Roster Predictions

[Uncle_Hank]

I like to play around with the cap calculator at Over the Cap. The good news is, we're nowhere near as bad off as the Saints. The bad news is, it's going to be impossible to sign Dak and field a competitive team without several big contract restructures.

This isn't necessarily what I would do, but knowing how the front office thinks, here's how I could see it shaping up:

1. Restructures to Lawrence, Cooper, Martin, and Elliott's contracts will free up a ton of cap space this year, but obviously it will lower the cap over the next few years after that. Here's the thing: they are going to be on the team and they're going to get paid that money either now or later, period. Not ideal, but manageable.

2. Sign Dak to a 4-year deal averaging just shy of $40M/year. If I had to bet, I'd say they get the fourth year they're looking for at around $39.5 million per season. I don't think this will give us a ton of cap relief next year. Just look at the Deshaun Watson or Carson Wentz contracts. They might be able to pull off a slightly lower cap hit this year with a guaranteed restructure in 2022, but it's still going to be in the thirties for 2021.

3. Cut Chris Jones and make Anthony Brown a June 1 cut. These two moves will save over $6M. While I'm not a fan of gutting what little CB depth we have, it seems clear to me that we have to bring in a veteran starter, so Brown's money goes to him. We can replace Brown in the draft.

Those moves will leave us somewhere just north of $20M left over for free agency in the draft this year, and about $17M under the cap for 2022. I expect they'll convert some of Dak's base salary that year and possibly move on from pricey, injured vets like Tyron Smith as well as Jaylon Smith if he doesn't have a bounce-back year.

I know some of these are going to be controversial, but I don't see any other possibility. You can only manipulate numbers so many ways.

 

[Majic]

I like to play around with the cap calculator at Over the Cap. The good news is, we're nowhere near as bad off as the Saints. The bad news is, it's going to be impossible to sign Dak and field a competitive team without several big contract restructures.

This isn't necessarily what I would do, but knowing how the front office thinks, here's how I could see it shaping up:

1. Restructures to Lawrence, Cooper, Martin, and Elliott's contracts will free up a ton of cap space this year, but obviously it will lower the cap over the next few years after that. Here's the thing: they are going to be on the team and they're going to get paid that money either now or later, period. Not ideal, but manageable.

2. Sign Dak to a 4-year deal averaging just shy of $40M/year. If I had to bet, I'd say they get the fourth year they're looking for at around $39.5 million per season. I don't think this will give us a ton of cap relief next year. Just look at the Deshaun Watson or Carson Wentz contracts. They might be able to pull off a slightly lower cap hit this year with a guaranteed restructure in 2022, but it's still going to be in the thirties for 2021.

3. Cut Chris Jones and make Anthony Brown a June 1 cut. These two moves will save over $6M. While I'm not a fan of gutting what little CB depth we have, it seems clear to me that we have to bring in a veteran starter, so Brown's money goes to him. We can replace Brown in the draft.

Those moves will leave us somewhere just north of $20M left over for free agency in the draft this year, and about $17M under the cap for 2022. I expect they'll convert some of Dak's base salary that year and possibly move on from pricey, injured vets like Tyron Smith as well as Jaylon Smith if he doesn't have a bounce-back year.

I know some of these are going to be controversial, but I don't see any other possibility. You can only manipulate numbers so many ways.

1) No to all the players listed with the exception of Martin (have we already restructured his before?) I think there could be a decline in all those players before too long
2) Maybe
3) Makes sense

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

They just restructured Zack Martin and Lawrence last year.....

 

[USArmyVet]

I like to play around with the cap calculator at Over the Cap. The good news is, we're nowhere near as bad off as the Saints. The bad news is, it's going to be impossible to sign Dak and field a competitive team without several big contract restructures.

