The thing with Gregory is he is already 29. This is gonna be his "pay day" in regards to his career. I'd love to think he would take a pay cut and stay on a 2-3 year deal, but if someone comes in and offers him a big money deal that sets him up for years to come - I don't see how he turns that down. He seems to be a really smart guy (no matter what you think about his past drug issues) and has to know this is gonna be his best chance.
With that said, I sure would feel ALOT more comfortable with him and Tank both coming back next year at DE. If they lose both, the defense is gonna take a couple steps back.
Best case for this next season would be:
Trade Cooper for picks - I'm ok with restructure here as well - still saves $11 million on cap this year and doesn't weaken your WR core
Gallup and Gregory both sign 1 year deals so they can hit FA next year hopefully coming off healthier years.
Tank takes a pay cut
LVE signs small 2 year deal - still young enough to rebuild his stock
Zeke comes into the same shape he did last year (I really thought he looked great the first part of the season)
Dak regains confidence
They reshape the Oline - with new LG and C and hopefully a new coaching and blocking scheme
Restructure of your 6 biggest contracts (except Zeke) gets you at $27 million in cap to work with
If things don't work out this next year - then you have the reset button option with Payton waiting in the wings and letting him build his team.
I agree with you about Gregory. He may give the Cowboys a light discount, but f he gets a $16 million offer from another team and Jerry offers $12 million, Gregory would be an idiot not to take the bigger paycheck.
Cooper is the most tradeable player I think. He is only 25 and he is a very good receiver. If Julio Jones can get $22 million, then someone in this league might be willing to part with a draft pick to get Cooper. Trading players give the Cowboys the chance to at least pick the teams they go to, to a certain extent.
I struggle with LVE. I am worried if we sign him he will regress. How do we know his better play at the end of the year was not the result of desperation knowing he was in a contract year? I am leaning to wanting him back, but they have Jabril Cox waiting to come back from a knee injury. Do they need LVE?
I think Gallup will sign elsewhere. More likely the Cowboys sign Wilson and Malik Turner. I thought Turner showed some YAC ability when he got in their. Maybe he will be the surprise player in 2022 the way Wilson was in 2021.
They can clear about $54 million by restructuring Lawrence, Tyron Smith, Collins, Zack Martin, and Dak, while trading Cooper. That would give them about $30 million to sign Gregory and some other players.
I think they should focus on making the defense better in 2022. Balance the offense and clean up the mistakes. That is their quickest path to championship contention.