For the sake of argument let’s assume we let Dak walk

[foofighters]

Cap is only expected to decrease one year.

Once the 17th game is added which could be this year and the new TV contracts and collective bargaining agreement in 2023 the Cap is expected to grow.

We can’t base our decision for years to come on a one year setback in Cap. Can we ??

You definitely need to consider it while you're trying to fill the gaps we have. You can't just blindly grab the rope, throw up your other arm and yell, "YEEEEHHHAAAWWW!" That has not worked for Jerry in the past.

 

[Creeper]

They won't let him just walk. They will franchise him and trade him. They will get 2 first round picks for him, at least, to go with their current 1st round pick. They can trade two picks to move up and take a top QB. They are not getting Lawrence, but they may be able to get another guy. they like.

The Cowboys have a pretty good offense and a very good offensive line if Tyron Smith and Collins are able to come back healthy. The Cowboys know the deal there. With an established offensive line, they can find a guy with a good accurate arm to play behind it. With 3 quality receivers, a pretty good RB and a couple of decent TEs, even a rookie can have success with this team. It is still about the defense. Even if Gilbert has to start the first 3 or 4 games, they still have a chance with do something.

The point is, it is not completely under their control. If Dak refuses to sign a deal then they have no choice but to trade him and move on.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

Two words people, Jameil Showers.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Dalton completed about 65% of his passes, extrapolating his 9 game numbers to a full season would give him 3,857 yards, 25 tds and 14 ints. And he played most of his games without Martin as well as all without Smith.

But considering he just got to the team last year, had no preseason work and little camp to speak of, with more time with the receivers and in the offense it would be reasonable to assume he'd do more like 4,250 yards, 30 tds and 18 ints. No great numbers, but not bad, either.

So the Cowboys would probably be "competitive" with Dalton (assuming a 16 game availability) Gilbert didn't do all that bad in his one game, obviously needs game time experience. And if the Cowboys would let Dak walk, sign Dalton as a "stop gap", and you have Gilbert to "develop"

So there would be a plan b if Dak left. Not that I'd like to see that, but just noting it's not like the Cowboys don't have options..

 

[65fastback2plus2]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...wks-management-not-happy-with-russell-wilson/

YES PLEASE!

 

[Diehardblues]

You do that if Dak asks for so much money that you don't have enough to build up a great defense. It's one calculated risk versus another calculated risk, and I prefer the one where you have the best chance to build up a great defense. Do I know for 100 percent certain that will work? Of course not. But no one knows with certainty which strategy will work best. It's always an educated guess.

Basically we can build a defense thru the draft which won’t take much Cap space with Rookie contracts.

Which we’d need to do with or without a QB.

 

[jazzcat22]

We are not letting Dak walk so why waste brain cells on hypotheticals?

So we can see the melt down posts of then anti-dak'ers.

 

[Diehardblues]

Celebrate.

Celebrate what. Not having a QB and more 6-10 like seasons? All to save about 5 million on a contract.

You have faith this ownership will draft or find a better QB? What prior history this era gives you such hope?

 

[slick325]

Use the money saved from the franchise tag or a huge deal on Dak, along with the draft capital gained by trading him to: build the defense with a DT like Dalvin Tomlinson and a FS like Justin Simmons. Then draft defense at 10 (CB Farley or Surtain). Grab more talent on each level of the defense and the OL.

Finally, and most importantly, draft a QB like Mac Jones. One who is used to being at the wheel of a high powered machine and knows his job is not to crash the car.

Just spit balling since it's a hypothetical.

 

[Doomsday101]

Then what...

Draft a QB . Do we try and move up in draft and what do we give up assuming anyone takes the bait or do we settle for whatever falls in our slot??

And how long until he’s developed assuming our Football Idiots draft someone as good as Dak has been.

Do we extend Dalton or go after another aged veteran QB to tie us over until we find a draft pick as good as we got lucky with Dak.

How many years do we wait to become relevant and interesting again?

Im not sure everyone has thought this thru.

Hypothetical, yes you look to draft a QB I would go as far as trying to move up from 10 to try and get Lawrence or Zack Wilson. I want nothing to do with Fields really not sold on him.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Basically we can build a defense thru the draft which won’t take much Cap space with Rookie contracts.

