What’s D-Law’s true value? Opinions?

[Cboyfan4ever]

Very good against the run.Solid pass rusher, but not close to elite.Overall a very good DE worth about 12-15 million a year.Our D is much better when he’s in there.

 

[Flamma]

It's not the Dead Cap that's the issue, it's the $8m you free to reinvest in improving areas of need. I like DLaw, but at that money you'd get better production out of signing Gregory and playing Golston and Basham on running downs, like it or not those two are here in 2022 and hopefully it's time Golston steps up.

Here's the thing. They have to decide whether or not to keep DLaw at a 27M cap hit, or no DLaw at a 19M cap hit. That's like me telling you, you can have this decent steak for 60 bucks, or nothing for 40 bucks. What do you choose? It's not the best steak and it's overpriced, but do you pay the 40 bucks for nothing so you can spend the extra 20 on pizza hut? You're still spending the 60 bucks. What do you want for it?

 

[CowboyoWales]

Here's the thing. They have to decide whether or not to keep DLaw at a 27M cap hit, or no DLaw at a 19M cap hit. That's like me telling you, you can have this decent steak for 60 bucks, or nothing for 40 bucks. What do you choose? It's not the best steak and it's overpriced, but do you pay the 40 bucks for nothing so you can spend the extra 20 on pizza hut? You're still spending the 60 bucks. What do you want for it?

No, the question is are we better having DLaw or using Golston or Basham against the run AND having the $8m to improve other areas of need (potentially DT).
It's already a well know secret that we've courted Gregory who's: a better pass rusher, better used in combination with Golston and Basham (both of which will be on the roster), and also can be signed to a contract that adds greater CAP flexibility away from 2022 /23.
Whichever way we look at it (and I repeat I like Tank), he doesn't provide value for the contract.

 

[Flamma]

No, the question is are we better having DLaw or using Golston or Basham against the run AND having the $8m to improve other areas of need (potentially DT).
It's already a well know secret that we've courted Gregory who's: a better pass rusher, better used in combination with Golston and Basham (both of which will be on the roster), and also can be signed to a contract that adds greater CAP flexibility away from 2022 /23.
Whichever way we look at it (and I repeat I like Tank), he doesn't provide value for the contract.

As far as cap money is concerned, you basically said the same as I did, only a bit differently. Don't get me wrong, I'm not for retaining Tank. Just offering perspective. If it were up to me, Tank walks. I agree with you. But they might see it differently due to the dead cap. Like I said before, if dead cap was low, Tank would be out quicker than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

 

[quickccc]

Good player, however, paying him $29m makes him overpaid for what he does.....better value is to play Golston/Basham on the edge on running downs (otherwise Micah) and then utilize the $8m DLaw saving on strengthening the real weakness of the D-Line .......run stopping DT.

- Nobody is gonna trade for that contract, that kind of dollar amount for a guy whose gonna be 30 yrs very soon, has durability issues and been more on the underachieving decline side
than at the peak of his career. they'll wait it out to see if they can sign him as a FA if so he is cut.

- If Cowboys do cut Dlaw, then i'd expect them to draft his eventual replacement starter within the first two rounds, while forced to depend upon rotation guys like Basham
Armstrong full time until that rookie is ready full time.

- The only other option than relying on an immediate rookie, is totally depending upon 3rd rd pick Gholston as a possible full time starter at LDE,.
. Scary to me with Chancey, as i just didn't get the impression of a gifted, natural pass rusher, but maybe coaches think getting physically stronger in offseason,
more coached up techniques and game experience will emerge a true difference maker.

- if i had to predict it, i see the Cowboys trying to restructure Dlaw's contract- kick the cap-contract problem tomato-can down the road into another year
and deal with it later on when the team cap grows more space.
But hearing Stephen and his " tough decisions" interview, ..i'm already preparing myself. ....

 

[DanTanna]

He reminds me of Greg Ellis.

 

[CowboyoWales]

- Nobody is gonna trade for that contract, that kind of dollar amount for a guy whose gonna be 30 yrs very soon, has durability issues and been more on the underachieving decline side
than at the peak of his career. they'll wait it out to see if they can sign him as a FA if so he is cut.

- If Cowboys do cut Dlaw, then i'd expect them to draft his eventual replacement starter within the first two rounds, while forced to depend upon rotation guys like Basham
Armstrong full time until that rookie is ready full time.

- The only other option than relying on an immediate rookie, is totally depending upon 3rd rd pick Gholston as a possible full time starter at LDE,.
. Scary to me with Chancey, as i just didn't get the impression of a gifted, natural pass rusher, but maybe coaches think getting physically stronger in offseason,
more coached up techniques and game experience will emerge a true difference maker.

