Are some of you mad at how we are building the team through the draft?

[Flamma]

What was the contract on Wagner? Wasnt it 5 years?

It is 5 years 50M. But they can move on after 3 years. His cap hit for those 3 years is 2.5M, 12M, 12M. Basically a 3 year 26.5M dollar contract. That's not outrageous. It's a middle of the road contract.

 

[conner01]

Building through the draft is the right way to build a team that is consistently good
But no matter how well you draft you can’t fill every need in the draft because a quality player just may not be available
You have to supplement the draft in FA
It’s also not about just signing big names but getting guys that fit your scheme and team make up
Jerry hasn’t always ignited going after big players but not always been successful at it
Cooper no doubt made the team better but overall it didn’t put us over the top. And not likely a big name guy will if the core of your roster that’s made up of drafted players isn’t really good

 

[Pass2Run]

So is every other team. What are we doing that's any different, other than completely ignoring impact free agency. Every team starts with the same number of picks. Every team employs scouts. And every team is drafting from the same pool of players. Does anyone actually beleive we can do this markedly better than the 31 other teams, so much so that we can overcome the lack of aggression in trades and FA acquisitions, in order to build the best team?

Don't you think it's smarter, though, to wait until camp to identify weaknesses and then fill them accordingly after you identify them?

Personally, I'm OK with the fact we haven't hit the panic button and rushed to sign any FAs just yet.

There's still time.

 

[rambo2]

I don't mind if they don't over pay someone like Von Miller. But seriously, Wagner wasn't a huge contract. It's players like that they consistently ignore. He could have helped this team and it wouldn't be a burden on the cap.

The Cowboys are hamstringing themselves. Their offseason procedure is basically limited to what teams did in the 70s. Free Agency to them is patching a hole in the wall. Quick fix at low cost.

They didn't sign Wagner because they were able to sign LVE at a bargain and they plan on playing Cox and Kearse a lot.

 

[CowboyRoy]

The view does look a lot better when you block out everything before the last 2 years. In that context, I agree with you on basically all fronts. Getting rid of the bad contracts over that time has been impressive. What I'm curious to see is how we perform in FA when we are buyers again. We've navigated nicely in the past 2 years when we weren't buying but that still leaves more to be seen from the front office. I agree that there should be a window starting after this year so I think they will have their chance.

agreed. The big moment will be when they do or don’t use FA when the time comes.

 

[wecasa]

Or are you just upset that we aren't using FA to sign a couple high priced guys from other teams that will get us over the top?

I think they are using an old equation that doesn't work with poor coaching and leadership. I think back to 1992 1993 under Jimmy Johnson and the Cowboys weren't breaking the bank on free agents. They made a lot of trades for draft picks and players like Charles Hayley. But you had a guy that was in charge and the buck stopped with Johnson when it came to football personnel issues. Now that the Jones company has full control and it seems that the head coach has little authority, they've floundered for 25+ years. Someone in this thread hit it on the head when they said free agents should be acquired when the draft picks fail.

I think we have the "jimmies and the joes", I just don't think they have the coaching and leadership needed to win big games.

 

[Jarv]

Or are you just upset that we aren't using FA to sign a couple high priced guys from other teams that will get us over the top?

Naw, I'm more concerned about the players ability to break the chain of command.

 

[phildadon86]

Or are you just upset that we aren't using FA to sign a couple high priced guys from other teams that will get us over the top?

I love the "idea" of building thru the draft. But the concept that you can build a contender STRICTLY thru the draft is where I get annoyed. Von Miller and Wagner were right there. Are they older? Yes. Who cares. What they bring to the locker room has no price tag. Wagner teaching Parsons (just think about that) Williams being mentored by Von Miller.(Imagine?) This whole notion of building thru the draft makes sense but you HAVE to supplement it with FA. This team is very talented and a couple of players specifically on D would have taken them from top 10 potential into top 5 potential. Defense wins championships. Its more just annoying for me that Stephen refuses to admit that FA is a time to make your team that much better and holds onto cap dollars like its coming directly out of his bank account.

Thats my opinion.

 

[DonaldM]

Yes, we should follow the Rams model. Copycat league. Anybody following our model?

 

[Praxit]

..I'm just glad we're getting football in 2 months. In regards to building? I feel we're good enough to be contenders again. Everything else is too random to comprehend.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Personally I think the team has built a great young team. Great young defense and now they are rebuilding the oline. I dont see them as legitimate contenders right now. Unless some of these new young guys are all world right out of the gate. I think next year is the window to start signing one or two high priced guys to fill those final holes.

