IRVING, Texas - It's done. The Cowboys have agreed to terms with free agent cornerback Brandon Carr on a five-year deal that will make him the team's highest-paid defensive back.
The Cowboys spent Tuesday night and much of Wednesday in negotiations with Carr's agent Ben Dogra, and finally reached a compromise Wednesday afternoon. The total compensation of the deal is believed to exceed $50 million.
"I'm ecstatic," Carr said. "It's been a long, long time and I've been waiting for this opportunity to not only secure myself financially, but also to elevate my game to be at the highest level, which is the Dallas Cowboys. Now it's time to turn my game up another notch."
Carr's signing came just hours after the Cowboys worked out a three-year deal with his former Kansas City Chiefs teammate, quarterback Kyle Orton.
The Cowboys agreed to terms with two other free agents on Wednesday, fullback Lawrence Vickers of the Houston Texans (two years) and Carolina Panthers guard Mackenzy Bernadeau (four years).
Carr's signing comes a day after the team released nine-year starter Terence Newman, saving some $6 million against the salary cap for 2012. He will take over the left cornerback job, playing opposite Mike Jenkins in a coverage group that also includes Orlando Scandrick. All three cornerbacks are entering their fifth season in the NFL.
The club went to great lengths to welcome Carr to town on Tuesday night, coaches and front office personnel hosting him at Cowboys Stadium.
Considered by many the top cover man available in free agency, the 25-year-old was clearly the Cowboys' first priority on the open market this year.
The market for cornerbacks had narrowed by late Tuesday night, when Tennessee's Cortland Finnegan signed a five-year, $50 million pact with the St. Louis Rams. The 49ers and Seahawks were also reported as potential suitors for Carr, but San Francisco re-signed its own free agent corner, Carlos Rogers.
The NFL had removed $5 million from the Cowboys' 2012 salary cap earlier in the week, but the team created the space for Wednesday's additions with several roster moves. In addition to releasing Newman, the Cowboys also let go of kicker David Buehler, saving $1.26 million, and restructured the long-term deals of Scandrick and offensive tackle Doug Free. Scandrick signed a five-year, $27 million extension during training camp of last season, while Jenkins has one year remaining on his rookie contract.
Carr has good size for a cornerback, at 6-0, 207 pounds, and only turns 26 in May. A fifth-round pick out of Grand Valley State in 2008, he started all 64 games of his tenure with the Chiefs, recording eight interceptions, including four in his career season of 2011. He allowed a completion on only 46 percent of the plays on which he was targeted last season, and gave up just three touchdowns while also defending 15 passes.
Last summer, the Cowboys pursued top free agent cover man Nnamdi Asomugha, but he chose to sign with Philadelphia instead, inking a five-year, $60 million deal. The club did not go after cornerback Johnathan Joseph, whose credentials are similar to Carr's, but he made the Pro Bowl in the first season of a five-year, $49 million contract with the Houston Texans.
The Cowboys are hosting two other free agents on Wednesday, Carolina linebacker Dan Connor and Chicago tight end Kellen Davis.
The Cowboys spent Tuesday night and much of Wednesday in negotiations with Carr's agent Ben Dogra, and finally reached a compromise Wednesday afternoon. The total compensation of the deal is believed to exceed $50 million.
"I'm ecstatic," Carr said. "It's been a long, long time and I've been waiting for this opportunity to not only secure myself financially, but also to elevate my game to be at the highest level, which is the Dallas Cowboys. Now it's time to turn my game up another notch."
Carr's signing came just hours after the Cowboys worked out a three-year deal with his former Kansas City Chiefs teammate, quarterback Kyle Orton.
The Cowboys agreed to terms with two other free agents on Wednesday, fullback Lawrence Vickers of the Houston Texans (two years) and Carolina Panthers guard Mackenzy Bernadeau (four years).
Carr's signing comes a day after the team released nine-year starter Terence Newman, saving some $6 million against the salary cap for 2012. He will take over the left cornerback job, playing opposite Mike Jenkins in a coverage group that also includes Orlando Scandrick. All three cornerbacks are entering their fifth season in the NFL.
The club went to great lengths to welcome Carr to town on Tuesday night, coaches and front office personnel hosting him at Cowboys Stadium.
Considered by many the top cover man available in free agency, the 25-year-old was clearly the Cowboys' first priority on the open market this year.
The market for cornerbacks had narrowed by late Tuesday night, when Tennessee's Cortland Finnegan signed a five-year, $50 million pact with the St. Louis Rams. The 49ers and Seahawks were also reported as potential suitors for Carr, but San Francisco re-signed its own free agent corner, Carlos Rogers.
The NFL had removed $5 million from the Cowboys' 2012 salary cap earlier in the week, but the team created the space for Wednesday's additions with several roster moves. In addition to releasing Newman, the Cowboys also let go of kicker David Buehler, saving $1.26 million, and restructured the long-term deals of Scandrick and offensive tackle Doug Free. Scandrick signed a five-year, $27 million extension during training camp of last season, while Jenkins has one year remaining on his rookie contract.
Carr has good size for a cornerback, at 6-0, 207 pounds, and only turns 26 in May. A fifth-round pick out of Grand Valley State in 2008, he started all 64 games of his tenure with the Chiefs, recording eight interceptions, including four in his career season of 2011. He allowed a completion on only 46 percent of the plays on which he was targeted last season, and gave up just three touchdowns while also defending 15 passes.
Last summer, the Cowboys pursued top free agent cover man Nnamdi Asomugha, but he chose to sign with Philadelphia instead, inking a five-year, $60 million deal. The club did not go after cornerback Johnathan Joseph, whose credentials are similar to Carr's, but he made the Pro Bowl in the first season of a five-year, $49 million contract with the Houston Texans.
The Cowboys are hosting two other free agents on Wednesday, Carolina linebacker Dan Connor and Chicago tight end Kellen Davis.
