Dallas trades for Oakland fullback

The Cowboys have finally added a player from another team.

After not making a move during the first week of free agency, Dallas acquired a fullback Tuesday.

The Cowboys lost their fullback last week when Keith Smith signed a freeagent deal with the Oakland Raiders. They filled his roster spot by agreeing to a trade with the Raiders for veteran Jamize Olawale.

Along with Olawale, the Cowboys received Oakland’s sixth-round pick (192 overall). Dallas sent the Raiders one of its fifthround picks (No. 173 overall) in exchange.

The Cowboys, who still have pick No. 171 in the fifth round, now have three sixth-round selections.

Olawale began his NFL career with the Cowboys after going undrafted in 2012. The former North Texas running back and receiver spent time on Dallas’ practice squad before he was eventually signed by Oakland.

In 77 games, Olawale has rushed 55 times for 206 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 39 passes for 425 yards and three touchdowns.

Two receivers will visit this week: Dontrelle Inman and Justin Hunter are currently scheduled to drop by The Star in the next few days, a source said. The club has discussed the possibility of signing both players.

Hunter is the speed option to replace Brice Butler, a free agent the Cowboys clearly have no interest in bringing back. While his best season is modest — 28 receptions for 498 yards and three touchdowns with Tennessee in 2014 — Hunter has shown an ability to provide an occasional deep threat.

Inman isn’t a deep threat but in many ways he’s an ideal fit. He’s regarded as an outstanding blocker — a requirement in the Cowboys’ run-first scheme — and a strong route runner.

Many have fixated on speed in the Cowboys’ quest to make the offense more Dak-friendly. But it can be argued quarterback Dak Prescott would be best served by adding quality route runners.

Inman had his best season in 2016 with 58 receptions for 810 yards and four touchdowns for the San Diego Chargers. Quarterback Philip Rivers had this to say about Inman during that season.

Inman appears to be the stronger choice for the Cowboys at the moment. But the club hasn’t rule out signing both receivers if they like what they see later this week.

“But there are so many questions to ask. What are the opportunity costs? We don’t have any idea of the financial wherewithal of this company. What are they putting down? Are they able to fund a stadium without using the land as collateral?”

Richard Suttle, an Austin MLS lobbyist who works for Precourt Sports Ventures, said an analysis by city staff will answer these questions.

“Those are all things that are important and need to be vetted and flushed out,” Suttle said. “On balance, there may be better sites for affordable housing, but not too many better sites for an MLS stadium.”

Council Member Kathie Tovo indicated there could be a compromise that includes affordable housing.

“If this passes and we think of McKalla for a stadium site, I’d like to consider pulling in another site for affordable housing,” she said. “Perhaps the Bohm Road tract. I would still like to see our real estate staff analyze five sites, not four, for affordable housing, so I might request McKalla be replaced with Bohm Road.”

Council members Delia Garza, Sabino “Pio” Renteria, Ora Houston and Mayor Steve Adler each spoke in favor of MLS in Austin.

“Our Hispanic community is really excited about the possibility of Major League Soccer,” Garza said. “There’s very little our city does to get behind entertainment they appreciate. I’d like to see this factor added to the analysis. In the past, we have not done things to support the Hispanic community.”

Houston spoke of the popularity and inclusiveness of the sport, and Renteria mentioned that many Austinites travel to San Antonio or elsewhere to watch matches.

“Fútbol is the major sport everywhere else,” Houston said. “It crosses ethnic bounds, social lines. It includes our regional partners.”

Said Adler: “We don’t have very many big events that bring in everybody from our community. Major League Soccer would bring in everybody, which is one of the reasons I support it.”

Suttle said PSV was pleased with Tuesday’s dialogue.

“We’re happy with the open-mindedness,” he said. “We’re finally coming together as a community to examine this idea.”

Alter said any possible deal must be a win-win for the city. “If MLS comes, it is not a huge tourist draw,” she said. “Are we just taking consumption from one part of the city to another? That’s not a net gain. If there are other costs, we need to know (PSV) are paying for them.

“We need the facts. We need something that is just not wishful thinking.”