And therein lies the problem. They're never legit contenders bc once one position group is seasoned and strong another is falling off. They refuse to sign the type of free agents that can bring a middling position group into a strength--instead opting to draft for need and wait it out or supplement with bargain free agents that, at best, only marginally improve the group.

I don't get how they cannot look at who is winning in this league and what they are doing and still decide to treat FA like they do (and act so smug while doing it).

 

[Doomsday101]

Yes, we should follow the Rams model. Copycat league. Anybody following our model?

If you are trying to copy last years champ you will be chasing your tail for a while, KC did not do it by giving up every draft choice they had, they build through the draft and add some mid level FA. I guess what I'm getting at there is not just 1 way to achieve the goal, despite it being a copy cat league many teams have done it different ways.

 

[DonaldM]

If you are trying to copy last years champ you will be chasing your tail for a while, KC did not do it by giving up every draft choice they had, they build through the draft and add some mid level FA. I guess what I'm getting at there is not just 1 way to achieve the goal, despite it being a copy cat league many teams have done it different ways.

Lol I agree. I think I should have worded that better:. I'm tired of teams copying our formula for success. Or something like that. According to one poster I need to put down the huffing bag.

We have a pretty competitive team but on paper not the dream team that the Rams have.

Al's another edit: youth is good but proven ability at this level is more valuable short term IMO. But you can't have it all. Let's try it our way for another 25 years. I might make it.

 

[Cowfan75]

We literally could have made our defense outstanding by signing one Bobby Wagner. All else could have been forgotten, or at least easier to accept. We didn't have to go all out in FA, but we did nothing and continued to stay the course of winning it all through the draft, which obviously will never work, especially if we stay atop in the division and get twenty-something picks.

 

[G2]

I don't get upset with things out of my control. If you let dumb things like that bother you with this front office, that's on you.

There are very few Les Sneads in the World.

 

[Proof]

Or are you just upset that we aren't using FA to sign a couple high priced guys from other teams that will get us over the top?

I'm disappointed in the losses of Cooper, Randy and La'el and the draft being their replacements instead of supplements. That's for THIS season. In general I love building through the draft, would just like to see talent stacked instead of churned, and no notable free agency to speak of.

 

[Proof]

That 6-5 out of the division could and should have easily been 8-3 if it wasn't for some very questionable officiating.

and it could also have easily been 4-7 (chargers / patriots)

 

[CowboyRoy]

It is 5 years 50M. But they can move on after 3 years. His cap hit for those 3 years is 2.5M, 12M, 12M. Basically a 3 year 26.5M dollar contract. That's not outrageous. It's a middle of the road contract.

3 years seems long but that isnt a bad deal there.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I love the "idea" of building thru the draft. But the concept that you can build a contender STRICTLY thru the draft is where I get annoyed. Von Miller and Wagner were right there. Are they older? Yes. Who cares. What they bring to the locker room has no price tag. Wagner teaching Parsons (just think about that) Williams being mentored by Von Miller.(Imagine?) This whole notion of building thru the draft makes sense but you HAVE to supplement it with FA. This team is very talented and a couple of players specifically on D would have taken them from top 10 potential into top 5 potential. Defense wins championships. Its more just annoying for me that Stephen refuses to admit that FA is a time to make your team that much better and holds onto cap dollars like its coming directly out of his bank account.

Thats my opinion.

I agree. Im glad they passed on Miller and drafted Williams, but Wagner would have been a great pickup for the next 2 or 3 years.

 

[CowboyRoy]

And therein lies the problem. They're never legit contenders bc once one position group is seasoned and strong another is falling off. They refuse to sign the type of free agents that can bring a middling position group into a strength--instead opting to draft for need and wait it out or supplement with bargain free agents that, at best, only marginally improve the group.

I don't get how they cannot look at who is winning in this league and what they are doing and still decide to treat FA like they do (and act so smug while doing it).

If the Cowboys went out and signed a top of the line Tackle and center and drafted Smith and signed a top flight 1 Tech, then I could see the Cowboys being true contenders. But you are talking about another 40 million in salary added to the team. I still think there are too many holes to be doing that. When all you need is one or two guys, then I think you go for it. I just dont think the Cowboys are there yet.