Franchise Tag: Demarcus Lawrence & the Salary Cap

[DogFace]

My takeaway from the original post is that players are not worth any money and should be nickel and dimed.

I guess the owners who are all billionaires and risk nothing should just keep the revenue from, tickets, parking, tv and radio contracts? Screw the players they are just like old white men give them a place to stay out of trouble....a.m. I right?

The patriots should be ridiculed for not paying players what they are worth and for constantly finding new ways to get out of paying players who have helped them win through the years and not every team should pay no one.

Myself I like football for the players it appears in this era of fans most like the owners and the buisness element of the league and the draft. I don’t get it but whatever.

It’s not just sports owners. There’s a real hero worship issue in society as whole going on these days.

They’ve managed to brainwash people into being angry at the wrong people.

Sad

 

[phildadon86]

Did the OP write an entire page of text without bothering to look up the 2018 Salary Cap? Its 178 Million and we have a lot of room available.

Kind of makes the thread obsolete, huh?

I stopped reading after Trade Tyron Smith. Sure, lets trade the best LT in the game when his cap hit is next to nothing for a franchise LT. Makes so much sense

 

[John813]

I would hate to have some of these folks as my accountant. According to Over the Cap, Dallas has around $21M (after the carryover $) for 2018. And, that is for a team that only has 47 players signed. Why people think it's financially smart to blow almost all of your cap space on 1 guy is beyond comprehension.

They can restructure, cut or re-sign players(Martin) as needed to increase cap space. Don't need to be an accountant to figure that out.

It's beyond comprehension to also let your best passrusher, in the prime age of most passrushers careers to simply walk away, too. Besides finding a franchise QB, getting a legit LT and DE is up there on the importance list, hence why great DEs get paid the way they do.
Not like we have a plethora of quality DE's behind Lawrence waiting for more PT. Besides, the franchise tag can be used as a temporary method in order to get a long term deal established without having to worry about a team poaching him.

I stopped reading after Trade Tyron Smith. Sure, lets trade the best LT in the game when his cap hit is next to nothing for a franchise LT. Makes so much sense

His cap hit is 17.5mil next year, #1 in the league for Left Tackles for 2018

https://overthecap.com/position/left-tackle/2018/

I do agree trading him is silly, even with the recent injuries. Even when hampered, he still is a top LT in the game. Even if they did want to trade him, due to restructures, we would owe him more money if we traded him before June 1st. (18.3mil dead cap)

 

[aikemirv]

The pressure that Lawrence put on QB's this year helped our secondary tremendously. The 15 sacks don't tell near the story that he meant to our D. I am completely fine with a tag for next year and at 20 mill guaranteed he probably will be too. Sure, a long term deal is nice but the signing bonus is the real key. I am fine if they do that as well. I think he actually puts more consistent pressure on the QB than Ware ever did I would take my 20 mill and buy an insurance policy against injury for that year.

I don't think you get 3-5 really good players for 5-7 mill a year. Those "really good players" are always more expensive that they should be because of the competitive market of teams that have more cap space. Pay for difference makers and fill in the gaps. Just like Sean Lee, he is a difference maker who makes every player on that defense better. Lawrence is the same. He makes every player on the Dline more effective and definitely makes every secondary player better

 

[Stash]

I stopped reading after Trade Tyron Smith. Sure, lets trade the best LT in the game when his cap hit is next to nothing for a franchise LT. Makes so much sense

And it turns one of 2017's biggest issues into the absolute biggest issue on the team.

I mean seriously, the three biggest personnel losses on the year were Smith, Lee, and Elliott.

The team had nothing for a viable alternative to Smith being out. They obviously totally overvalued Chaz Green, not only as their starting left guard, but as their backup swing tackle! Nice double whammy there boys!

And when that not surprisingly failed (at both spots), they turned to a guy in Bell who ranked 63rd in the league as a tackle in his one year on the left side in Carolina (before they got rid of him).

So, the team followed up one mistake with another, but this plan would follow up those two mistakes with the biggest mistake of all. And leave you with absolutely nothing at left tackle.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Under no circumstances should the Cowboys put the franchise tag on Demarcus Lawrence. As great as Lawrence was for us this season it would be financial maleficence to tag him with a contract near 20 million for the year.

