Deep Dive into the Dallas Cowboys 2020 Salary Cap

[Doomsday101]

Current Cap Space
At the moment, without figuring in the future contracts of Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, and possibly Byron Jones and Robert Quinn, the Dallas Cowboys have $77 million in cap space heading into the 2020 offseason. That number ranks fifth in the NFL behind only the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That’s a huge number and one that the Dallas Cowboys can work with to get their impending free agents under contract, find some new starters, and add some quality depth.

Dead Money
As InsideTheStar.com Senior Writer Jess Haynie wrote in his piece, the Dallas Cowboys are in a really good position where dead money is concerned. Dead money represents the amount of guaranteed money still owed on a contract for a player that was released or traded.

In 2020, the Cowboys will owe just under $2 million in dead money from a combination of the Taco Charlton, Mike Jackson, and Mike White contracts. That $2 million pales in comparison to the numbers they carried after Tony Romo retired and Dez Bryant was released. The Dallas Cowboys are one of just 16 teams in the NFL to carry $2 million or less in dead money toward the 2020 cap.

Salary Adjustments
Getting players on an existing contract to take a pay reduction isn’t something that happens very often. The Cowboys were able to talk Brandon Carr into a pay cut a few years back and there were rumors that Dez Bryant was willing to take a reduction to stay with the team, but the Cowboys opted to move on. Generally, players are asked to take a pay cut or get released and inevitably, the player refuses and released.

It has already been reported that Defensive Lineman Tyrone Crawford is willing to take a pay cut in order to stay with the only NFL team he’s known. Crawford, who is set to make $9.1 million is also a popular “cap casualty” option as the Cowboys could save $8 million if they were to release him this offseason.

Though a reduction may not provide the same cap savings as an outright release might, the benefit for the Cowboys is that they can still have the player on the roster. Tyrone Crawford is unlikely to be a 10 sack guy for the Cowboys in the future, but his flexibility and leadership are valuable commodities. Especially for a defensive coordinator like Mike Nolan who wants to use multiple fronts. Crawford can play as both a 3-4 and 4-3 defensive end as well as a 4-3 3-technique defensive tackle for the Cowboys.

If they’re able to save $4 or $5 million on his 2020 contract, I’d be all for bringing him back. For reference, Randall Cobb cost the Cowboys $5 million in 2019. So a contract reduction for Crawford could potentially mean bringing back Randall Cobb or signing his replacement.

https://insidethestar.com/deep-dive-into-the-dallas-cowboys-2020-salary-cap/

 

[Stash]

It's funny that the writer starts by talking about how little dead money the Cowboys have and then bases his approach on reworking contracts to put them right back in that hole.

 

[Doomsday101]

It's funny that the writer starts by talking about how little dead money the Cowboys have and then bases his approach on reworking contracts to put them right back in that hole.

Yes but I fully expect Dallas to restructure deals to free up cap space. It can create a problem if the player does not reach the end of the contract so a guy like Tyron Smith I would not look to restructure but there are other like DLaw that Dallas may very well could restructure as well as Zeke.

 

[jazzcat22]

This is by far the best ever cap situation they have had since it started.
Kudos to Jerry for allowing Stephen to take control and get them to this position.

I actually give Garrett some credit for getting rid of some overpaid under performing and aging players when he took over. Especially some of the OL, which they had to completely rebuild in his 1st few years as HC.

However, with all this cap space, how will they handle it, go overboard, still stay on the cheap side when it come to FA's, that aren't their own.

 

[Stash]

Yes but I fully expect Dallas to restructure deals to free up cap space. It can create a problem if the player does not reach the end of the contract so a guy like Tyron Smith I would not look to restructure but there are other like DLaw that Dallas may very well could restructure as well as Zeke.

And get locked in even further witha guy who didn't come close to earning his keep in year one of that deal? No thanks. I'm already looking at the 'out year' on the Lawrence deal, not looking to get locked in even deeper.

Do you forget that's how we ended up wasting tens of millions of dollars with Crawford?

And all of these offensive linemen have now become questionable bets. Smith and Martin with back and various other injuries, and Ferederick with the unknown of his Guillain-Barre.

I'm not comfortable reworking any of their contracts and getting further locked in with a team that ultimately went 8-8 last year.

Actions like that are based on being comfortable with players you know and fear of change. And they've never worked out in the past.

 

[conner01]

Restructuring is a part of the original structure
You don’t use on guys getting close to the end but a guy like Dlaw is the perfect candidate
That said we’ve got guys like Zeke and Dlaw who’s cap hits are going up so it may not be an option to use the restructure
If you use a tag or both the cap hits are much higher than if you sign a guy
What we get done as far as signing and whether or not we use the tag or tags will determine whether we can or have to use restructuring to clear cap space

 

[Doomsday101]

And get locked in even further witha guy who didn't come close to earning his keep in year one of that deal? No thanks. I'm already looking at the 'out year' on the Lawrence deal, not looking to get locked in even deeper.

Do you forget that's how we ended up wasting tens of millions of dollars with Crawford?

And all of these offensive linemen have now become questionable bets. Smith and Martin with back and various other injuries, and Ferederick with the unknown of his Guillain-Barre.

I'm not comfortable reworking any of their contracts and getting further locked in with a team that ultimately went 8-8 last year.

Actions like that are based on being comfortable with players you know and fear of change. And they've never worked out in the past.

Every team does it and I would expect Dallas to do so at some point to ensure they get key players signed. Dallas currently has 1.9 mill in dead money while teams like the Pats 7.7 and KC 8.1 Million in dead money. I do think you need to be careful in doing this but all teams use restructuring to get key players under contract

 

[JoeKing]

It brings a tear to my eye when I see so many CZ poster that shows an actual calm and cool knowledge of the Cowboys cap situation rather than panic over getting our own FAs re-signed.

