Cowboys Rumors: Dontari Poe in Contract Talks Amid Search for DT Upgrades

The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly in contract negotiations with free-agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe, who spent the past two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. 

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Monday the deal is "not done yet but could be by the end of today if all goes well."

Poe recorded 22 total tackles and four sacks across 11 appearances for the Panthers in 2019. His season came to a premature end in November when he suffered a torn quadriceps and landed on injured reserve.

The 29-year-old Tennessee native was the 11th overall pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2012 NFL draft. After five years in K.C., he played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 before signing with Carolina in 2018.

In all, he's tallied 278 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 14 passes defended and two forced fumbles in 121 regular-season appearances across eight seasons.

Poe ranks 11th in approximate value among defensive tackles since his rookie year, per Pro Football Reference.

If signed by Dallas, the University of Memphis product would likely slot in as a starter alongside DeMarcus Lawrence, Gerald McCoy and Tyrone Crawford on the defensive line.

The Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are among the other teams that could use upgrades at defensive tackle should talks not work out with the Cowboys.