You're talking about a player who missed for one reason or another 16 games in a 64 game period and is known to have back issues. You're also talking about a player who has only really shown up for more than one full year.

Is he likely to show up again in a contract tagged year? My guess is yes, but my argument is that even if he were to show up and stay healthy, the cost associated with it makes no sense.

If you want to sign him long-term, do so (but I wouldn't do that either). None of these double-digit defensive ends are winning super bowls for a reason. While they are the best defensive ends in the league, they aren't good enough to impact plays consistently enough to make their team win and win big, nor are they able to stay healthy enough.

Please imagine for instance 18 or so million dollars sitting on the bench due to an injury (see JJ Watt) and what impact that has on the rest of the team, rather than having 3-5 really really good players with salaries ranging from 5-6 million each, hell even two 9 million dollar players helps spread the risk to a significant degree better than lumping it all into one player who as I said before hasn't even shown up consistently. It's a recipe to get burnt.

The Patriots have two players who earn double-digit salaries. Brady and an elite CB that was drafted in the 1st round, and who they took away from their division rivals. A young veteran whose contract they can get out of within 3 or 4 years if they have to. His average salary is only 13 million. Nowhere near the 17-19 million, it will take to franchise Lawrence.

I mentioned players who make 5-6 million each being a better investment. Guess how many players the Patriots pay over 5 million dollars? 10 guys...

Even without Romo (1) on the active roster, he cost us 9 million dollars this year. Even without paying for an elite QB on the active roster we have two players in the double digits, Tyrone Smith (2) and Dez Bryant (3).

Without Romo, Bryant is worthless. Cutting him saves 8.5 million next year and 16.5 million the year after. You've lost the chance to trade him but you do need to cut him at this point.

I'm actually stunned the Cowboys haven't tried to trade Smith while they can. I'm stunned they didn't use this awful year as a signal that real change needed to happen and started fairly fresh (great time to get rid of Garrett and refocus on a growing talent pool on defense). Smith is only 27 years old, but 7 years pro. I wonder if Smith is going to get healthier as he gets older? I'm doubtful. When was the last time we got a 1st round draft pick for a player? How about a 2nd? or a 3rd? The Cowboys never get value for top talented players. They just wait until they wither away on our salary cap.

Tyrone Crawford (4) costs us 9 million a year and hasn't so much as sniffed a pro bowl. One of the worst contracts in the Jason Garrett era, and like Carr we have never tried to move on from it.

Sean Lee (5) costs 7 million a year and is worth every penny when he is on the field... We need to draft a linebacker high and start preparing for life after Lee. We need to move Lee back to middle linebacker and move Jaylon to the weak side. Let Hitchens walk. We should probably draft two linebackers within the first five picks next year.

Jason Witten (6) makes 7.4 million and has never been a true red zone threat. He had less than 600 yards receiving this year and only 5 TDs... But I guess we're paying him for his "leadership".

Ezekiel Elliott (7) is one of the best players in the league. A true game changer in my opinion. I lobbied hard for us to draft him and don't regret it. At the time though, I was making the argument as an extension of Romo's career. With Dak (and not to make this about Dak) I don't see our offense being robust enough to warrant a 1st round (top 5 pick) running back. Until teams are afraid of Dak's arm, we're never going to see how good Elliott could be.

La'el Collins (8) was extended after the team saw him play RT in the offseason. I'm not saying this was a bad idea, but along the same lines of paying so much for Elliott (draft and cap wise) we're now saying we're going to have an elite offensive line, but an average offense? This smacks in the face of common sense. Now we're in a position where we have no choice but to pay Martin, who is probably our best healthy lineman.

I'm sure it won't be popular, but I say you let Lawrence (9?) walk and let someone else give him his big payday and instead pick up the comp pick. Draft a defensive end in the first round and trade up if you have to, to get the right guy. Then you hope that Taco Charlton wasn't the boneheaded draft choice I think he was and pair the two together for the next 4 years.

While he costs less than 5 million dollars, we can't even cut Terrance Williams until 2019 because his contract is all guaranteed money up front.

