Despite only 11 career starts, Dallas Cowboys unrestricted free agent defensive end Stephen Bowen was a hot commodity in the early hours of the veteran contact period Tuesday, and he ended his courtship by several teams on Thursday morning, when The Sports Xchange learned that the five-year veteran agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins.
Bowen, 27, will sign a five-year, $27.5 million contract, with $12.5 million of the deal in guaranteed money. Weeks ago, there were rumors that the Redskins' staff was focused on Bowen as a potential addition.
The former Hofstra standout, an undrafted college free agent in 2006, figures to be an excellent fit for the Redskins, who transitioned to a 3-4 front in 2010 under first-year coordinator Jim Haslett, but struggled to find viable ends for the scheme.
Bowen became a starter for the Cowboys in 2010 and is generally regarded as a solid 3-4 fit, a good-sized (306-pound) strong-side end who can anchor against the run. The Redskins were certainly lacking such a player last season.
In five seasons, Bowen has appeared in 63 games, and has posted 44 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He had 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the Cowboys in 2010 in his first season as a starter.
