We won't be players in FA again in my opinion

[Sydla]

Hitch has finally blossomed into a quality MLB. He was fantastic this season. These are the types of guys you pay IMO. He's finally gotten good and we're going to let him get away? I hope not.

We lose him and we have another hole to fill. Wilson and Wilbur are awful.

If he costs too much for what you want out him, you absolutely let him walk.

 

[glimmerman]

I wonder if he may go after a WR or D-Line player. No one of big name. We don’t have the money for that. I see us franchise tagging D-Law. And he won’t cut Dez. Need to sign one of our O-Line to a big deal.

 

[Sydla]

I'd be fine giving him 5 mil a year. You know he's going to be on the field for either Lee or Jaylon this year and he has the position flex and system knowledge to help the whole unit. More than 5 mil and I would have to think long and hard about where he fits on this team in 2-3 years.

The short-term need at LBer is massive. Hitch is the best FA LBer on the market since he already knows this system and has been really productive. You may be able to find a more athletic LBer in FA-- but that doesn't mean he will be as productive in a new scheme-- and you're going pay a premium for him.

I'd sign Hitch to a 1-2 year deal that is competitive and then draft a stud and add some more developmental guys as well. I think you can reward Hitch for his production to this point, protective yourself in the short term and buy Jaylon some time to develop, and you still give Hitch another crack at a long term deal down the line if he continues to play at the level he's playing at.

$5MM a year is too much and unless the LB market falls apart, it's probably wishful thinking you could then also get him on a 1 or 2 year deal.

So, are you willing to pay Hitchens between $5-7MM a year for say 4 years?

I am not. Now if he wants to come back on like a 3 year deal that pays around $3MM a year? Now we are talking.

 

[Aven8]

I think Thomas is the one name that might get the Cowboys to change plans.

I expect simply doing their best to keep theirs rather than pursuing anyone else's, but if Thomas does shake loose, I can see an about-face to the plan to sign him.

Other than that, I expect to be shopping in the discount section. I just hope it's not the same disaster that last year was.

Sooner or later we have to bring in some FA's that have won something IMO. As we sit today we do not have one player on this roster that has won anything. Witt is our longest tenured player and he's never even gone to the NFCCG.

We are young but sometimes you need guys to show and lead what it takes to win. Our coaches don't know how to do this. Neither do any of our players outside of winning in college.

 

[Diehardblues]

I’m not sold Hitchens deserves a big pay day. Sure, he’s been solid but I also believe a suitable replacement could be had in draft. This is what the Cap demands. Retooling thru the draft with Rookie contracts unless it’s elite talent .

 

[Sydla]

Comp picks are only awarded when we see our players leave via FA and sign decent to big deals elsewhere/ or play great football with their new squad.
Do we have any notable FAs that could leave and sign for a hefty deal? Or play lights out with another team? Doubtful

No Ron Leary, hell no Barry Church heading to UFA. Beyond doubtful Lawrence sees FA.
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/dallas-cowboys/

Maybe Hitchens, but he could either come back here or be like Zach Brown, signing a 1 year prove it deal.

The rest will either sit around for a phone call or get 1-2 year cheap deals.

Even if we cut Dez, for example, and he signs a big deal with the Browns that contract doesn't get calculated in how they award comp picks.

Hitchens on a one year deal would be fantastic IMO. You never really know what the market will end up looking like. Did anyone think that two of the best DTs on the market - Poe and Logan - would only sign one year deals or that two of the better WRs in FA - Jeffery and Pryor - would also only sign pretty fair one year deals too?

If teams think like I do - that there should be some decent vet LBs out there who might be older but cheaper - and sign one of those guys, it could dry up the market for a guy like Hitchens, who frankly, isn't anywhere near an elite LB.

 

[jazzcat22]

Comp picks are only awarded when we see our players leave via FA and sign decent to big deals elsewhere.
Do we have any notable FAs that could leave and sign for a hefty deal?