Which we’d need to do with or without a QB.

I'd like to see the team build a D primarily through drafting, but also via some free agent signings. Ndomukong Suh made a big difference for the Bucs. Plus, after a rookie contract is over if the player is a keeper, money is needed to keep him on the team.

 

[Diehardblues]

You definitely need to consider it while you're trying to fill the gaps we have. You can't just blindly grab the rope, throw up your other arm and yell, "YEEEEHHHAAAWWW!" That has not worked for Jerry in the past.

There’s definitely some other Cap issues we can address. Like Lee, LVE, Jaylon and maybe even Tyron. All of which with injury history could be cuts that make more sense if Cap reductions are needed.

 

[Diehardblues]

I'd like to see the team build a D primarily through drafting, but also via some free agent signings. Ndomukong Suh made a big difference for the Bucs. Plus, after a rookie contract is over if the player is a keeper, money is needed to keep him on the team.

Cowboys in recent years haven’t looked to FA to sign big names on defense . But it’s a reasonable assertion. Our history has been looking for bargains.

And there’s other Cap cuts we could make with injury riddled stars who might be expendable.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Cowboys in recent years haven’t looked to FA to sign big names on defense . But it’s a reasonable assertion. Our history has been looking for bargains.

And there’s other Cap cuts we could make with injury riddled stars who might be expendable.

Yeah, to me it seems the bargain basement bin scraping hasn't been that productive. Sometimes you have to pony up for an elite talent. You can't build the whole defense like that, obviously. But if you've drafted well and there's one guy who could really help, that can work, kind of how the team added Charles Haley in the 90s, granted that was a trade and pre-salary-cap era move. But the point is, he was exactly the right guy needed to make an already good defense superb.

 

[BigStar]

That's what the team tank thing was all about...to be able to secure the next one. Now it doesn't make much sense. I'm good with Dak but also thought we could've used that pick as leverage in the negotiations as well.

 

[Diehardblues]

Hypothetical, yes you look to draft a QB I would go as far as trying to move up from 10 to try and get Lawrence or Zack Wilson. I want nothing to do with Fields really not sold on him.

Ok. So what are willing to give up . One or two #1 picks?

And how much does that put on hold rebuilding the defense?

Will we expect this drafted QB to make an immediate impact or does this mean more of a total rebuild ?

This is why we hired McCarthy for a total rebuild ??

I just don’t see Jethro and Son going in this direction.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Yeah, to me it seems the bargain basement bin scraping hasn't been that productive. Sometimes you have to pony up for an elite talent. You can't build the whole defense like that, obviously. But if you've drafted well and there's one guy who could really help, that can work, kind of how the team added Charles Haley in the 90s, granted that was a trade and pre-salary-cap era move. But the point is, he was exactly the right guy needed to make an already good defense superb.

Problem is we don't have an "already good defense" currently...

 

[Diehardblues]

Yeah, to me it seems the bargain basement bin scraping hasn't been that productive. Sometimes you have to pony up for an elite talent. You can't build the whole defense like that, obviously. But if you've drafted well and there's one guy who could really help, that can work, kind of how the team added Charles Haley in the 90s, granted that was a trade and pre-salary-cap era move. But the point is, he was exactly the right guy needed to make an already good defense superb.

Obviously we can’t rely on this idiotic organization to draft well defensively. Their big misses and risk in recent years draft is why this defense is so inept .

There’s been one segment to prop up this otherwise bottom feeder franchise from total embarrassment, our offense.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Ok. So what are willing to give up . One or two #1 picks?

And how much does that put on hold rebuilding the defense?

Will we expect this drafted QB to make an immediate impact or does this mean more of a total rebuild ?

This is why we hired McCarthy for a total rebuild ??

I just don’t see Jethro and Son going in this direction.

It puts nothing on hold. Don't you know the Cowboys are tops when it comes to building defenses, certainly they can do that with 3rd and later draft picks!

Oh ye of little faith...

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Problem is we don't have an "already good defense" currently...

True, it has to be a combo of good drafting and smart free agent moves. The player I'm most disappointed in is Jaylon Smith. When he was drafted and would be unavailable for a year while healing up, I thought that maybe Jerry had made a smart move. I'm surprised he hasn't been playing better.