So to sum up the cap mismanagement:
1. 8 players making over 5 million dollars
2. 6 of the 8 players all play on offense.
3. Of the 8, 7 have red flags.
4. Of the 2 players on defense, both have red flags.
5. There is someone out there that thinks it would be a good idea to have a 9th, who will actually become the best-paid player on the team?

Off season suggestions
1. Fire Garrett and Linehan and the entire offensive coaching staff (not happening).
2. Cut Dez Bryant (probably not happening).
3. Trade Tyron Smith, his cap hit gets MUCH smaller as it goes, so hopefully, we could still get some really good value here. Major cap hit for moving him now. Hopefully for a 1st or 2nd.
4. Do everyone a favor (himself included) and cut Jason Witten. Promote Hanna and Swaim, hopefully, get something from Gathers.
5. Take the major hit and cut Tyrone Crawford now. Sign a free agent NT in free agency. Would like to look at Dontari Poe.
6. Cut Orlando Scandrick. Move Byron Jones to cornerback. Inquire about Earl Thomas.
7. Do everyone a favor and trade Cole Beasley (himself included) to the 49ers, hopefully for a 3rd. Promote Switzer.
8. Inquire about re-signing Jonathan Cooper at a decent price.
9. Sign Michael Crabtree once he is cut.

2018 Draft Priorities
1. DE
2. T (if Tyron Smith is moved)
3. LB (2x)
4. QB
5. S
6. WR

Chidobe Awuzie - Earl Thomas - Kavon Frazier or Rookie Safety - Jourdan Lewis - Byron Jones (flex)
Jaylon Smith - Sean Lee - Rookie LB (flex)
Rookie DE - Maliek Collins/David Irving - Dontari Poe - Taco Charlton

so dont sign him long term and dont franchise him? So let him walk? I think Ill pass on reading the rest.

 

[Proof]

Being among league leaders in sacks despite being dragged to the ground in 9 straight games is consistent enough.

Pass rushers are rare. You finally got one keep him.

Sorry, you’re wrong. He’s worth the gamble.

yeah. along with this, you have to consider the effect he has on the rest of the guys as well. having him as the centerpiece allows for irving to be freed up, for taco to be freed up etc.

that's not to mention keeping the LB's clean, which we need with Lee and Jaylon being injury susceptible.

 

[CowboyRoy]

And it turns one of 2017's biggest issues into the absolute biggest issue on the team.

I mean seriously, the three biggest personnel losses on the year were Smith, Lee, and Elliott.

The team had nothing for a viable alternative to Smith being out. They obviously totally overvalued Chaz Green, not only as their starting left guard, but as their backup swing tackle! Nice double whammy there boys!

And when that not surprisingly failed (at both spots), they turned to a guy in Bell who ranked 63rd in the league as a tackle in his one year on the left side in Carolina (before they got rid of him).

So, the team followed up one mistake with another, but this plan would follow up those two mistakes with the biggest mistake of all. And leave you with absolutely nothing at left tackle.

Based on the history of Smith and the way these back issues can go I give Smith another 2 years of high quality football at most. And that is probably with him not practicing much and in and out of the lineup during the year. He is falling apart. Lets just look at reality here. My feeling is when the time is right, they will move Martin over to LT. So I would NOT trade him, but I would prepare for his departure. I have no problems taking a lineman #1 if he is the BPA. Its pretty obvious that without a top notch oline the offense completely falls apart. Whether that be Zeke and the run game or Dak or both. At the vert least go out and sign a top notch guard that can fill in where Cooper played. I would resign Cooper as a backup if that is possible. I would not waste starting money on him.

 

[CowboyRoy]

yeah. along with this, you have to consider the effect he has on the rest of the guys as well. having him as the centerpiece allows for irving to be freed up, for taco to be freed up etc.

that's not to mention keeping the LB's clean, which we need with Lee and Jaylon being injury susceptible.

For Taco to be freed up? LOL Its already starting and the season ended just a few days ago.

 

[Fletch]

Isn’t that why rookies get a 3 to 5 year deal (depending on where they were taken), to give them time to develop? And when they finally do, we find excuses to want to get rid of them and start the process over? Insanity.

DE’s do not grow on trees. Lawrence has finally turned the corner and has shown that he can be a premier pass rusher. You don’t just toss that into the garbage because it’s a contract year. He’s worth the so called risk, long term.