This isn't necessarily what I would do, but knowing how the front office thinks, here's how I could see it shaping up:

1. Restructures to Lawrence, Cooper, Martin, and Elliott's contracts will free up a ton of cap space this year, but obviously it will lower the cap over the next few years after that. Here's the thing: they are going to be on the team and they're going to get paid that money either now or later, period. Not ideal, but manageable.

2. Sign Dak to a 4-year deal averaging just shy of $40M/year. If I had to bet, I'd say they get the fourth year they're looking for at around $39.5 million per season. I don't think this will give us a ton of cap relief next year. Just look at the Deshaun Watson or Carson Wentz contracts. They might be able to pull off a slightly lower cap hit this year with a guaranteed restructure in 2022, but it's still going to be in the thirties for 2021.

3. Cut Chris Jones and make Anthony Brown a June 1 cut. These two moves will save over $6M. While I'm not a fan of gutting what little CB depth we have, it seems clear to me that we have to bring in a veteran starter, so Brown's money goes to him. We can replace Brown in the draft.

Those moves will leave us somewhere just north of $20M left over for free agency in the draft this year, and about $17M under the cap for 2022. I expect they'll convert some of Dak's base salary that year and possibly move on from pricey, injured vets like Tyron Smith as well as Jaylon Smith if he doesn't have a bounce-back year.

I know some of these are going to be controversial, but I don't see any other possibility. You can only manipulate numbers so many ways.

When will Dallas stop kicking the can down the road when it comes to restructures? All that does is keep overpaid players on the team and allow them to age with high salaries thereby preventing future roster movement.

At the end of the day this team needs to make one of two choices: commit to a full multi-year rebuild by jettisoning many of their high priced players (aka Zeke, Cooper, Tyron Smith, Dak, DLaw, Jaylon Smith) OR go all in for a Super Bowl run by committing to a 2-3 year window to achieve this.

Unfortunately Dallas has done neither so they are neither in a fight or flight mode but rather a freeze mode where they do very little to change the status quo.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Just say no to Zeke Restructure

 

[Sydla]

1) No to all the players listed with the exception of Martin (have we already restructured his before?) I think there could be a decline in all those players before too long
2) Maybe
3) Makes sense

Cooper would be a fine and safe restructure.

Elliott would be silly. Why kick the can further down the road on a TB that already has shown he's not quite the same TB he was 3-4 years ago?

 

[Uncle_Hank]

Cooper would be a fine and safe restructure.

Elliott would be silly. Why kick the can further down the road on a TB that already has shown he's not quite the same TB he was 3-4 years ago?

Agreed, but you can't mathematically sign Dak to anything without restructuring at least 3 of the 4, and if you're going to go that far, then you might as well go all the way so you can at least sign your draft class later. If you take away the restructures, then this team is FUBAR.

 

[75boyz]

When will Dallas stop kicking the can down the road when it comes to restructures? All that does is keep overpaid players on the team and allow them to age with high salaries thereby preventing future roster movement.

At the end of the day this team needs to make one of two choices: commit to a full multi-year rebuild by jettisoning many of their high priced players (aka Zeke, Cooper, Tyron Smith, Dak, DLaw, Jaylon Smith) OR go all in for a Super Bowl run by committing to a 2-3 year window to achieve this.

Unfortunately Dallas has done neither so they are neither in a fight or flight mode but rather a freeze mode where they do very little to change the status quo.

Agree. The purgatory stagnation of 7 to 9 wins continues.
Occasional, not consistent playoff appearances and never truly a contender.

Plenty of merchandise sales, attendance numbers and Forbes richest sports team to brag about though.

So there will always be that.

 

[exciter]

When will Dallas stop kicking the can down the road when it comes to restructures? All that does is keep overpaid players on the team and allow them to age with high salaries thereby preventing future roster movement.

At the end of the day this team needs to make one of two choices: commit to a full multi-year rebuild by jettisoning many of their high priced players (aka Zeke, Cooper, Tyron Smith, Dak, DLaw, Jaylon Smith) OR go all in for a Super Bowl run by committing to a 2-3 year window to achieve this.