No Ron Leary, hell no Barry Church heading to UFA. Beyond doubtful Lawrence sees FA.
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/dallas-cowboys/

Maybe Hitchens, but he could either come back here or be like Zach Brown, signing a 1 year prove it deal.

The rest will either sit around for a phone call or get 1-2 year cheap deals.

Besides, if Thomas is cut, signing him would have no effect on compensation picks.

Depends on the compensation level and how many we sign to offset it. But say we stay out of FA market.
We can get, even if 5th, 6th or 7th round picks from Hitchens, Cooper, Butler, or even DLaw. We can tender Irving and even Gathers but he is an ERFA.
Heck we may even get a 7th out of Wilber or Morris.

So not a lot there to count on comp picks for the 2019 season. But if the team does this right (high hopes right? LOL) comp picks should not be an issue in 2019.

We have, if my list is right, 12 FA's, 7 ERFA's, 2 RFA's

 

[Direwolf63]

Would Earl Thomas take a little less to play here then more to play elsewhere?
Let's just see how bad he really wants to play here. Would he give Dallas the right to match any offers?

Does this FO have the smarts to bring him here?
Or do they just out dumb themselves again?

My only hope regarding Thomas is that the team was very close to signing Eric Weddle when he left San Diego. He just chose the Ravens instead.

The Cowboys are clearly Thomas's first choice if he is freed from Seattle. We just don't know how interested the Cowboys would be.

 

[Diehardblues]

Sooner or later we have to bring in some FA's that have won something IMO. As we sit today we do not have one player on this roster that has won anything. Witt is our longest tenured player and he's never even gone to the NFCCG.

We are young but sometimes you need guys to show and lead what it takes to win. Our coaches don't know how to do this. Neither do any of our players outside of winning in college.

So, we’re looking for players with championship experience in FA now?

FA is intended to shop for veteran bargains or to fill a gaping hole you can afford and feel puts you over the top and can’t find in draft.

Does a Safety put us over the top?

 

[Sydla]

This appears to be our new path which is fine because we have suked so bad in big FA moves which have mostly cost us. I wouldn’t trust myself either . Lol

We’ve been adding more talent in draft and adding some rotational players and backups in FA. I’m ok with that. We recognize our strength and weaknesses in obtaining talent.

What?

The top three FAs signed this offseason - Paea, Carroll and Moore - were all gone by November. They weren't backups or rotational players. Our FA success is middling, at best, and that's simply because they may have hit a HR with Irving.

They should recognize their weakness - their FA plan stinks - and figure out a way to improve there.

 

[cowboyec]

I like Hitchens...thought he handled business well...hope we can keep him.
Id still draft 2 or 3 LBs regardless of what happens...improve the LBing corps...like they did last yr with CBs.
Id resign Cooper....and still look for a quality OG in the draft....lett'em duke it out in camp.
I like how they are building thru the draft.
When they do venture into f/a....make "smarter buys" than last year.Nothing wrong with bargin shopping...just read the labels closer.

 

[Aven8]

If he costs too much for what you want out him, you absolutely let him walk.

5 million is nothing for a starting MLB. But the caveat is Jaylon. The FO is not about to give up on him so I don't see them blocking that by resigning Hitch which will be a huge mistake. LB's take time in the NFL just like WR's do.

If we go in with Lee and Jaylon and a couple of draft picks I will be scared to death!

 

[Sydla]

My only hope regarding Thomas is that the team was very close to signing Eric Weddle when he left San Diego. He just chose the Ravens instead.

The Cowboys are clearly Thomas's first choice if he is freed from Seattle. We just don't know how interested the Cowboys would be.

I don't recall we were close to signing Weddle. I think they bowed out when Weddle started getting legitimate offers and their low ball offer wasn't going to even be in the ballpark of what Weddle was going to get.

 

[Sydla]

5 million is nothing for a starting MLB. But the caveat is Jaylon. The FO is not about to give up on him so I don't see them blocking that by resigning Hitch which will be a huge mistake. LB's take time in the NFL just like WR's do.

If we go in with Lee and Jaylon and a couple of draft picks I will be scared to death!