 

[JeffInDC]

They can restructure, cut or re-sign players(Martin) as needed to increase cap space. Don't need to be an accountant to figure that out.

It's beyond comprehension to also let your best passrusher, in the prime age of most passrushers careers to simply walk away, too. Besides finding a franchise QB, getting a legit LT and DE is up there on the importance list, hence why great DEs get paid the way they do.
Not like we have a plethora of quality DE's behind Lawrence waiting for more PT. Besides, the franchise tag can be used as a temporary method in order to get a long term deal established without having to worry about a team poaching him.



His cap hit is 17.5mil next year, #1 in the league for Left Tackles for 2018

https://overthecap.com/position/left-tackle/2018/

I do agree trading him is silly, even with the recent injuries. Even when hampered, he still is a top LT in the game. Even if they did want to trade him, due to restructures, we would owe him more money if we traded him before June 1st. (18.3mil dead cap)

I guess I needed to add to my post..............I'm NOT for letting him walk. I'm signing him long-term to a back-loaded, team cap-friendly 5 year deal. If his play stays consistent for the 1st 3 years or so, then the large chunks at the end of the deal can be restructured (as they do with everybody's contracts these days).

 

[baltcowboy]

Under no circumstances should the Cowboys put the franchise tag on Demarcus Lawrence. As great as Lawrence was for us this season it would be financial maleficence to tag him with a contract near 20 million for the year.

You're talking about a player who missed for one reason or another 16 games in a 64 game period and is known to have back issues. You're also talking about a player who has only really shown up for more than one full year.

Is he likely to show up again in a contract tagged year? My guess is yes, but my argument is that even if he were to show up and stay healthy, the cost associated with it makes no sense.

If you want to sign him long-term, do so (but I wouldn't do that either). None of these double-digit defensive ends are winning super bowls for a reason. While they are the best defensive ends in the league, they aren't good enough to impact plays consistently enough to make their team win and win big, nor are they able to stay healthy enough.

Please imagine for instance 18 or so million dollars sitting on the bench due to an injury (see JJ Watt) and what impact that has on the rest of the team, rather than having 3-5 really really good players with salaries ranging from 5-6 million each, hell even two 9 million dollar players helps spread the risk to a significant degree better than lumping it all into one player who as I said before hasn't even shown up consistently. It's a recipe to get burnt.

The Patriots have two players who earn double-digit salaries. Brady and an elite CB that was drafted in the 1st round, and who they took away from their division rivals. A young veteran whose contract they can get out of within 3 or 4 years if they have to. His average salary is only 13 million. Nowhere near the 17-19 million, it will take to franchise Lawrence.

I mentioned players who make 5-6 million each being a better investment. Guess how many players the Patriots pay over 5 million dollars? 10 guys...

Even without Romo (1) on the active roster, he cost us 9 million dollars this year. Even without paying for an elite QB on the active roster we have two players in the double digits, Tyrone Smith (2) and Dez Bryant (3).

Without Romo, Bryant is worthless. Cutting him saves 8.5 million next year and 16.5 million the year after. You've lost the chance to trade him but you do need to cut him at this point.

I'm actually stunned the Cowboys haven't tried to trade Smith while they can. I'm stunned they didn't use this awful year as a signal that real change needed to happen and started fairly fresh (great time to get rid of Garrett and refocus on a growing talent pool on defense). Smith is only 27 years old, but 7 years pro. I wonder if Smith is going to get healthier as he gets older? I'm doubtful. When was the last time we got a 1st round draft pick for a player? How about a 2nd? or a 3rd? The Cowboys never get value for top talented players. They just wait until they wither away on our salary cap.

Tyrone Crawford (4) costs us 9 million a year and hasn't so much as sniffed a pro bowl. One of the worst contracts in the Jason Garrett era, and like Carr we have never tried to move on from it.

Sean Lee (5) costs 7 million a year and is worth every penny when he is on the field... We need to draft a linebacker high and start preparing for life after Lee. We need to move Lee back to middle linebacker and move Jaylon to the weak side. Let Hitchens walk. We should probably draft two linebackers within the first five picks next year.

