Irving, TX (Best E Casino) - The Dallas Cowboys agreed to a six-year, $39 million contract extension with free safety Ken Hamlin on Tuesday, just hours before the deadline to ink a long-term deal expired.

The Cowboys placed their franchise tag on Hamlin this offseason, meaning they had until 2 p.m. (et) Tuesday to sign the 27-year-old to a multi-year extension. If the sides had not agreed on a new deal, Hamlin would have played the 2008 season on a one-year tender for $4.396 million -- the average of the top five players at his position.

The new deal will pay Hamlin $15 million in guaranteed money. In 2007, the fifth-year pro earned his first career Pro Bowl selection after registering a career-best five interceptions and racking up a career-high 102 tackles, while starting all 17 games for Dallas.

Originally drafted in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by Seattle, Hamlin signed a one-year deal with Dallas in March 2007. The Arkansas product started 14 and 16 games, respectively in 2003 and 2004 with the Seahawks, but was limited to six games in 2005 after suffering serious head injuries in a fight outside a club in Seattle.

He returned in 2006 and started all 16 games, compiling 96 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions before signing with the Cowboys for the 2007 season.