Dallas Cowboys have serious interest in Chicago Bears free agent DT Henry Melton

The Dallas Cowboys have serious interest in Chicago Bears unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Henry Melton.

Melton is lining up his free agent visits, and the Cowboys will likely be one of his stops. He won’t have to travel far to Valley Ranch, however. Melton was born in DeSoto and played high school football in Grapevine and college football at Texas.

The Cowboys have to rebuild their entire defensive line after releasing end DeMarcus Ware on Tuesday. Melton seems like a logical choice if the Cowboys can get him at the right price. He could step right in and start at the crucial 3-technique defensive tackle spot in Marinelli’s 4-3 Tampa 2 defense. Melton has the speed that Marinelli and Monte Kiffin desires in a 3-technique defensive tackle. He played some running back at the University of Texas and ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash at the Longhorns’ pro day.

Melton played his first three seasons in Chicago for Rod Marinelli, now the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. Melton, 27, reached the Pro Bowl in 2012 under Marinelli, recording 44 tackles and six sacks for the Bears. Melton had seven sacks in 2011 under Marinelli.

Last season, with Marinelli coaching the Cowboys’ defensive line, Melton played in only three games for the Bears before tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament. Melton, who is coming off of left ACL surgery, played last season for Chicago as the Bears’ franchised player at $8.5 million.

Melton was arrested for a DWI before the Longhorns’ 2007 season. And on Dec. 22 of last year, Melton was arrested for public intoxication and assault because of an incident at a downtown Grapevine bar.