Shedeur Sanders trade proposal

[gimmesix]

If Dallas ends up with Deion, I could see us getting Dak to waive his no-trade clause and working a deal with Cleveland for the No. 2 pick to draft Shedeur. That just seems like it would be meant to be. To make it palatable to the Browns, who've had their own QB issues and have been looking for an answer for years, Dallas would have to be willing to eat a portion of Dak's contract with him coming off injury. But Cleveland getting a starting quarterback at a cut rate in a weak QB draft and also getting the No. 12 pick to spend on another position should make it worthwhile for the Browns. Not sure that Tennessee would take the same offer since it might be willing to stick with Levis as starter, but if it decides that it doesn't and wants to take a QB with the No. 1 pick, that deal might be palatable to the Titans as well.

I know some with prejudice against Dak don't think he has worth, but he was in the running for MVP just two seasons ago before things fell apart in the playoffs and in 2024. He's generally also been a top 10 QB. Of course, that also might make the Browns hesitant due to their failure with Watson. If not for his contract and the "bad year," Dallas could get a better deal for him, but those two factors weigh down his value.

It may be as far-fetched for this to happen as it is for Deion to become coach, but I could see it happening, especially with this front office.

 

[Tabascocat]

Would you drop the clause to go to Cleveland? Dak has it made in Dallas, there will never be accountability for him no matter how he plays. Aside from that, Jerry and son aren’t smart enough to pull that off. Deion does have another son, Shilo, that he can coach in Dallas, probably only cost the 7th rounder.

Jerry only had one plan and that was to resign Mike. He is now scrambling like a chicken with its head cut off because there was no plan B. So, he goes with familiarity next and that leaves one, unqualified, guy in Moore. His coaches will be hired for him since he doesn’t have his own tree. These will all be names that we have seen in Dallas before. What a debacle this is….

I hope I am wrong but this is a typical Jerry hire

 

[MarkP88]

If Dallas ends up with Deion, I could see us getting Dak to waive his no-trade clause and working a deal with Cleveland for the No. 2 pick to draft Shedeur. That just seems like it would be meant to be. To make it palatable to the Browns, who've had their own QB issues and have been looking for an answer for years, Dallas would have to be willing to eat a portion of Dak's contract with him coming off injury. But Cleveland getting a starting quarterback at a cut rate in a weak QB draft and also getting the No. 12 pick to spend on another position should make it worthwhile for the Browns. Not sure that Tennessee would take the same offer since it might be willing to stick with Levis as starter, but if it decides that it doesn't and wants to take a QB with the No. 1 pick, that deal might be palatable to the Titans as well.

I know some with prejudice against Dak don't think he has worth, but he was in the running for MVP just two seasons ago before things fell apart in the playoffs and in 2024. He's generally also been a top 10 QB. Of course, that also might make the Browns hesitant due to their failure with Watson. If not for his contract and the "bad year," Dallas could get a better deal for him, but those two factors weigh down his value.

It may be as far-fetched for this to happen as it is for Deion to become coach, but I could see it happening, especially with this front office.

I can't see Dak waiving his no-trade clause to go to Cleveland, but what do I know?

 

[Cowboyny]

If Dallas ends up with Deion, I could see us getting Dak to waive his no-trade clause and working a deal with Cleveland for the No. 2 pick to draft Shedeur. That just seems like it would be meant to be. To make it palatable to the Browns, who've had their own QB issues and have been looking for an answer for years, Dallas would have to be willing to eat a portion of Dak's contract with him coming off injury. But Cleveland getting a starting quarterback at a cut rate in a weak QB draft and also getting the No. 12 pick to spend on another position should make it worthwhile for the Browns. Not sure that Tennessee would take the same offer since it might be willing to stick with Levis as starter, but if it decides that it doesn't and wants to take a QB with the No. 1 pick, that deal might be palatable to the Titans as well.

I know some with prejudice against Dak don't think he has worth, but he was in the running for MVP just two seasons ago before things fell apart in the playoffs and in 2024. He's generally also been a top 10 QB. Of course, that also might make the Browns hesitant due to their failure with Watson. If not for his contract and the "bad year," Dallas could get a better deal for him, but those two factors weigh down his value.

It may be as far-fetched for this to happen as it is for Deion to become coach, but I could see it happening, especially with this front office.

