News: Richie Witt Predicting Cowboys sign starting S and CB

stilltheguru said:
Signing a corner basically rules out drafting a cb round 1 or 2. Which wouldnt bother me depending on the corner they sign.
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That doesn't mean that but this franchise has Kyle Pitts written all over it. Now that wouldn't upset me unless Parsons was also there. CBS are plentiful in first 2 rounds
 
Rayman70 said:
if we do trade for Gilmore, whats left on his deal with NE? Will he wanna new deal from us now? Or will he play on the remainder of his deal? It all just depends. I can see doing this if it means we get him cheaper than we would have if we signed Peterson. It would be very smart actually. Both players are kinda the same at this point in their careers.
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1 year and that rumor is bunk lol
 
I know I might be in the minority, But I think folks are underestimating Donovan Wilson's ability to plat FS. He had less than a full season, playing in what we all agree was a completely discombobulated defensive scheme. I think he has the range and the ball hawking skills to be a quality FS. So if they go with a Neal to play at SS, I think they'll be fine.
 
JW82 said:
I know I might be in the minority, But I think folks are underestimating Donovan Wilson's ability to plat FS. He had less than a full season, playing in what we all agree was a completely discombobulated defensive scheme. I think he has the range and the ball hawking skills to be a quality FS. So if they go with a Neal to play at SS, I think they'll be fine.
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I think your right. Wilson showed the ability to make game changing plays in a defensive scheme that was horrible. Imagine what he would be able to do in one where he is more comfortable. That boy can play.
 
Harris is going to want in the neighborhood of ($14M APY), do not think that is in the cards for this team.

Harmon seems intriguing to me but is 30 years old, Neals is more of a box safety. Tre Boston is 28 and more of a FS and may be in the price range.

These are the guys that IMHO might be in play, who you want?

S TASHAUN GIPSON
Gipson has several good seasons under his belt as a starting safety and he’s played over 1,000 snaps in four of the last five years. Last year, he graded at 72.0 overall, tied for 18th among safeties. Since 2017, Gipson has graded at average or slightly above average when lined up at free safety, in the box, or over the slot, giving him the kind of safety versatility that many schemes covet.


Contract Analysis: HaHa Clinton-Dix was in the same position last offseason as Gipson finds himself in now, signing a prove-it deal in Chicago to get his career back on track and performing admirably on a stacked Bears defense. Clinton-Dix earned a more substantial deal from the Cowboys as a result, but was promptly cut before the season began even with Dallas having one of the worst secondaries in the league.


Prediction: Gipson signs for one-year, $2.75 million, $1.25 million total guaranteed.

Malik Hooker

Hooker has dealt with significant injury after significant injury, and this concern existed even before the 2020 season, which was lost to a torn Achilles. He’s never really provided the intended playmaking ability in the middle of the field, but he’s also played in a Colts scheme that has been heavy on two-high safety coverages.


Hooker still may be a better fit in a true single-high safety role where he takes good angles on downfield throws. He’s looked out of place when forced into one-on-ones with receivers or when needing to react quickly from two-high alignments. His best season saw him grade at 81.6 in coverage in 2018, though the other 1200 or so snaps have him graded in the mid-60s. He's worth a look in a new system that could get the most out of his downfield playmaking skill set.


Contract Analysis: The Indianapolis Colts were the last team in the NFL to make a decision on their 2017 first-round pick’s fifth-year option, waiting until the very last day to ultimately decline Hooker’s $6.7 million for 2021, which looks smart in hindsight. Hooker will likely need to take a near-minimum “prove-it” deal to get his career back on track.


Prediction: One year, $2 million.


S Keanu Neal

A former first-round pick, Neal found his home immediately as a traditional strong safety in the Falcons’ Cover 1/Cover 3 scheme. He made an impact from Day 1, flying around the field in the run game and showing good range against underneath routes when playing zone. Unfortunately, injuries limited Neal to just 213 snaps across 2018 and 2019, but he was healthy once again in 2020, grading out at 68.2 overall. Neal is a classic box safety who does his best work around the line of scrimmage and in the middle of the field, and his future team should look for him to play a similar role.


