Washington Redskins interested in former Cowboys DE Benson Mayowa

The Washington Redskins’ baffling infatuation with former Cowboys’ defensive linemen lingers for yet another year.

Free agency nears with every passing day, and soon, the Washington Redskins will be met with the task of bolstering their roster’s depth. To complete this task, it appears as if the Redskins will turn to their NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, much like they did last year. Per John Keim of ESPN, the Washington Redskins are interested in former Cowboys defensive end Benson Mayowa. He will visit the Washington Redskins on Tuesday.

It’s unclear why this defensive lineman pipeline between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins still lives. The latest example of the pipeline’s failure is the play of Terrell McClain in 2017. McClain, whom the Redskins overpaid last year, provided almost no impact on the defensive line. For now, the Washington Redskins are stuck with his cap number, as he nears 30 years old.

Perhaps Bruce Allen believes himself to be spiting the Cowboys by taking their players away. But it speaks volumes that few former Dallas Cowboys have amounted to anything in D.C. More likely than not, this trend means nothing. But it’s worth questioning why the team only seems to have a consistent interest in Cowboys defensive linemen, and not other player demographics.

But nonetheless, there is interest between Mayowa and Washington, and from another standpoint, it’s easy to see why. Mayowa, 6-foot-3, 265, has elite physical traits. He’s supremely athletic, and his size makes him a good fit in the Washington Redskins’ defense as a valuable piece of depth on the edge.

Despite these gifts, however, Mayowa is raw. He entered the league in 2013 as an undrafted free agent. His best year came in 2016, when he racked up 6.0 sacks on an underwhelming defensive line on a 4-12 Cowboys team. Last year, he only logged 1.0 sack. Demarcus Lawrence didn’t bother sharing.

If the Washington Redskins can get Mayowa cheap, then his signing wouldn’t be entirely devoid of value. But more likely than not, he won’t be available at such a cost. He’s garnered interest from the Jets, Raiders, Colts, and the Seahawks.

On one hand, this interest is promising, suggesting that the 26-year old is worth more than McClain on the field. But on the other hand, this collective interest will drive up the cost to claim him. The Washington Redskins can pay. But if they overpay Mayowa, then they could have better spent that money on a more high-profile player.

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Mayowa will meet with the Washington Redskins on Tuesday. Whether a deal materializes from that meeting will be seen in the hours following it. But one thing is certain: There is interest, and in the coming days, we could see a mutual interest arise. Stay with us here at Riggo’s Rag, as we’ll give you all the latest updates!