Unfortunately Dallas has done neither so they are neither in a fight or flight mode but rather a freeze mode where they do very little to change the status quo.

Maybe when it ceases to be an effective way to manage the cap and field a competitive team in the salary cap era we are now in!

 

[Uncle_Hank]

When will Dallas stop kicking the can down the road when it comes to restructures? All that does is keep overpaid players on the team and allow them to age with high salaries thereby preventing future roster movement.

At the end of the day this team needs to make one of two choices: commit to a full multi-year rebuild by jettisoning many of their high priced players (aka Zeke, Cooper, Tyron Smith, Dak, DLaw, Jaylon Smith) OR go all in for a Super Bowl run by committing to a 2-3 year window to achieve this.

Unfortunately Dallas has done neither so they are neither in a fight or flight mode but rather a freeze mode where they do very little to change the status quo.

I think Jerry is going to go all-in every year from here on out while he's alive, and make the same typical Jerry mistakes along the way.

 

[quickccc]

I like to play around with the cap calculator at Over the Cap. The good news is, we're nowhere near as bad off as the Saints. The bad news is, it's going to be impossible to sign Dak and field a competitive team without several big contract restructures.

This isn't necessarily what I would do, but knowing how the front office thinks, here's how I could see it shaping up:

1. Restructures to Lawrence, Cooper, Martin, and Elliott's contracts will free up a ton of cap space this year, but obviously it will lower the cap over the next few years after that. Here's the thing: they are going to be on the team and they're going to get paid that money either now or later, period. Not ideal, but manageable.

2. Sign Dak to a 4-year deal averaging just shy of $40M/year. If I had to bet, I'd say they get the fourth year they're looking for at around $39.5 million per season. I don't think this will give us a ton of cap relief next year. Just look at the Deshaun Watson or Carson Wentz contracts. They might be able to pull off a slightly lower cap hit this year with a guaranteed restructure in 2022, but it's still going to be in the thirties for 2021.

3. Cut Chris Jones and make Anthony Brown a June 1 cut. These two moves will save over $6M. While I'm not a fan of gutting what little CB depth we have, it seems clear to me that we have to bring in a veteran starter, so Brown's money goes to him. We can replace Brown in the draft.

Those moves will leave us somewhere just north of $20M left over for free agency in the draft this year, and about $17M under the cap for 2022. I expect they'll convert some of Dak's base salary that year and possibly move on from pricey, injured vets like Tyron Smith as well as Jaylon Smith if he doesn't have a bounce-back year.

I know some of these are going to be controversial, but I don't see any other possibility. You can only manipulate numbers so many ways.

- Sorry but this team really blew it with giving charity to Crawford and his 9 million,.. which could have rolled into this year's cap. And what did we see from Crawford this year ?
Nada ! .. he got knocked around like a pinball all year long. But now we have to look around to re-structure contracts ...

- Dunno what " Deadline makes Deals " tricks and games the Jones will play around Dak's contract; but QB market isn't about to drop to benefit the Cowboys
(especially when Lamar Jackson gets extended) Stephen should've handled and close the deal miles ago, but he wanted to call Dak's bluff and he lost.
Now see what happens next time around.

- And you're wrong,.. it's not gonna be " impossible " to re-sign Dak. It simply gonna depend how they choose to structure it overall. The biggest part will be that guarantee.
What's gonna make it twice as tough is if we have to franchise tag Dak, and there won't be much strategic if there is a 40 million franchise that you cannot maneuver
money around to restructure other contracts

- I'm doubting Chris Jones would've been guaranteed a roster spot next year anyway since Hunter Niswander impressed mightily.
And since he's been handling FGs kicks and who knows if he can handle Bones' trick punts as well.
But we have a new punter, now it's how the team chooses to handle Jones departure.
I'm predicting Anthony Brown will not likely be cut. Neithe June 1st or post training camp. Team just re-signed him a year ago, and
the 2nd half season was probably his best play since he's been here.
And puzzling he wasn't the No.2 CB on the team. He was still 3rd/slot CB. But whatever reason they like him.

