Rolando McClain Re-Signs with Cowboys: Latest Contract Details and Reaction

The Dallas Cowboys announced that they have re-signed linebacker Rolando McClain after two productive seasons with the team.

McClain's representation, SportsTrust Advisors, announced the news on March 9. Official terms of the deal have yet to be revealed, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport cited a source when reporting that it is a one-year deal worth $5 million.

The signing comes on the heels of Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones revealing at the NFL Scouting Combine that the organization was interested in retaining McClain. According to David Helman of the team's official website, Jones felt as though the 26-year-old star made major strides during his second season with the Cowboys in 2015: "I think he was (more reliable). I think he was productive, and I think he's finding a niche here and hopefully we can figure something out. We'll be visiting with his agents while we're here."

The former 2010 first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders registered 80 tackles, two sacks and one interception in 11 games for the Cowboys in 2015 after accruing 87 tackles, one sack and two picks in 13 contests during the 2014 campaign.

McClain sat out the 2013 season after retiring in the wake of myriad off-field issues, but the Alabama product has been an important piece of Dallas' defense over the past couple of years.

There is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the Cowboys' front seven, with defensive linemen Greg Hardy, Jeremy Mincey and Jack Crawford, but re-signing McClain establishes a strong core along with defensive end Demarcus Lawrence and linebacker Sean Lee.

McClain has shown signs of being the type of player who was deserving of the No. 8 overall selection in 2010 NFL draft during his tenure in Dallas, so it is easy to see why the Cowboys wanted to keep him in the fold.

The organization is remaining cautious with McClain, as evidenced by the one-year deal, but the fact that it was willing to up his salary significantly—up from $3 million in 2015, per Spotrac.com—suggests that he is viewed as a vital component in the Cowboys' quest to return to NFC East contention in 2016.

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