Shakir Soto signs with Dallas Cowboys

Former Pitt defensive lineman Shakir Soto signed with the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The 6’3”, 300-pound tackle most recently played for the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football but was displaced by the league’s abrupt closure.

During his time in the AAF, Soto stood out as a potential star in the making, as he accounted for 13 tackles, including four sacks and five tackles for losses, as well as six quarterback hits. As a result of his standout play, he was named to the Pro Football Focus AAF Team of the Week the same day the league folded.

Players were granted authorization to sign with NFL teams by the AAF last Thursday, and since then, more than two dozen have signed contracts and joined NFL teams.

Soto previously signed with the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders prior to his stint in the AAF. The Broncos signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2017, but he was cut during the preseason. The Raiders signed him to their practice squad later that year, but the team waived him in 2018.

With the Cowboys, Soto will look to build on his success with the Fleet and earn himself a roster spot by impressing the staff during organized team activities. The Cowboys’ OTAs get underway on May 21.