COWBOYS SIGN VETERAN WR T.Y HILTON
After weeks of rumors and speculation, the Dallas Cowboys finally added veteran help at receiver by signing long-time Colts pass catcher T.Y Hilton to the roster on Monday.
While the move might mean the Cowboys are no longer fishing for Odell Beckham Jr. anymore, the signing is a good one for Dallas. Hilton inked a one-year, $1.5 million deal with only $600,000 fully guaranteed for the remaining four regular-season games and will count $800,000 against the cap. The deal also includes $50,000 in per-game roster bonuses and up to $700,000 in playoff incentives.
As per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the incentive package includes $100,000 for a Wildcard win and 30% playtime. Hilton will also get $150,000 if the Dallas Cowboys win a Divisional Round game and he plays 30% of the game, an additional $200,000 if the team wins the NFC Conference Championship and he plays 30% of the game and an incredible $250,000 if the Cowboys win the Super Bowl with Hilton playing 30% of the game. The 33-year-old receiver is represented by Katz Brothers Sports, the same agency that negotiated wide receiver Demarcus Robinson’s one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
Hilton had a visit and workout with the 10-3 Dallas Cowboys on Monday morning and signed by the afternoon with the team looking to use his experience and pass-catching capabilities down the stretch and in the playoffs. Hilton’s ability to contribute right away is reported to have factored into his signing and was the determinant for Owner/General Manager Jerry Jones. The four-time Pro Bowler will have to get familiar with the playbook and his new quarterback, Dak Prescott but physically “he’s ready to go.”
A source from within the organization told ESPN’s Jane Slater “He’s a proven wide receiver with some juice and experience. He can play multiple spots and [he is] a team guy that could potentially add some depth to the team.”
Hilton is a dynamic pass-catcher and has had five 1,000-yard seasons in the 10 years that he’s been in the league, with his highest output coming in 2016 when he put up a league-best 1,148 receiving yards for the Colts.
Third to only Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne in career receiving yards in Colts history, Hilton is only a little more than 300 yards shy of 10,000 receiving yards. A former third-round pick, Hilton can still contribute and joins a receiving group that includes CeeDee Lamb, James Washington, Noah Brown, and Michael Gallup.
“I think you view this thing as this push through December and into January, the availability for guys is obviously going to be smaller and smaller so for us to have a guy like T.Y available, he can come in here and he’s going to be able to deal with the transition it will take this late in the offseason,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said on Monday. “As a veteran, he knows ball. He’s really, really smart. To have a guy like that, he’ll be able to handle the transition really, really well and provide some depth. We’ll see where all the roles transpire.”
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy remarked “Great addition. We’ll get him out there Wednesday and get him acclimated. He had a workout. Everything passed with flying colors. The timing is right. He’s ready to go.”
Hilton has a chance to see playing time against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, as he and the Dallas Cowboys will do everything possible to get him ready and out there for Week 15. The Cowboys travel to Jacksonville for a lunchtime kickoff at 1 pm ET, live on FOX.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
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