacks since signing the contract. That's not worth a $9 million annual salary.

Now, the Cowboys get a veteran presence in Michael Bennett for pennies on the dollar. Bennett has showcased his ability to put pressure on and get to the quarterback when given ample playing time.

Just look at his numbers last season with the Philadelphia Eagles. At the age of 32, Bennett was able to record nine sacks and 30 quarterback hits. Those are numbers that the Cowboys would certainly like to see.

The Dallas Cowboys hit the jackpot on a low-risk, high-reward player in Michael Bennett, whose under contract through the 2020 season.