Contract Analysis: Neal is set to hit free agency coming off his $6.466 million fifth-year option in 2020, and he’s fortunate Atlanta stuck by it. He was able to play a full season and provide quality snaps down in the box as well as in the slot, and a versatile safety who lurks near the line of scrimmage could be just what a few teams need this offseason.


Prediction: Two years, $10 million ($5M APY): $6 million total guaranteed, $3.5 million fully guaranteed at signing.


S DURON HARMON
Harmon earned consistently strong PFF grades in coverage as a designated free safety during his time in New England. But after being acquired by the Lions, Harmon was just one of a number of things that didn’t function as well in Motown as it had in Foxborough. He played 1,102 snaps for the Lions as a full-time player, but that playing time yielded career lows in overall PFF overall grade (65.3) and PFF coverage grade (64.4). Harmon has coverage skills but now needs to show he wasn’t just a product of the Patriots' system.

Contract Analysis: Harmon was traded from one Belichick defense to another, landing in Detroit with Matt Patricia for the final year of his contract signed in 2017. He’s been one of the best players on an otherwise poor defense in Detroit, and with a strong finish to the 2020 season, he could earn himself one last significant multi-year contract.

Prediction: Two years, $12 million ($6M APY). $5 million total guaranteed/fully guaranteed.


S TRE BOSTON
An annual staple on the free agent market, Boston has been one of the better free safeties in the league in his seven years. Last season, he produced a career-low 53.8 grade that included a career-high 16 missed tackles. After playing almost exclusively at free safety in previous seasons, Boston played about half of his time in the box last season and his coverage grade of 50.6 ranked just 55th out of 64 qualifiers. He does his best work on the back end in both one and two-high safety looks, so a return to more of a true free safety role should get Boston back on track.

Contract Analysis: Boston finally landed the multi-year contract he deserved after several seasons of quality play on one-year deals, but unfortunately his three-year, $18 million contract with the Panthers just ended up becoming his latest one-year deal. Though Boston is a good player, no position market is more flooded with talent this offseason than free safety, so another one-year deal may be in store for him.

Prediction: Boston signs for one-year, $2.25 million, $1.25 million total guaranteed.
 
Sydla said:
It should be but let's say the CBs go early, the Cowboys are in a pickle then.
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If they pick one at 10, they walk into the building better than Brown or Lewis. Thats who they are competing with most likely. That 3rd spot will probably play 60-70% of the snaps. Brown and Lewis are basically slightly expensive depth at that point. Browns contract isnt bad, you could probably get a 6th rounder for him in preseason
 
DRella said:
I would be happy with one of Simmons, Harris, Boston, Hooker or Kazee at FS.

And one of Fuller, Bouye, Butler, Sherman, Hayward, Rhodes, Breeland, Jackson, Conley or Dunbar to play CB.

Come draft time I still draft the best available CB whether that be Surtain or Farley with our 10th pick. If there is any debate I would still go defensive with Micah Parsons at LB. Maybe watch how board flows until your pick and move back a couple of picks to grab one of the three mentioned.

Add defense and draft capital.
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- I would gamble on a Kazee as a stop gap ….while we continue to look and explore new safety draftee options per NFL draft.
But sadly I would have to say that we'd have to hope a mid to late round draftee somehow surprises and becomes a hidden gem.
As we seem to not value the safety role to invest in a high pick there. We have to have a sensible Plan B option to go to should Kazee doesn't work out early (ala Clinton Dix exit)

- Here's hoping we hit lucky gold with Donovan Wilson,..but i'm watching to see what transpire with the Keanu Neal.

- Rather than the stop gap vet names at CB, i'd be on more board with going with the same formula as we did last year with Diggs ,..in targeting a regarded CB draftee in the early rounds of 1st to 3rd, and letting him contest for a starting role should he be ready to do so.