Jason Witten (6) makes 7.4 million and has never been a true red zone threat. He had less than 600 yards receiving this year and only 5 TDs... But I guess we're paying him for his "leadership".

Ezekiel Elliott (7) is one of the best players in the league. A true game changer in my opinion. I lobbied hard for us to draft him and don't regret it. At the time though, I was making the argument as an extension of Romo's career. With Dak (and not to make this about Dak) I don't see our offense being robust enough to warrant a 1st round (top 5 pick) running back. Until teams are afraid of Dak's arm, we're never going to see how good Elliott could be.

La'el Collins (8) was extended after the team saw him play RT in the offseason. I'm not saying this was a bad idea, but along the same lines of paying so much for Elliott (draft and cap wise) we're now saying we're going to have an elite offensive line, but an average offense? This smacks in the face of common sense. Now we're in a position where we have no choice but to pay Martin, who is probably our best healthy lineman.

I'm sure it won't be popular, but I say you let Lawrence (9?) walk and let someone else give him his big payday and instead pick up the comp pick. Draft a defensive end in the first round and trade up if you have to, to get the right guy. Then you hope that Taco Charlton wasn't the boneheaded draft choice I think he was and pair the two together for the next 4 years.

While he costs less than 5 million dollars, we can't even cut Terrance Williams until 2019 because his contract is all guaranteed money up front.

So to sum up the cap mismanagement:
1. 8 players making over 5 million dollars
2. 6 of the 8 players all play on offense.
3. Of the 8, 7 have red flags.
4. Of the 2 players on defense, both have red flags.
5. There is someone out there that thinks it would be a good idea to have a 9th, who will actually become the best-paid player on the team?

Off season suggestions
1. Fire Garrett and Linehan and the entire offensive coaching staff (not happening).
2. Cut Dez Bryant (probably not happening).
3. Trade Tyron Smith, his cap hit gets MUCH smaller as it goes, so hopefully, we could still get some really good value here. Major cap hit for moving him now. Hopefully for a 1st or 2nd.
4. Do everyone a favor (himself included) and cut Jason Witten. Promote Hanna and Swaim, hopefully, get something from Gathers.
5. Take the major hit and cut Tyrone Crawford now. Sign a free agent NT in free agency. Would like to look at Dontari Poe.
6. Cut Orlando Scandrick. Move Byron Jones to cornerback. Inquire about Earl Thomas.
7. Do everyone a favor and trade Cole Beasley (himself included) to the 49ers, hopefully for a 3rd. Promote Switzer.
8. Inquire about re-signing Jonathan Cooper at a decent price.
9. Sign Michael Crabtree once he is cut.

2018 Draft Priorities
1. DE
2. T (if Tyron Smith is moved)
3. LB (2x)
4. QB
5. S
6. WR

Chidobe Awuzie - Earl Thomas - Kavon Frazier or Rookie Safety - Jourdan Lewis - Byron Jones (flex)
Jaylon Smith - Sean Lee - Rookie LB (flex)
Rookie DE - Maliek Collins/David Irving - Dontari Poe - Taco Charlton

How about tagging Lawrence and trading him for picks. With the way you are thinking why not trade Zack. Tyron is coming off of injuries, you will not get what he is worth. Martin and Lawrence would get us early draft picks. They both are in their primes. New England would do it.

 

[John813]

Based on the history of Smith and the way these back issues can go I give Smith another 2 years of high quality football at most. And that is probably with him not practicing much and in and out of the lineup during the year. He is falling apart. Lets just look at reality here. My feeling is when the time is right, they will move Martin over to LT. So I would NOT trade him, but I would prepare for his departure. I have no problems taking a lineman #1 if he is the BPA. Its pretty obvious that without a top notch oline the offense completely falls apart. Whether that be Zeke and the run game or Dak or both. At the vert least go out and sign a top notch guard that can fill in where Cooper played. I would resign Cooper as a backup if that is possible. I would not waste starting money on him.

