Cowboy thoughts/opinions about day 1 fa

[Cowboyny]

Boye only played about 50% of the snaps iirc. Crazy money for him and Oweh. CJ Allen or Anthony Hill Jr. wouldn't make me mad on draft day. I don't think Styles is an option anymore.

Remember we are replacing Murray who was awful, anyone we sign or draft will be an upgrade

 

[Cowboyny]

Thanks for your write up enjoyed as usual. We got Gary at equivalent money to much lesser rushers. It cost us what would be a fifth rounder this year therefore a fourth rounder next year. Cry me a river

They also fully know what they are getting

 

[Cowboyny]

That is the very best response to yesterday I've heard so far a lot of common sense some real facts keeping emotion out of it there's still work to do There's still a lot of guys out there so let's hope over the next 48 hours the Cowboys Fans can see A few players that are going to help this team in 2026 be better Then twenty twenty five..

I said it before fa, expect to see more solid starters added then star players. They don’t get your stars in fa, that’s where the draft comes in

 

[kramskoi]

I thought overal pretty good day. We didn’t reach and over pay. I loved Dean but I wouldn’t have signed him to that deal. Gary is a solid signing for a guy who’s actually shown more than guys who ended up costing more money

Some overpays on Mafe and Oweh. Mafe only had 2 sacks last year (3yr - 60 mil). Oweh 7.5 sacks (4yr - 100 mil). No way Gary is a better deal if he goes to the market without trade...especially with no guaranteed money left and contract control. No-brainer actually.

 

[Cowboyny]

I thought overal pretty good day. We didn’t reach and over pay. I loved Dean but I wouldn’t have signed him to that deal. Gary is a solid signing for a guy who’s actually shown more than guys who ended up costing more money

think many need to understand this is a new defensive scheme that will be all about disguise. It won’t be reliant on one dominate pass rusher, but pressure coming from every direction. Gary is part of the solution but not the only part

 

[dupree89]

We just didn't know if the Cowboys would change the way they handle fa period. I think adding two players on day 1, 1 fa and 1 trade is a start in the right direction:

Gary-he is our new starting LE or 3-4 OLB. Why trade for him if he was going to be cut? He was going to cost more and you they would have to contend with other teams to sign him. Considering a player like Mafe who is coming off of a 2 sack season, got a 20 million per season deal. Hell, Jalen Phillips and his 5 sacks got him a 30 million. Also, with any trade you don't take on any bonus money, which makes his contract no cost to get out of, but easy to manipulate the cap charge. Heard they can possibly make his cap charge this season only 4 million.

Ansley our new passing game coordinator was with Green Bay and knows everything about the player, even CP was on the staff when Gary was drafted. Point is, they know what they are getting. Is he an elite pass rusher? No, but is a good scheme fit for what CP wants. There is a good podcast out there with footstheking having a discussion what type of edge they will be looking for in this scheme, it pretty much describes a player like Gary.

Thompson-in my opinion, he was the best safety on the market. Then actually got him at a good price. He has experience at both safety positions as well as snaps at the nickel. He played for our new DB coach in Arizona, so another player then know fully well what they are getting. He is a massive upgrade over Wilson in coverage. He was the far better safety then the other two linked to the Cowboys in Blankenship and PJ Locke.

Linebacker-seeing Dean get 12 million a season, glad the Cowboys didn't land him. That is awfully a lot for a player that struggles with availability. Quay Walker got even more and his play has been up and down, Lloyd scares me to death, doing nothing until a contract season.

I am pretty sure the Cowboys have a plan to add a veteran linebacker if it is fa or the trade market. Hell, there was a rumor that the 49ers might make Fred Warner available. Good news is that the incoming LB draft class is loaded, could be 4 1st rd linebackers.

Other Needs to address:

-Veteran corner
-that 4i DE
-Nickel
-more pass rush
-maybe another safety

good thoughts, thank you cowboyny

 

[Cowboyny]

Gary-same as Clowney last year. Hopefully that is.

Thompson- Hopefully an improvement over Wilson.

Williams-should have let go.

Steele-should have let go.

Couple things:

-Gary is younger and better fit in this scheme.
-Thompson is a massive upgrade over Wilson, especially in coverage
-Steele took a pay cut to stay a cowboy

 

[Cowboyny]

They almost have to do something today at LB

Chenal, Wagner, Elliss - one of those need to be signed hopefully today

Then I'd look at DE and CB - Hendrickson is out of range, but someone like Chaisson fits Jerry's former 1st rounder mold. Chubb is also still available and would fit the OLB

Chubb is a name to watch, Chassion would be good in that Fowler role.

I wouldn’t rule out adding a linebacker via trade too.