- if i had to predict it, i see the Cowboys trying to restructure Dlaw's contract- kick the cap-contract problem tomato-can down the road into another year
and deal with it later on when the team cap grows more space.
But hearing Stephen and his " tough decisions" interview, ..i'm already preparing myself. ....

We aren't trading him, we'll be cutting him....and I like him.
The problem is paying him $29m in 2022 is mad (on a value basis), adding money to future years (especially when we're already overspent in 2023), is near lunacy.
We may be able to draft his replacement at 24, but would prefer we addressed the O-Line and go Gregory/Golston/ Basham for the interim.

 

[Bobhaze]

The problem with fans deciding what monetary value an NFL player has is we don’t usually understand the “going rate” for second contract starters. The NFL doesn’t pay its second contract people based on what we assume it is.

For example, several positions get bigger money just because of how hard they are to find. QBs, pass rushers, LTs, sometimes even Corners get bigger money than fans think they’re worth because the money seems crazy. But the facts are you can almost never get a starting QB or DE or LT on a “team friendly deal”. Those folks are all overpaid relative to the rest of the team.

The Tyron Smith deal has been re-done so many times most fans don’t even know what he’s getting paid year to year. DLaw IMO is more valuable than most fans here think. He’s disruptive which doesn’t always show up in sacks. Is he overpaid? Sure but almost every DE on a second contract is. The team has to decide if cutting Lawrence is in the best interest of the team long term. It could be.

 

[Doomsday101]

We aren't trading him, we'll be cutting him....and I like him.
The problem is paying him $29m in 2022 is mad (on a value basis), adding money to future years (especially when we're already overspent in 2023), is near lunacy.
We may be able to draft his replacement at 24, but would prefer we addressed the O-Line and go Gregory/Golston/ Basham for the interim.

one name that I see pop up on some different mock drafts has Dallas taking Devin Lloyd, a top pass rusher and has good coverage ability. If Dallas looks to go more 3-4 then having then a guy like Lloyd could be a very good addition

 

[Coogiguy03]

He is underrated by many here. Our defense was much better when he returned from injury.

Imagine if he were AVAILABLE more often

 

[Coogiguy03]

I think this is pretty accurate when you factor in pressures, win/rate, etc. It's pretty crazy he just doesn't get home often. I think he's closer to a Greg Ellis type who had a nice career, while everyone wants him to be Ware+

Only team that has pass rusher ALMOST GET THERE

 

[glimmerman]

That's my guess too. I know 27 Mil is really high for a cap hit. Had his dead cap been 5M, DLaw would not be a Cowboy in 2022. But since it's 19m, I think he stays one more year.

Heard the same about Elliot this year. There maybe about next season for both..

 

[Flamma]

Heard the same about Elliot this year. There maybe about next season for both..

It's different with Zeke. They have to keep Zeke for 2022. His dead cap is higher than his cap hit. They at least save 8M if they release Tank.

 

[conner01]

As much as someone will pay him

That’s the value of every player

 

[Creeper]

I think DLaw was probably worth between $15 million and $16.5 million when he signed his contract. $21 million was just absurd.

But Leonard Williams got $21 million and Frank Clark is getting $20.8 million. I like both players but neither is worth their contracts. Trey Flowers is getting $18 million.

I do think sometimes it might be prudent to overpay one key player on your team to keep him, especially when you have no one else to play that position. But Dallas has overpaid Dak, Zeke, DLaw, and Amari Cooper, and those are just the active contracts.

 

[Creeper]

It's different with Zeke. They have to keep Zeke for 2022. His dead cap is higher than his cap hit. They at least save 8M if they release Tank.

Plus, Zeke's 2022 salary is already guaranteed. They have to pay him even if they cut him.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

Run stopping defensive ends usually don’t get paid 20+ million on championship teams.

Bingo

 

[Big_D]

Playing somewhere else. That’s where he’ll have the most value!

 

[kevinhickey]

I like him but I also think the cap savings of 19 mill for 2022 season is very important to the team. If there was not cap to contend with I would love to keep him but as it stands I can't see his contract standing. Defense played over half the season without him and did a good job.

Just read an article on blogging the boys stating Dallas would save $35 million by releasing or trading Cooper and Lawrence. The question is will Jerry and Stephen use the cap space to bring in free agents? Interesting to see what happens.

 

[Aviano90]

My guess is we will let DLaw go, we will go cheap in free agency, our pass rush will decline next year, and we will complain about it.

Disclaimer: we being the general consensus of opinions, not every individual fan's opinion.

Personally, I'd rather have the talent on the field and the team "go all in" for once, eventually. Talent is what is going to win games and getting rid of talent to make a salary cap balance sheet look good will continue to get us an occasional wild card berth and every blue moon we win one of those games.