Report: Cowboys to sign former Colts defensive end Ben Banogu

The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly close to inking free agent defensive end Ben Banogu to the roster amid mandatory minicamp this week, according to Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken.

Banogu, who spent the last four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, is coming off a 2022 season with 16 games played and 10 tackles. He was a second-round selection by the Colts in 2019. He went No. 49 overall after a standout collegiate career at TCU.

Although he played in just nine games in both 2020 and 2021, Banogu started his career off well in Indianapolis. He had 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble as a rookie.

Banogu’s four-year, $5.9 million rookie contract with the Colts ran out in March, making him a free agent for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old is a native of McKinney, Texas, where he played at Prosper High School.

The Cowboys indicated there could be a couple more additions to the roster on Monday after working out a group of free agents. Banogu was not amongst the group of free agents that included a group of two quarterbacks, two cornerbacks, and three wide receivers. Dallas did end up signing one of those seven.

Cowboys add wide receiver Tyron Johnson to 90-man roster

On Tuesday, Mike McCarthy addressed the team’s signing of free agent Tyron Johnson to the 90-man roster. Johnson was one of three receivers that the Cowboys worked out on Monday, but the only one that signed. He played in Houston last season with Cooks.

“I thought all three guys worked out well,” McCarthy said. “There was history there with (Cooks). He brings that juice. It’s mandatory minicamp, isn’t it? We’re excited to have him.”

Johnson’s signing came in the wake of the Cowboy’s decision to release Antonio Callaway, who was arrested on Friday for driving on a suspended license. His arrest was just days before the start of minicamp.

A former standout at Oklahoma State, Johnson has 23 receptions over three seasons in the league. His most productive year was in 2020 with the Chargers. He posted 20 catches for 398 yards and three touchdowns.

Among other positions the Cowboys want to fortify before the season, the team is still looking for a kicker to give Tristan Vizcaino some competition.

“I’d definitely say it’s fluid,” McCarthy said last week regarding the search. “We’ll continue to work that. XFL, USFL, we’re looking at all the options. We definitely want to have competition at the kicking position.”