IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys dipped into their past to help their special teams by signing safety Danny McCray to a one-year deal.

McCray spent the first four years of his career with the Cowboys before joining the Chicago Bears last year.

He originally joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2010 and led the team in special teams’ tackles his first two years while being considered the team’s best special teamer. In 2012 he was forced to start 10 games and the coaches credited him with 87 tackles.

With a change of special teams’ coaches in 2014, McCray elected to join former Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis with the Bears. He played in 15 games last season and had 10 special teams’ tackles.

The signing of McCray comes after free-agent deals affect possible compensatory picks for 2016. The Cowboys lost DeMarco Murray, Justin Durant, Bruce Carter, Dwayne Harris, Henry Melton and Jermey Parnell to unrestricted free agency, but signed Greg Hardy, Jasper Brinkley, Andrew Gachkar and Darren McFadden.

As it stands the Cowboys should receive multiple compensatory picks next year.

The Cowboys also signed rookie free-agent linebacker Donnie Baggs, who took part in last week’s minicamp on a tryout basis. To make room for McCray and Baggs, the Cowboys waived linebackers Keith Smith and Will Smith.

The Cowboys also signed tight end Geoff Swaim, one of their three seventh-round picks. He is the third of the team’s eight draft picks to sign, joining Ryan Russell and Mark Nzeocha. Swaim received a signing bonus of $54,732.