The Cowboys have added two safeties in as many days, re-signing Gerald Sensabaugh to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on Tuesday and now agreeing to terms with Abram Elam late Wednesday.
The Cowboys haven't disclosed terms, but it's expected to be a matching one-year deal.
Elam, signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted rookie in 2006, started at safety for the Browns under defensive coordinator Rob Ryan from 2009-10. The Cowboys put Elam on their short list due to his time in Dallas and with Ryan, as well as his experience at either safety spot.
Elam's knowledge of the Ryan 3-4 scheme will ease his transition after missing the first week of training camp. Last year in Cleveland, he had 79 tackles, a career-high 10 pass deflections, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Familiarity is clearly preferred during this truncated training camp. The Cowboys' other veteran acquistion, defensive end Kenyon Coleman, also played in Dallas and mostly recently in Cleveland under Ryan.
Sensabaugh and Elam solidify safety this season, but by signing one-year deals, the Cowboys must address the position next year. It does, however, allow them to keep developing their young safeties. Second-year veterans Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Barry Church have been working with the first-team defense.
Sensabaugh, Elam and the rest of the Cowboys' free-agent signings will be able to practice at the start of the New League Year, possibly as early as Thursday.