Smith has zero guaranteed money/no dead cap hit his last two years of his contract(22/23) and you save over 13m by releasing him.
He has a small dead cap in 21 of 1.75m with a saving of 10.5m
2020, his dead cap is 5.85m, with a savings of over 8 mil, which would fall in line with your 2 years of high quality comment.
Ideally, you would want him to play at least 3 more years. But cutting/trading him in the next two years would give us a high dead cap.
Cowboys could never realistically trade him. We restructured his deal in the past to free up money and the FO saw TS as a staple of this team long term. Had we of traded him earlier, we still would of gotten whacked with dead money these next few years.

 

[Bowdown27]

So your wanting To rebuild?

Trade away a potential keystone difference maker on defense and leave only injury prone lee?

So we should hope for Super Bowls sometime in 2020? Oh and have an elite coaching staff lead by belichickish like coach and staff so we can pay 85% of the roster less than 5 mill

That was my thought reading it. Blow up the team. Truly if zeke played those 6 games we would be talking differently around here. After the chiefs game everyone was happy and ready to make a run.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

SHow me a team that doesn't have Brady and Bellichick that has sustained success by being cheap and shopping in the bargain bin. It doesn't happen.

 

[Stash]

Based on the history of Smith and the way these back issues can go I give Smith another 2 years of high quality football at most. And that is probably with him not practicing much and in and out of the lineup during the year. He is falling apart. Lets just look at reality here.

I wouldn't dispute any of that. And your "two years" mention lines up with the possible "out year" of 2020. At minimum they need some semblance of a backup plan, at best a possible replacement.

My feeling is when the time is right, they will move Martin over to LT.

I can't ever see that happening. I'd expect a draft pick of Collins over there before they'd ever move Martin there.

So I would NOT trade him, but I would prepare for his departure.

The fact is that you CAN'T trade him. The OP obviously didn't think things through. I would also prepare for not only his departure, but having something resembling a capable option in the short term.

I have no problems taking a lineman #1 if he is the BPA. Its pretty obvious that without a top notch oline the offense completely falls apart. Whether that be Zeke and the run game or Dak or both.

Neither would I. This team has nothing resembling acceptable behind Smith, and his health and availability can't be trusted at this point.

At the vert least go out and sign a top notch guard that can fill in where Cooper played. I would resign Cooper as a backup if that is possible. I would not waste starting money on him.

I'd be fine paying Cooper "starting money". I thought he did a fine job. Certainly better than the waste of time and space in Chaz Green. I'd also be good if they used one of their picks in the first four rounds on another guard candidate. (I love Will Hernandez).

But I certainly wouldn't pay anything silly if Cooper gets a big offer. But I'm not eager to open up any holes on the offensive line. Enough worries already.

 

[aikemirv]

Neither would I. This team has nothing resembling acceptable behind Smith, and his health and availability can't be trusted at this point.



I'd be fine paying Cooper "starting money". I thought he did a fine job. Certainly better than the waste of time and space in Chaz Green. I'd also be good if they used one of their picks in the first four rounds on another guard candidate. (I love Will Hernandez).

But I certainly wouldn't pay anything silly if Cooper gets a big offer. But I'm not eager to open up any holes on the offensive line. Enough worries already.

I agree with you on both points and unfortunately LT or Swing T has become a top need and one we might need to spend our #2 pick on if the right player is there. Either that or you get a guy in FA that you know can play. That would be ideal if you could pull it off but I don't know how you sign a starter quality player when he knows he may not start.

 

[Stash]

I agree with you on both points and unfortunately LT or Swing T has become a top need and one we might need to spend our #2 pick on if the right player is there. Either that or you get a guy in FA that you know can play. That would be ideal if you could pull it off but I don't know how you sign a starter quality player when he knows he may not start.

Yeah, I don't see free agency as an option. Like quarterback, there aren't enough quality tackles to go around as it is, much less finding a quality backup.

I think they have to find one in the draft. Get one as a backup/utility guy early on, with an eye for the future and a possible starting role.

 

[diefree666]

I agree with you on both points and unfortunately LT or Swing T has become a top need and one we might need to spend our #2 pick on if the right player is there. Either that or you get a guy in FA that you know can play. That would be ideal if you could pull it off but I don't know how you sign a starter quality player when he knows he may not start.

there isn't any FA Tackle out there that is a decent starter that does not have serious concerns. Usually health concerns. You could get a decent backup but would still over pay. Better off going to the draft

 

[Sandyf]

Galian makes some good points, like it or not, agree or not. We all have our own ideas of what is best route or who we should keep or move on from in one way or another.

