Update: SportsDay's Brandon George confirmed through a source that Barry Church has agreed to a four-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Original story: Yes, the Dallas Cowboys are releasing Tony Romo, but that move was expected for months.

Losing starting safety Barry Church was not as foregone a conclusion. But he has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $26 million deal with Jacksonville. Church will make $6.5 million on average a year with an upside of $27 million across the four years, per ESPN NFL insider Adam Caplan.

When the deal is finalized today, Barry Church's deal with Jags expected to be: 4 years, $26m ($6.5m apy) with upside to $27m, source said. — Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 9, 2017

Looks like Jeff Heath moving into starting lineup with this and loss of Barry Church. https://t.co/jPEK5pafTl — David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) March 9, 2017

Church, 29, has spent his first seven seasons with the Cowboys, starting the last four. The defensive captain annually ranks among the team's leading tacklers. Last season, Church finished second in tackles with 109 and led the Cowboys with two interceptions.

Church is one of four defensive backs from the Dallas secondary who enter free agency Thursday, along with cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne and fellow safety J.J. Wilcox.

The Cowboys were expected to try to re-sign Church, who ranked among the team's leaders in tackles in his seven seasons. But a market had been developing for the 29-year-old in what's considered a thin free agent class for safeties, SportsDay's Jon Machota said recently.

And according to an ESPN report, there is mutual interest in a deal between Wilcox and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so Dallas could be losing both of its free agent safeties.

Church, however, is the biggest loss.

Last month, SportsDay's David Moore tabbed Church the No. 1 priority among Cowboys free agents. He wrote:

Church is the unquestioned leader of the back end of the Cowboys defense. He's a physical player who is outstanding against the run and has improved noticeably in coverage.

Church isn't a star, but he's much more than a solid contributor. He's a leader and an integral part of the defense. He would be difficult to replace.