- i'd only gamble with Sherman at FS (ala Aneas, Rod/Charles Woodsons to FS) rather than having him at CB. And frankly i'd be worry about his durability issues at this point.
But frankly after investing 30 million with both average joes such as Brown and Lewis - what's the likelihood of a known name vet signing and starting here at CB ?

- I was already worried about Brown starting he resigned, but he's just wasn't a better player than Awuzie (ditto with Lewis) ...and that's was the only thing Nolan/Al Harris wisely did not force,
but what will Quinn/Hewitt Jr. do in this sense ?
 
darthseinfeld said:
Kareem Jackson could be a name to remember ar S. I believe he was cut. He'll be 33 when the season starts
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Harris still out there, does he fit? actually a few quality DBS are still available , jones waiting on them to concede some asking prices im sure..but all the drama here and yet still many good players on the FA list..
 
DRella said:
I think your right. Wilson showed the ability to make game changing plays in a defensive scheme that was horrible. Imagine what he would be able to do in one where he is more comfortable. That boy can play.
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exactly. He was out of position a few times last year and I think that has folks prematurely writing him off at FS. Everyone was out of place on a historically bad defense.
 
boysfanindc said:
Harris is going to want in the neighborhood of ($14M APY), do not think that is in the cards for this team.

Harmon seems intriguing to me but is 30 years old, Neals is more of a box safety. Tre Boston is 28 and more of a FS and may be in the price range.

These are the guys that IMHO might be in play, who you want?

S TASHAUN GIPSON
Gipson has several good seasons under his belt as a starting safety and he’s played over 1,000 snaps in four of the last five years. Last year, he graded at 72.0 overall, tied for 18th among safeties. Since 2017, Gipson has graded at average or slightly above average when lined up at free safety, in the box, or over the slot, giving him the kind of safety versatility that many schemes covet.


Contract Analysis: HaHa Clinton-Dix was in the same position last offseason as Gipson finds himself in now, signing a prove-it deal in Chicago to get his career back on track and performing admirably on a stacked Bears defense. Clinton-Dix earned a more substantial deal from the Cowboys as a result, but was promptly cut before the season began even with Dallas having one of the worst secondaries in the league.


Prediction: Gipson signs for one-year, $2.75 million, $1.25 million total guaranteed.

Malik Hooker

Hooker has dealt with significant injury after significant injury, and this concern existed even before the 2020 season, which was lost to a torn Achilles. He’s never really provided the intended playmaking ability in the middle of the field, but he’s also played in a Colts scheme that has been heavy on two-high safety coverages.


Hooker still may be a better fit in a true single-high safety role where he takes good angles on downfield throws. He’s looked out of place when forced into one-on-ones with receivers or when needing to react quickly from two-high alignments. His best season saw him grade at 81.6 in coverage in 2018, though the other 1200 or so snaps have him graded in the mid-60s. He's worth a look in a new system that could get the most out of his downfield playmaking skill set.


Contract Analysis: The Indianapolis Colts were the last team in the NFL to make a decision on their 2017 first-round pick’s fifth-year option, waiting until the very last day to ultimately decline Hooker’s $6.7 million for 2021, which looks smart in hindsight. Hooker will likely need to take a near-minimum “prove-it” deal to get his career back on track.


Prediction: One year, $2 million.


S Keanu Neal

A former first-round pick, Neal found his home immediately as a traditional strong safety in the Falcons’ Cover 1/Cover 3 scheme. He made an impact from Day 1, flying around the field in the run game and showing good range against underneath routes when playing zone. Unfortunately, injuries limited Neal to just 213 snaps across 2018 and 2019, but he was healthy once again in 2020, grading out at 68.2 overall. Neal is a classic box safety who does his best work around the line of scrimmage and in the middle of the field, and his future team should look for him to play a similar role.


Contract Analysis: Neal is set to hit free agency coming off his $6.466 million fifth-year option in 2020, and he’s fortunate Atlanta stuck by it. He was able to play a full season and provide quality snaps down in the box as well as in the slot, and a versatile safety who lurks near the line of scrimmage could be just what a few teams need this offseason.