You have to account for the cap ramifications, they cannot absorb the cap hit after just extending him

 

[baltcowboy]

You have to account for the cap ramifications, they cannot absorb the cap hit after just extending him

It’s not worth arguing brother. Some fans want Dak gone at all costs. The hatred for 4 is mind boggling to me but that’s are fan base.

 

[John813]

Cleveland can't afford Dak.

They already have a 70+mil QB in Watson out for the year and you think they want to add a QB with a 47mil base?

If anything Cleveland needs to take a QB high to survive the Watson contract and he can't even play in 2025.

 

[Hardline]

Cleveland would laugh in your face if you made that offer to them. You WAY overvalue Dak and I would much rather take a chance drafting Shedeur Sanders and hope he doesn't bust than trading for Dak.

 

[J-man]

No thanks, SS isn't going to be very good in the NFL IMHO. But beyond that it would never happen for these reasons:

Dak would never agree to go to Cleveland. Why would he? What's there that would make him want to go? Ziltch
The cap makes it untenable. I don't even know what teh dead $ would be, but it's unthinkable at this point.
Cleveland is already paying huge $ to the towel man for another 2 years. He may suck, he may be oft injured, but he's theirs and he isn't going anywhere for at least 2 more seasons.

 

[Sydla]

If Dallas ends up with Deion, I could see us getting Dak to waive his no-trade clause and working a deal with Cleveland for the No. 2 pick to draft Shedeur. That just seems like it would be meant to be. To make it palatable to the Browns, who've had their own QB issues and have been looking for an answer for years, Dallas would have to be willing to eat a portion of Dak's contract with him coming off injury. But Cleveland getting a starting quarterback at a cut rate in a weak QB draft and also getting the No. 12 pick to spend on another position should make it worthwhile for the Browns. Not sure that Tennessee would take the same offer since it might be willing to stick with Levis as starter, but if it decides that it doesn't and wants to take a QB with the No. 1 pick, that deal might be palatable to the Titans as well.

I know some with prejudice against Dak don't think he has worth, but he was in the running for MVP just two seasons ago before things fell apart in the playoffs and in 2024. He's generally also been a top 10 QB. Of course, that also might make the Browns hesitant due to their failure with Watson. If not for his contract and the "bad year," Dallas could get a better deal for him, but those two factors weigh down his value.

It may be as far-fetched for this to happen as it is for Deion to become coach, but I could see it happening, especially with this front office.

If the Cowboys have to "eat' some of the contract it increases an already massive dead money charge we have to take even if we don't eat any money.

It's not feasible to trade Dak prior to the 2025 draft. It's just not.

 

[gimmesix]

I can't see Dak waiving his no-trade clause to go to Cleveland, but what do I know?

That would be one of the questions. Might be easier to get him to waive it for Tennessee. However, if you have a new coach come in saying he wants to draft his son to be the QB, I would think you'd be OK with providing an out.

 

[gimmesix]

Cleveland can't afford Dak.

They already have a 70+mil QB in Watson out for the year and you think they want to add a QB with a 47mil base?

If anything Cleveland needs to take a QB high to survive the Watson contract and he can't even play in 2025.

That would be an issue there. I just looked at it and Watson's dead money would be way too high even as a post June 1 cut. Tennessee actually might be more realistic (at least capwise). The Titans' second-round QB who was pretty bad this year is on a rookie deal. However, Tennessee may ride it out and see if he improves so that it can take someone like Hunter with the first overall pick.

 

[gimmesix]

If the Cowboys have to "eat' some of the contract it increases an already massive dead money charge we have to take even if we don't eat any money.

It's not feasible to trade Dak prior to the 2025 draft. It's just not.

Probably not. If he's traded, all of his base salary becomes the other team's responsibility. The prorated portions of his signing bonus and restructure bonus would hit our cap, which if I'm adding right would be around $99 million. Right now, he has a cap hit of $89 million for 2025.

So I guess eating some of the base would really be out of the question, but other than this year, his base would not be bad for a trade partner compared to the cost of starting QBs now. And the other team could restructure those bases to make it more palatable.

Most likely, we restructure Dak to get his cap number down and he's here for at least two more years, but I just think if Deion comes in, it gets interesting with his son set to go in the first round. Who knows? It doesn't look like Shedeur really should be taken before our pick valuewise and we end up with him anyway, but since QBs are overvalued and many of the teams at the top of the draft need one, he'll probably go within the first six picks.

And I'm not saying that I even want him because I have my doubts about him, just addressing the alignment of the stars if Deion becomes head coach the same year his QB son is set to be a first-round pick. We'd probably just end up with his other son, though, because of the giant planet Dak blocking the alignment of those stars.

