FRISCO, Texas – With the off-season schedule now over, it’s time to look ahead. As part of preparation for training camp, this series will feature 25 key players who are new to the Cowboys roster, rookies and veterans alike.
Today we start the series with defensive lineman Brent Urban.
How it got here: The Cowboys made Urban one of their first league signings of the year in 2021, under a one-year contract on the second day of free agency.
As a native of Mississauga, Ontario, this will be Urban’s fourth NFL team. He was originally drafted by Baltimore as the No. 134 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He played five seasons with the Ravens before signing with Tennessee, where he was released just one month after the 2019 season. Thereafter, he was signed by Chicago and revitalized his career with the Bears.
Over the past two seasons, Urban played 25 games for the Bears and made eight starts, collecting 36 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Whats Next: It’s hard to easily classify Urban’s job description, because he’s done so much throughout his career. He has played wing and tackle at various points over the past seven years, but made it clear in the spring that he is here to help serve as the base in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s new scheme.
Looking at spring practices, it is clear that Urban can move into a variety of styles, depending on whether the Cowboys are using a three- or four-man front. Regardless of where you line up, your ability to stop the running game will give you a chance for plenty of playing time, and maybe even a starting role. Pro Football Focus rated Urban the third-best defender in the running game among defensive tackles in the league last year, which is exactly the skill set this defense needs.
You did not know: Given that he is a native Canadian, it should come as no surprise that Urban was on the radar of the Canadian Football League during his college career. In fact, he was drafted in the second round, No. 15 overall pick, by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during the 2013 CFL Draft. Ultimately, it was a gamble that didn’t pay off for the Tiger-Cats, as Urban returned to school for his senior year in Virginia and entered the NFL draft the following spring.
Along with defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, Urban is the second Canadian on the Cowboys’ roster.
Player Quote: “I do a good job up front, taking on double teams and doing the dirty work to let those guys run free. That’s part of the reason I came here. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to continue to do that and help elevate this defense and allow athletes to be athletes. ” – Brent Urban