I do agree we should do something on the Dez front but realistically we probably will not move on from him without a better option either from FA (extremely doubtful) or a possibly 1st round pick and most WR drafted in the 1st round really do not contribute much with say the exception of a Randy Moss or Julio Jones. Does anyone see any of the WR this year with that sort of talent. I understand the point on Smith and although I disagree with Galian on if Smith is the best LT in the game (I think he is when healthy) not sure I would rework his contract unless I knew what his injury status is. Remember Smith declined surgery last year to fix the back and other issues so I imagine he will have some type of surgery to correct this offseason. As to trading him, sure you might get a 1st round pick but without a viable option at LT then the run game and pass game would be just like the Atlanta game and that is a no thank you to me. Drafting a possibly replacement in the 1st three rounds should be a priority this year.

We could talk about the cap and as fans we do every year and worry if we will have enough money for this or that. It is a conversation that is frankly useless. Every team will find a way to manage the cap to sign the players they want and to sign their draft picks regardless of what the cap shows today or April 26th. It is how they manage it that should concern us. We know Dallas is not (repeat NOT) going to sign any high priced free agents whether we like it or not. Stephen Jones is correct in that it rarely works out if at all. It may look like it does for a year or two but then it is all down hill.

What Dallas will most likely do is work to resign Martin and Lawrence to contracts early in the off season. Martin's actually may be the hardest because he is the best RG in the game right now and Dallas will get that one done first. Lawrence will have a price that Dallas will most likely not go above in dollars or years. Then Lawrence will have to determine if he wants it or to play one more year under the franchise tag which is going to be $17.3 million for him. If Lawrence is smart (and not saying he or his agent are) then knowing his injury history he will take the deal most likely a 5 year type contract (something like $30 million guarantee and contract total of $75 million with most back loaded, first two year cap numbers around $8 million each). Might not like it but more than possible that is the range.

I would agree on letting Hitchens walk because his salary demands could very well be around $5 million a year and considering he is truly a backup with Lee and Smith, that is just to high but it does make LB a high priority in the draft and more than likely drafting 2 of them. There are other of our own free agents such as Ladouceur to resign although most will be team friendly deals or vet minimums. David Irving will be a unique case especially due to his concussion problem and have the feeling they may only tender him at the second round level believing most teams will shy away due to the lengthy disappearance due to concussion.

There will be several players that will end up taking salary cuts just to stay, I believe such as Crawford and believe it or not Witten. Crawford will be difficult to do though because cutting him only gives you $1.8 million gain to the cap but cost you $7.3 against the cap this year. Just depends on the dead money Dallas is willing to carry.

We know Garrett, Marinelli, and Linehan aren't going anywhere so we can rant to the wall if we want but it will do no good. Dak does need to get better and believe he will but you have to position him to win not run for his life while waiting forever for a WR to separate at all. Defensively we improved and getting rid of Lawrence without knowing if we can draft a difference maker is an effort in going backwards.

Speaking of the draft, I do wish the draft was held before free agency began. If it was then you would know if you need to keep this player or that player or give someone a huge contract but the NFLPA will never allow that to happen as it would restrict the dollars spent on free agency. As to who we might draft, well it is another subject in futility. Dallas will determine their draft board without our input and their will be some 12 to 18 guys they rate as truly 1st round picks. Just remember when Dallas puts their board together, it is not who is the best player available as anyone sees it but it is the best player available that fit their offense and defense schemes that are run. So even if we rated Rosen as the best player available and he fell to 19th then you are going to see a trade, bet on it.

What I would like to see is Dallas get somewhat lucky and able to pick up a OT, LB, DE, WR, TE, and S that actually can contribute right away. What none of us know is who will actually be available when we draft or if Jerry will make any trades (frankly with the draft being in Dallas you can bet Jerry will make noise of some type in the draft). We can debate if Roquan Smith LB Georgia is a 1st round pick or a 3rd round pick as some boards have him. We can debate how many QBs go in the 1st round my thought is six, but who knows.

Anyway nice conversations for the off season.