 

[Uncle_Hank]

- Sorry but this team really blew it with giving charity to Crawford and his 9 million,.. which could have rolled into this year's cap. And what did we see from Crawford this year ?
Nada ! .. he got knocked around like a pinball all year long. But now we have to look around to re-structure contracts ...

- Dunno what " Deadline makes Deals " tricks and games the Jones will play around Dak's contract; but QB market isn't about to drop to benefit the Cowboys
(especially when Lamar Jackson gets extended) Stephen should've handled and close the deal miles ago, but he wanted to call Dak's bluff and he lost.
Now see what happens next time around.

- And you're wrong,.. it's not gonna be " impossible " to re-sign Dak. It simply gonna depend how they choose to structure it overall. The biggest part will be that guarantee.
What's gonna make it twice as tough is if we have to franchise tag Dak, and there won't be much strategic if there is a 40 million franchise that you cannot maneuver
money around to restructure other contracts

- I'm doubting Chris Jones would've been guaranteed a roster spot next year anyway since Hunter Niswander impressed mightily.
And since he's been handling FGs kicks and who knows if he can handle Bones' trick punts as well.
But we have a new punter, now it's how the team chooses to handle Jones departure.
I'm predicting Anthony Brown will not likely be cut. Neithe June 1st or post training camp. Team just re-signed him a year ago, and
the 2nd half season was probably his best play since he's been here.
And puzzling he wasn't the No.2 CB on the team. He was still 3rd/slot CB. But whatever reason they like him.

Tell you what, go to the cap calculator at Over the Cap and see if you can make any of that work mathematically. Have at it.

 

[fivetwos]

I wouldn't restructure Elliott or Cooper.

And before any of you start with the word "hate," no...it's just good business not to do that with either at this stage.

 

[ClappingCarrot]

Dallas isn't cutting Anthony Brown.

This FO absolutely loves him, and every insider in Dallas will tell you the same thing.

 

[jazzcat22]

I like to play around with the cap calculator at Over the Cap. The good news is, we're nowhere near as bad off as the Saints. The bad news is, it's going to be impossible to sign Dak and field a competitive team without several big contract restructures.

This isn't necessarily what I would do, but knowing how the front office thinks, here's how I could see it shaping up:

1. Restructures to Lawrence, Cooper, Martin, and Elliott's contracts will free up a ton of cap space this year, but obviously it will lower the cap over the next few years after that. Here's the thing: they are going to be on the team and they're going to get paid that money either now or later, period. Not ideal, but manageable.

2. Sign Dak to a 4-year deal averaging just shy of $40M/year. If I had to bet, I'd say they get the fourth year they're looking for at around $39.5 million per season. I don't think this will give us a ton of cap relief next year. Just look at the Deshaun Watson or Carson Wentz contracts. They might be able to pull off a slightly lower cap hit this year with a guaranteed restructure in 2022, but it's still going to be in the thirties for 2021.

3. Cut Chris Jones and make Anthony Brown a June 1 cut. These two moves will save over $6M. While I'm not a fan of gutting what little CB depth we have, it seems clear to me that we have to bring in a veteran starter, so Brown's money goes to him. We can replace Brown in the draft.

Those moves will leave us somewhere just north of $20M left over for free agency in the draft this year, and about $17M under the cap for 2022. I expect they'll convert some of Dak's base salary that year and possibly move on from pricey, injured vets like Tyron Smith as well as Jaylon Smith if he doesn't have a bounce-back year.

I know some of these are going to be controversial, but I don't see any other possibility. You can only manipulate numbers so many ways.