 

[Stash]

Every team does it and I would expect Dallas to do so at some point to ensure they get key players signed. Dallas currently has 1.9 mill in dead money while teams like the Pats 7.7 and KC 8.1 Million in dead money. I do think you need to be careful in doing this but all teams use restructuring to get key players under contract

I understand the practice just fine. And I know exactly why the Cowboys are no longer among the leaders in dead money. And I have no desire to reclaim that crown by restructuring deals to overpay players to keep an 8-8 team together.

I see three 'key players' to get signed:

1. Prescott
2. Cooper
3. Quinn

And the Cowboys would be able to keep all three without having to rework anyone's contracts, and that's how I would prefer to keep it.

 

[Doomsday101]

I understand the practice just fine. And I know exactly why the Cowboys are no longer among the leaders in dead money. And I have no desire to reclaim that crown by restructuring deals to overpay players to keep an 8-8 team together.

I see three 'key players' to get signed:

1. Prescott
2. Cooper
3. Quinn

And the Cowboys would be able to keep all three without having to rework anyone's contracts, and that's how I would prefer to keep it.

You say 8-8 but then many claim that was due to Garrett. I don't expect Dallas to lead the league in restructuring contracts but I do think Dallas like every team will have to do so.

 

[Stash]

You say 8-8 but then many claim that was due to Garrett.

I count myself proudly among them. 'The lynch mob' was right.

I fully expect this team to be better with the player talent they still have with better, actually capable and proven coaching. And that's a big part of why I'm not afraid of letting a guy like Byron Jones - who doesn't make plays - walk versus paying him $15 - $17 million a year out of fear.

I don't expect Dallas to lead the league in restructuring contracts but I do think Dallas like every team will have to do so.

The Cowboys won't have to unless they either:

1. Give every free agent they have too money
2. Go on a huge spending spree for other team's free agents

Certainly not this year anyway.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It's funny that the writer starts by talking about how little dead money the Cowboys have and then bases his approach on reworking contracts to put them right back in that hole.

Restructuring contracts doesn't create dead money. The player has to be cut and prorations accelerated for that.

 

[Stash]

Restructuring contracts doesn't create dead money. The player has to be cut and prorations accelerated for that.

It locks you further into a contract, no matter how badly the player is underperforming that contract.

See Crawford, Tyrone.

Or when a player is injured and can't play.

See Romo, Tony.

It's a play now, pay later, kick the can down the road example of wreckless accounting.

I'm not interested in going through the never-ending conversations about the practice yet again.

Did this team just win the Super Bowl to where you can't imagine not keeping them together? No it did not. They didn't even make the playoffs. The thought from anyone that you should somehow mortgage the future because you have to keep it together is ridiculous.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

It has already been reported that Defensive Lineman Tyrone Crawford is willing to take a pay cut in order to stay with the only NFL team he’s known. Crawford, who is set to make $9.1 million is also a popular “cap casualty” option as the Cowboys could save $8 million if they were to release him this offseason

Tyrone is probably no longer a starter since the new DL coach doesn't favor rotation, especially if you're looking to bring Quinn back. But his ability to play inside or outside is probably worth $2-3M insurance. In other words, he set to make $9M, reduced that to $3M and use the $6M to help resign Quinn, I'm in. As stated earlier, he's not going to get you double-digit sacks but he does a lot of dirty work that goes unnoticed. Not to mention his leadership, something this D did not have last season. So for $2-3M, he's a keeper IMO.......

 

[Doomsday101]

Tyrone is probably no longer a starter since the new DL coach doesn't favor rotation, especially if you're looking to bring Quinn back. But his ability to play inside or outside is probably worth $2-3M insurance. In other words, he set to make $9M, reduced that to $3M and use the $6M to help resign Quinn, I'm in. As stated earlier, he's not going to get you double-digit sacks but he does a lot of dirty work that goes unnoticed. Not to mention his leadership, something this D did not have last season. So for $2-3M, he's a keeper IMO.......

At a reduced price yeah I agree.

 

[Killerinstinct]

Salary cap looks good until you look at what Dak, Cooper, Byron, Quinn and the long list of F.A's are expecting.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Salary cap looks good until you look at what Dak, Cooper, Byron, Quinn and the long list of F.A's are expecting.

Well, it's there for a reason......the question is who would you rather spend it on. Your own players or outside free agents? In other words, we are to spend it ....but where?

 

[Stash]

Tyrone is probably no longer a starter since the new DL coach doesn't favor rotation, especially if you're looking to bring Quinn back. But his ability to play inside or outside is probably worth $2-3M insurance. In other words, he set to make $9M, reduced that to $3M and use the $6M to help resign Quinn, I'm in. As stated earlier, he's not going to get you double-digit sacks but he does a lot of dirty work that goes unnoticed. Not to mention his leadership, something this D did not have last season. So for $2-3M, he's a keeper IMO.......

Disagree. $2 - $3 million is still overpaying for a non-starter at the end of his career with a significant injury question.

Not moving on from him last year cost them $10 million of their cap. I have no interest in going down that road again at $2-$3 million this year.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Disagree. $2 - $3 million is still overpaying for a non-starter at the end of his career with a significant injury question.

Not moving on from him last year cost them $10 million of their cap. I have no interest in going down that road again at $2-$3 million this year.

Noted....agree to disagree (lol)

 

[Stash]

Noted....agree to disagree (lol)

Fair enough, no problem with that since you're always respectful when you do.