DT Nick Hayden “An Important Signing” for Cowboys

Hayden signed his one-year deal with Dallas on Thursday

The Dallas Cowboys made it official with defensive tackle Nick Hayden on Thursday, signing him to a one-year deal worth $745,000. Head coach Jason Garrett credited Hayden with being a leader of the defensive line and, while he’s not necessarily what you’d call an impact player--the kind of guy who puts up gaudy numbers year in and year out--he has proven himself to be an important piece for the Dallas defense.

“Well, we’re always trying to get better and we have to get better,” Garrett said, per the Dallas Morning News. “We have to bring some impact players into our defense. But Nick has been such a good player for us as a leader of that defensive line and he’s a really productive player. There’s a lot of the dirty work but he’s one of those guys who makes a lot of hits on the ball, is around the football a lot and simply makes a lot of plays.

“That was an important signing for us.”

In 2014, his sixth season in the league, Hayden started all 16 games for the Cowboys and finished with 38 tackles and a pass deflection. He also started both of the team’s playoff games.

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