Prediction: Two years, $10 million ($5M APY): $6 million total guaranteed, $3.5 million fully guaranteed at signing.


S DURON HARMON
Harmon earned consistently strong PFF grades in coverage as a designated free safety during his time in New England. But after being acquired by the Lions, Harmon was just one of a number of things that didn’t function as well in Motown as it had in Foxborough. He played 1,102 snaps for the Lions as a full-time player, but that playing time yielded career lows in overall PFF overall grade (65.3) and PFF coverage grade (64.4). Harmon has coverage skills but now needs to show he wasn’t just a product of the Patriots' system.

Contract Analysis: Harmon was traded from one Belichick defense to another, landing in Detroit with Matt Patricia for the final year of his contract signed in 2017. He’s been one of the best players on an otherwise poor defense in Detroit, and with a strong finish to the 2020 season, he could earn himself one last significant multi-year contract.

Prediction: Two years, $12 million ($6M APY). $5 million total guaranteed/fully guaranteed.


S TRE BOSTON
An annual staple on the free agent market, Boston has been one of the better free safeties in the league in his seven years. Last season, he produced a career-low 53.8 grade that included a career-high 16 missed tackles. After playing almost exclusively at free safety in previous seasons, Boston played about half of his time in the box last season and his coverage grade of 50.6 ranked just 55th out of 64 qualifiers. He does his best work on the back end in both one and two-high safety looks, so a return to more of a true free safety role should get Boston back on track.

Contract Analysis: Boston finally landed the multi-year contract he deserved after several seasons of quality play on one-year deals, but unfortunately his three-year, $18 million contract with the Panthers just ended up becoming his latest one-year deal. Though Boston is a good player, no position market is more flooded with talent this offseason than free safety, so another one-year deal may be in store for him.

Prediction: Boston signs for one-year, $2.25 million, $1.25 million total guaranteed.
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Harris isn’t getting 14 million. Johnson didn’t even get that. I’m all about Harris. Zimmerman runs almost the same scheme as Quinn.
 
darthseinfeld said:
If they pick one at 10, they walk into the building better than Brown or Lewis. Thats who they are competing with most likely. That 3rd spot will probably play 60-70% of the snaps. Brown and Lewis are basically slightly expensive depth at that point. Browns contract isnt bad, you could probably get a 6th rounder for him in preseason
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Sure but again, if Surtain and Farley go before we pick at 10, there arent any real options left. Horn would be a reach at 10 IMO. I am not arguing against taking a CB at 10.

I am saying that if the two best CBs are already gone, the Cowboys are kind of in a bind sitting there at 10.
 
blueblood70 said:
Harris still out there, does he fit? actually a few quality DBS are still available , jones waiting on them to concede some asking prices im sure..but all the drama here and yet still many good players on the FA list..
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Yes. Id prefer Harris. However, I dont think they will go after a big name player who wants solid guarentees. I think if they get a bigger name player, it will be a contract they can shed. That's why I think Jackson could be a possibility.

Harris might sign a 1 year deal eventually and re-enter next season. But I don't think he would sign that deal with us
 
Sydla said:
Sure but again, if Surtain and Farley go before we pick at 10, there arent any real options left. Horn would be a reach at 10 IMO. I am not arguing against taking a CB at 10.

I am saying that if the two best CBs are already gone, the Cowboys are kind of in a bind sitting there at 10.
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Definitely. But 10 has always shaped up as a potential offensive pick considering the board. I hope Mac Jones is there, because then I think we might get some calls
 
Aven8 said:
Harris isn’t getting 14 million. Johnson didn’t even get that. I’m all about Harris. Zimmerman runs almost the same scheme as Quinn.
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Johnson got north of 11M I believe.

We will see, PFF is predicting

Prediction: Four years, $56 million ($14M APY): $27.5 million total guaranteed, $16 million fully guaranteed at signing.

Either way even 10/11m is to rich for this club I believe.
 
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