 

[blueblood70]

I said it before fa, expect to see more solid starters added then star players. They don’t get your stars in fa, that’s where the draft comes in

I think you have to trust the new staff—most people like Christian Parker, or at least the group he’s assembled, with Will McClay and Schottenheimer helping Jerry figure out who fits the scheme and can get it running quickly.

The first two players they picked up yesterday were solid.

They have too many holes to be top-heavy this year, in my view.

They’re making the effort they promised—aggressive but not reckless. You can’t give up what was being asked for Crosby, and with Dean, he chose the Raiders. They made him a fair offer, but I think he didn’t want to face his old team twice a year; he still has allegiance to the Eagles and made a choice he was comfortable with.

They went after some linebackers, but they flew off the board quickly—two of the Cowboys’ top targets ended up with the Raiders. The prices, around $12–14M, weren’t unreasonable.

The strangest case is Lloyd; his AAV looks bad, but only $25M was guaranteed.

It’s odd they didn’t pursue him harder, given he wasn’t as expensive as it seemed.

There’s still a solid list of linebackers available. They could trade for Queen or target others still out there—maybe grab two instead of one—and then look to the draft to pick up an off-the-ball linebacker with one of their two picks.

 

[kramskoi]

Gary-same as Clowney last year. Hopefully that is.

Thompson- Hopefully an improvement over Wilson.

Williams-should have let go.

Steele-should have let go.

Gary will be better in 3-4. Thompson is DEFINITELY and improvement over Wilson. He can play hash/slot, roof and box...equal time in snaps at all three. Chess piece type dude. Like Downs, Thieneman or Warren. Can't let go Steele...he just took less money to stay. Always healthy...and availability DOES matter. Sam Williams is cheap depth. Probably need a few guys like that. It's one year to see what Parker can do with him and then it's adios.

 

[kramskoi]

Chubb is a name to watch, Chassion would be good in that Fowler role.

I wouldn’t rule out adding a linebacker via trade too.

Chubb and Chaisson. I'd take either but I like Chaisson. Trading for Kavon Thibodeaux would be a really sick move. The Giants might be soft on him.

 

[75boyz]

Couple things:

-Gary is younger and better fit in this scheme.
-Thompson is a massive upgrade over Wilson, especially in coverage
-Steele took a pay cut to stay a cowboy

Counter:
REGARDLESS of this tiresome scheme fit dialog, I'll take Clowney's part time sack production over Gary who disappeared getting to the QB for the last 10 consecutive games after Micah got hurt. Clowney didn't have the benefit of Micah.

I'll give you Thompson over Wilson. I hope.

Steele still starting on your lesser pay claim still accomplishes nothing.

You didn't mention Williams so that's a given.

 

[75boyz]

Gary will be better in 3-4. Thompson is DEFINITELY and improvement over Wilson. He can play hash/slot, roof and box...equal time in snaps at all three. Chess piece type dude. Like Downs, Thieneman or Warren. Can't let go Steele...he just took less money to stay. Always healthy...and availability DOES matter. Sam Williams is cheap depth. Probably need a few guys like that. It's one year to see what Parker can do with him and then it's adios.

Refer to my post #32.
Agree to disagree.
Maybe Thompson, that's it.

 

[Mikexike]

Thanks for the write up, I like what they did on day one... Not too upset about missing out on the top LB's...

Looking like the draft is going to be LB, EDGE or CB with the first 2 picks.

I have a feeling Okereke will be signed any day now and hopefully a CB for depth. Longshot but maybe they bring in Chubb?? or does jerry surprise us all and pull a myles garrett/fred warner trade??? would you guys be ok if they traded our first-round picks for any of those 2??

 

[blueblood70]

Remember we are replacing Murray who was awful, anyone we sign or draft will be an upgrade

That's a good point people are missing yesterday,

They may not like the names the Cowboys may pick up at linebacker or other positions but they got to realize how bad the scheme was as well and all the injuries a lot of those players were playing next to practice squad players who knew who was out of position or not running this game properly as well as the wrong schemes being called..

I mean it's addition by subtraction some of the players and coaches who are no longer here it should improve the team how could you be any worse than I believe they were ranked anywhere from 28 to 32 in every defensive category on the planet.

So just with the addition of a new scheme and the advice they're going to get from these coaches on which players may fit better so they can get it moving quicker off the ground and running as we should say,

they're going to need a lot more bodies and like I said before they can't be top heavy it can't just be about one name, We could've done that with Parsons..

You also have to figure with the line if they end up staying with it you have Clark ,OSA, and now Gary, who was used to playing this type of defense next to Clark, with Q.Williams getting a full offseason with us and with our team versus coming in in a trade mid-season mess, should be an instant upgrade..