When Dak signs, even if an average of $35 or $40 million, this years cap hit will not be that. With a signing bonus and a 1st year salary structure it may only be a $20 million hit and same for the following year. Could be less. then the latter years it escalates, and by then they could restructure, sign a longer term deal even, if he is the QB we all hope he can be.

Well, some will not hope that, they want him to fail.

 

[jazzcat22]

Dallas isn't cutting Anthony Brown.

This FO absolutely loves him, and every insider in Dallas will tell you the same thing.

Brown is not as bad as many make him out to be. But then again they whine about any player.

 

[jterrell]

You restructure the guys with GTD moneyas their base already.
Cooper and Jaylon Smith and Zeke.
Those contracts were designed such that they are really roster bonuses and meant to flip.

Zack Martin you restructure because he's just too good to let of go of anytime soon.

DLaw you restructure if you NEED the money but not just for grins.

It'll all be fine and you'll have space.
It isn't kicking the can if you free up 25M again to roll over next year. --i.e. what you might do with a long term deal struck for Dak.

The NFL cap in 2 years is going to rise incredibly because we had a 1 year nightmare.

 

[fivetwos]

- Sorry but this team really blew it with giving charity to Crawford and his 9 million,.. which could have rolled into this year's cap. And what did we see from Crawford this year ?
Nada ! .. he got knocked around like a pinball all year long.

Exactly. That was irritating me the other day.

At the very least his pay should have been cut in half and if he didn't accept just outright cut.

There was NOTHING Crawford could have done to earn that salary this year, and not only that....he was downright awful and way out of place in the scheme.

That was a huge amount of cap room that we all knew was a waste yet the team couldn't see it.

It's beyond disturbing that they can't cut Jerry's buddies when need be....or they are so stubborn about being right they stick with terrible play forever.

Sometimes I just don't know what we expect as fans given the way the team is run.

 

[jterrell]

- Sorry but this team really blew it with giving charity to Crawford and his 9 million,.. which could have rolled into this year's cap. And what did we see from Crawford this year ?
Nada ! .. he got knocked around like a pinball all year long. But now we have to look around to re-structure contracts ...

- Dunno what " Deadline makes Deals " tricks and games the Jones will play around Dak's contract; but QB market isn't about to drop to benefit the Cowboys
(especially when Lamar Jackson gets extended) Stephen should've handled and close the deal miles ago, but he wanted to call Dak's bluff and he lost.
Now see what happens next time around.
As trash as TC was you badly needed him. He was kept because McCoy and others got injured right away. He was woefully overpaid but they got plenty of snaps out of him on his retirement tour.

- And you're wrong,.. it's not gonna be " impossible " to re-sign Dak. It simply gonna depend how they choose to structure it overall. The biggest part will be that guarantee.
What's gonna make it twice as tough is if we have to franchise tag Dak, and there won't be much strategic if there is a 40 million franchise that you cannot maneuver
money around to restructure other contracts
No matter what they do with Dak including guaranteeing 200M would make the first year cap hit have to be large. Whatever they pay him year 1 as a Bonus gets divided by 4 or 5.

- I'm doubting Chris Jones would've been guaranteed a roster spot next year anyway since Hunter Niswander impressed mightily.
And since he's been handling FGs kicks and who knows if he can handle Bones' trick punts as well.
But we have a new punter, now it's how the team chooses to handle Jones departure.
I'm predicting Anthony Brown will not likely be cut. Neithe June 1st or post training camp. Team just re-signed him a year ago, and
the 2nd half season was probably his best play since he's been here.
And puzzling he wasn't the No.2 CB on the team. He was still 3rd/slot CB. But whatever reason they like him.
ABrown is a good slot CB who can play outside if needed. He's a great value at 5M.

 

[stilltheguru]

Dallas isn't cutting Anthony Brown.

This FO absolutely loves him, and every insider in Dallas will tell you the same thing.

Why though? Thats their problem, they love scrubs. They loved Tyrone Crawford too. Brown is a bum