 

[gimmesix]

No thanks, SS isn't going to be very good in the NFL IMHO. But beyond that it would never happen for these reasons:

Dak would never agree to go to Cleveland. Why would he? What's there that would make him want to go? Ziltch
The cap makes it untenable. I don't even know what teh dead $ would be, but it's unthinkable at this point.
Cleveland is already paying huge $ to the towel man for another 2 years. He may suck, he may be oft injured, but he's theirs and he isn't going anywhere for at least 2 more seasons.

Yeah, with Watson's contract, it appears that Cleveland is going to have to either get a cheap FA or use the draft to find a QB. It might be more likely that they give Lance a shot since they are financially strapped to Watson.

 

[Sydla]

Probably not. If he's traded, all of his base salary becomes the other team's responsibility. The prorated portions of his signing bonus and restructure bonus would hit our cap, which if I'm adding right would be around $99 million. Right now, he has a cap hit of $89 million for 2025.

So I guess eating some of the base would really be out of the question, but other than this year, his base would not be bad for a trade partner compared to the cost of starting QBs now. And the other team could restructure those bases to make it more palatable.

Most likely, we restructure Dak to get his cap number down and he's here for at least two more years, but I just think if Deion comes in, it gets interesting with his son set to go in the first round. Who knows? It doesn't look like Shedeur really should be taken before our pick valuewise and we end up with him anyway, but since QBs are overvalued and many of the teams at the top of the draft need one, he'll probably go within the first six picks.

And I'm not saying that I even want him because I have my doubts about him, just addressing the alignment of the stars if Deion becomes head coach the same year his QB son is set to be a first-round pick. We'd probably just end up with his other son, though, because of the giant planet Dak blocking the alignment of those stars.

His cap charge for the Cowboys if they want to move him before the 2025 draft (and use him to get to Cleveland's 2nd pick), is $151MM.

It ain't happening. In other words, the Cowboys would have to add another $61MM or so to their cap to trade him which means even with the cap rollover, they'd still be looking at cutting quality players just to fit the Dak trade in under their cap.

So unless the Cowboys are about to just blow this entire thing to high hell, there is zero chance Dak gets moved. The contract makes it nearly impossible.

 

[gimmesix]

It’s not worth arguing brother. Some fans want Dak gone at all costs. The hatred for 4 is mind boggling to me but that’s are fan base.

I don't hate 4. I've often said I believe he's good enough to win a Super Bowl with if you have the team around him. If Philly can win with Nick Foles, if Washington can win with Mark Rypien, if New York can win with Eli Manning, Dallas can win with Dak Prescott. But because of our management, players like Romo and Prescott aren't good enough.

I was just trying to create a scenario where if Deion was brought in as coach, he could go get his son. After reviewing Watson's contract, though, the scenario doesn't work with that team.

It would be a costly scenario for us, for sure. I'm not a cap expert, but I believe all his proration would come due, which would increase his hit by $10 million for this year. The other team would take on his base costs, though, totaling $187 million. It's the bonuses that would kill us.

 

[gimmesix]

His cap charge for the Cowboys if they want to move him before the 2025 draft (and use him to get to Cleveland's 2nd pick), is $151MM.

It ain't happening. In other words, the Cowboys would have to add another $61MM or so to their cap to trade him which means even with the cap rollover, they'd still be looking at cutting quality players just to fit the Dak trade in under their cap.

So unless the Cowboys are about to just blow this entire thing to high hell, there is zero chance Dak gets moved. The contract makes it nearly impossible.

Explain that. Why would it be $151 million? The other team would take on his base pay. We'd only owe the bonus money. His dead cap hit currently to cut him would be $151 million, but if he were traded, that would change what we'd owe.

I'm just curious if there's something I'm missing as far as the cost goes. My understanding is the cost to keep him this year is $89 million while the cost to trade him (if he waived his clause) would be $99 million. Of course, we most likely restructure his base this year and get that $89 million cap hit reduced.

 

[baltcowboy]

I don't hate 4. I've often said I believe he's good enough to win a Super Bowl with if you have the team around him. If Philly can win with Nick Foles, if Washington can win with Mark Rypien, if New York can win with Eli Manning, Dallas can win with Dak Prescott. But because of our management, players like Romo and Prescott aren't good enough.

I was just trying to create a scenario where if Deion was brought in as coach, he could go get his son. After reviewing Watson's contract, though, the scenario doesn't work with that team.