Feel like EZE is going to make another step the dude was close fingertips away from some sacks versus pressures He was around the ball a lot he did pretty good in the run game and again it wasn't a aggressive pressure front they were trying to tell those guys hey you're on an island go make your own stats versus a lot defensive coordinators who actually try to create some pressure when you need to they help these guys get these stats..

Lastly as much as we may our linebacker core that's leftover there's going to be a lot of changes Overshown ,Liafu, Some of the others are going to get a chance at outside linebacker, this is a different scheme, and I'm betting with all this offseason in camps with a lot of healthy players this time that they should be better even game one than we were last year at Game 17...

I mean the disclaimer is if we don't have a bunch of injuries in camp this team will start out healthier Overshown bland and revel won't be rehabbing to start the season on pup etc

It's just a gut but I just think defense will better Even if it's a slight improvement to start and then gradually gets better I just feel the situations are completely different not just all new coaching staff but all these players having a full offseason ato work healthy.

And like Jerry said no red shirts no projects no injuries you cannot draft players and then wait for them The players you pick up this draft needs to be thought of as key players impact players they don't have to all be starters but they need to not be on PUP or be so green that you have to wait on them..

 

[conner01]

think many need to understand this is a new defensive scheme that will be all about disguise. It won’t be reliant on one dominate pass rusher, but pressure coming from every direction. Gary is part of the solution but not the only part

And I like that concept a lot. It creates confusion on the oline. It makes it hard to adjust blocking to eliminate a single player. It requires smart players who are where they need to be, but it also makes more guys moving around underneath in the secondary to force the QB to think that one more second

 

[75boyz]

When you're talking a Giants cast off LB in Okereke as your primary focus now, once again, what type of difference are they looking for?

Kenneth Murray really brought the Cowboy LB standard to an all time low.
smh

 

[conner01]

Some overpays on Mafe and Oweh. Mafe only had 2 sacks last year (3yr - 60 mil). Oweh 7.5 sacks (4yr - 100 mil). No way Gary is a better deal if he goes to the market without trade...especially with no guaranteed money left and contract control. No-brainer actually.

Yep, and if we wanted to lower his cap hits we could extend abd convert salary to bonus and spread those cap hits out over 3 years instead of 2, but then he would have some guaranteed money with lower cap hits. It was a really smart move and I think Parker wants a system either way multiple guys at risk of rushing instead of just one elite guy they can scheme around.

 

[Verdict]

We just didn't know if the Cowboys would change the way they handle fa period. I think adding two players on day 1, 1 fa and 1 trade is a start in the right direction:

Gary-he is our new starting LE or 3-4 OLB. Why trade for him if he was going to be cut? He was going to cost more and you they would have to contend with other teams to sign him. Considering a player like Mafe who is coming off of a 2 sack season, got a 20 million per season deal. Hell, Jalen Phillips and his 5 sacks got him a 30 million. Also, with any trade you don't take on any bonus money, which makes his contract no cost to get out of, but easy to manipulate the cap charge. Heard they can possibly make his cap charge this season only 4 million.

Ansley our new passing game coordinator was with Green Bay and knows everything about the player, even CP was on the staff when Gary was drafted. Point is, they know what they are getting. Is he an elite pass rusher? No, but is a good scheme fit for what CP wants. There is a good podcast out there with footstheking having a discussion what type of edge they will be looking for in this scheme, it pretty much describes a player like Gary.

Thompson-in my opinion, he was the best safety on the market. Then actually got him at a good price. He has experience at both safety positions as well as snaps at the nickel. He played for our new DB coach in Arizona, so another player then know fully well what they are getting. He is a massive upgrade over Wilson in coverage. He was the far better safety then the other two linked to the Cowboys in Blankenship and PJ Locke.

Linebacker-seeing Dean get 12 million a season, glad the Cowboys didn't land him. That is awfully a lot for a player that struggles with availability. Quay Walker got even more and his play has been up and down, Lloyd scares me to death, doing nothing until a contract season.

I am pretty sure the Cowboys have a plan to add a veteran linebacker if it is fa or the trade market. Hell, there was a rumor that the 49ers might make Fred Warner available. Good news is that the incoming LB draft class is loaded, could be 4 1st rd linebackers.

Other Needs to address:

-Veteran corner
-that 4i DE
-Nickel
-more pass rush
-maybe another safety

This might seem pessimistic but it’s not—Gary has zero guaranteed money. They get a cheap look. If we happen to load up on ends in the draft we can move on from him or have leverage to negotiate a salary reduction.

 

[sbark]

I'm not a huge fan of burning a draft pick on a guy that was going to be released and had 0 sacks the entire second half of the season, but pass rush was a huge need.

Last half on...0 sacks
About when M.Parsons got season ending injury.
O.Line then able to control other d.line better