Cowboys agree with safety Iloka on 1-year deal

The Cowboys added their coveted free agent safety on Saturday night when George Iloka agreed to a one-year deal.

Dallas had made it clear it was intent on shoring up the strong safety position previously owned by Jeff Heath ahead of next month’s draft, bringing in three safeties for visits since Monday. Iloka, most recently of the Minnesota Vikings, visited Friday and had agreed to terms by the next day.

He fills Dallas’ immediate need on the back end. The Cowboys last week also brought in five-time Pro Bowler Eric Berry and Clayton Geathers, who ended up re-signing with Indianapolis.

Iloka will likely play in tandem with free safety Xavier Woods.

Iloka is a Houston native and another Bosie State product on a Cowboys’ roster full of them. The signing continues to give Dallas freedom to draft the best available players rather than need-based decisions when the event begins next month in Nashville. Most of the Cowboys’ signings during free agency have been for only one season.

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Iloka, who turns 29 on March 31, has started 79 of 99 career games, including 76 during a six-year span with the Cincinnati Bengals. After his release from the Bengals last year, he joined the Minnesota Vikings and started three of 16 games in 2018.

He recently visited the Oakland Raiders before coming to The Star for a visit Friday.

For his career, Iloka has nine interceptions, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

He joins a safety group that has Jeff Heath, who has started 31 of the past 32 games, and Xavier Woods as the starters, with Kavon Frazier and Darian Thompson as backups. The Cowboys also are expected to give a serious look at the safeties available in the upcoming draft. The Cowboys met with Clayton Geathers on Monday and Eric Berry on Tuesday. Geathers re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts, and Berry is still considering his options.

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