It would be a costly scenario for us, for sure. I'm not a cap expert, but I believe all his proration would come due, which would increase his hit by $10 million for this year. The other team would take on his base costs, though, totaling $187 million. It's the bonuses that would kill us.

If the Cowboys had a top 3 pick maybe they would select a quarterback but Dak would still be the starter until the other quarterback is ready. At best you are talking one year of development. I would bet the kid would sit the bench until Dak was injured. I don’t think if Dak turned into Cousins the Cowboys would bench him like Atlanta did.

 

[gimmesix]

If the Cowboys had a top 3 pick maybe they would select a quarterback but Dak would still be the starter until the other quarterback is ready. At best you are talking one year of development. I would bet the kid would sit the bench until Dak was injured. I don’t think if Dak turned into Cousins the Cowboys would bench him like Atlanta did.

Most likely. I do think there will be the temptation to draft a QB, like we did with Dak when Romo was having injury issues, but likely not in the first round ... although we did try to trade up into the first round that year and take Paxton Lynch. What a disaster that would have been.

Like with when we drafted Dak, I think the idea would be that the draft pick would be the eventual replacement. Dallas didn't anticipate that it would be without Romo and need the QB to step in then. Of course, you don't expect that with a fourth-round QB. I actually hate the idea of spending either our first-round or second-round pick on a QB because we've got too many holes to fill to get this team to the point where QB is the final piece. I prefer a DT and RB with the first two picks, but could be talked into a receiver to complement Lamb.

 

[Sydla]

Explain that. Why would it be $151 million? The other team would take on his base pay. We'd only owe the bonus money. His dead cap hit currently to cut him would be $151 million, but if he were traded, that would change what we'd owe.

I'm just curious if there's something I'm missing as far as the cost goes. My understanding is the cost to keep him this year is $89 million while the cost to trade him (if he waived his clause) would be $99 million. Of course, we most likely restructure his base this year and get that $89 million cap hit reduced.

LOL, I totally messed up. I added up the costs for a cut pre-June 1, stupidly.

Using Spotrac's numbers to trade pre-June 1, the total cap charge is around $104MM or so. Rounding, if you trade him pre-June 1 here are the charges:

- $29MM prorated signing bonus (2025)
- $13MM restructure (2025)
- $16MM prorated signing bonus (2026)
- $12MM restructure (2026)
- $16MM prorated signing bonus (2027)
- $1MM restructure (2027)
- $16MM prorated signing bonus (2028)
- $1MM restructure (2028)

So we'd only have to take around a $15MM cap charge to trade him if he waived the NTC. Definitely more doable than when I cited $151MM LOL.

 

[gimmesix]

LOL, I totally messed up. I added up the costs for a cut pre-June 1, stupidly.

Using Spotrac's numbers to trade pre-June 1, the total cap charge is around $104MM or so. Rounding, if you trade him pre-June 1 here are the charges:

- $29MM prorated signing bonus (2025)
- $13MM restructure (2025)
- $16MM prorated signing bonus (2026)
- $12MM restructure (2026)
- $16MM prorated signing bonus (2027)
- $1MM restructure (2027)
- $16MM prorated signing bonus (2028)
- $1MM restructure (2028)

So we'd only have to take around a $15MM cap charge to trade him if he waived the NTC. Definitely more doable than when I cited $151MM LOL.

Well, my premise fell apart quicker than I expected because I failed to recognize how much Watson has financially strapped Cleveland. The Browns' only real choice is to go cheap at the position.

Like I've mentioned with Tennessee, I don't think the Titans would do it because I think they'd rather give Levis another year and use that No. 1 overall on Hunter.

Probably our best bet if we wanted to move up for Sanders would be the Raiders and with the number of teams looking for a QB, he'll probably be gone by then even if he's not worth it as a prospect.

I just don't believe we're quite as tied down by Dak's deal as some think IF he were to agree to a trade. Yes, it was cost us richly, but with our trading partner taking on the base salaries, we'd also save a bit ... if we made Deion the head coach and decided to do what it takes to get his son. It wouldn't be pretty because we'd eat up a lot of cap and the space that we could create by restructuring Dak instead, which is what I think we'll realistically do.

This exercise was essentially to see if such a trade is conceivable. I'm not saying it's very realistic, but it is possible ... just not with Cleveland. Sanders would have to fall. (I think it's conceivable that Sanders could fall to us anyway if teams based on actual value and not QB value.)