But Hitchens isn't a starting MLB here. There's your problem.

People are overrating Hitchens immensely. He's a nice player. He's good on special teams. He can play any of the LB spots in a pinch. He's only actually starting because of a need, not because he's some stud out there that won the job.

It's poor cap management to pay a guy like Hitchens legitimate starting MLB money on a long term deal. Now pay him $5MM for one year? Maybe. $5-7MM for 4 years? Hell no.

 

[Aven8]

So, we’re looking for players with championship experience in FA now?

FA is intended to shop for veteran bargains or to fill a gaping hole you can afford and feel puts you over the top and can’t find in draft.

Does a Safety put us over the top?

It would be nice to have a couple on both sides of the ball that at least have done something in this league. I think it's important for a young team to know what it takes. Just my opinion.

 

[Stash]

Sooner or later we have to bring in some FA's that have won something IMO. As we sit today we do not have one player on this roster that has won anything. Witt is our longest tenured player and he's never even gone to the NFCCG.

We are young but sometimes you need guys to show and lead what it takes to win. Our coaches don't know how to do this. Neither do any of our players outside of winning in college.

I'm not sure that I agree that free agents that have "won something" make much, if any difference.

Plenty of players left the Cowboys when they were winning repeated championships and I can't think of any who led their new teams to any great success. Most times it was quite the opposite in fact.

As for the free agent plan? I'm not saying what they should do, I'm stating what I expect them to do.

They've got at least three or four of their own to worry about keeping before they can think about signing anyone's else:

Lawrence
Martin (extension)
Cooper
Hitchens

To say nothing of deciding on the tender t place on David Irving. Personally, I think they'd be idiots not to tag him at the 1st round rate if they don't want to lose him.

Add it up, and that's ultimately going to be a lot of coin, just to keep what they have.

 

[Aven8]

But Hitchens isn't a starting MLB here. There's your problem.

People are overrating Hitchens immensely. He's a nice player. He's good on special teams. He can play any of the LB spots in a pinch. He's only actually starting because of a need, not because he's some stud out there that won the job.

It's poor cap management to pay a guy like Hitchens legitimate starting MLB money on a long term deal. Now pay him $5MM for one year? Maybe. $5-7MM for 4 years? Hell no.

If it would have been any other year I would have believed you. But this year he finally blossomed into a starting MLB. Not just a PT player anymore. He was a thumper and all over the place. We won't have the luxury of having the draft before the FA. We won't know if we have a Roquie Smith or whatever his name is. It's a big gamble for the worst spot in this team IMO sans speed on this offense.

 

[Montanalo]

Those draft picks are a good thing! Im fine with not being players in FA, except instead of signing half a dozen scrubs Id prefer we sign a player or two of merit.

I agree. It wasn't that long ago that this site as well as the media were gnashing their teeth over splashy FA signings ( Roy Williams the WR).

Personally, I like the current approach of building through the draft and filling gaps with FA. However, I do think the pendulum has swung a bit too far with FA signings; a little too much of looking for the bargain basement, diamond in the rough player.

 

[Aven8]

I'm not sure that I agree that free agents that have "won something" make much, if any difference.

Plenty of players left the Cowboys when they were winning repeated championships and I can't think of any who led their new teams to any great success. Most times it was quite the opposite in fact.

As for the free agent plan? I'm not saying what they should do, I'm stating what I expect them to do.

They've got at least three or four of their own to worry about keeping before they can think about signing anyone's else:

Lawrence
Martin (extension)
Cooper
Hitchens

To say nothing of deciding on the tender t place on David Irving. Personally, I think they'd be idiots not to tag him at the 1st round rate if they don't want to lose him.

Add it up, and that's ultimately going to be a lot of coin, just to keep what they have.

If I were a team I would snatch Irving up in a NY minute for a 2nd round pick! I totally agree on that. I could see Belicheck offering a 2nd with no issue in fact.

 

[Sydla]

If it would have been any other year I would have believed you. But this year he finally blossomed into a starting MLB. Not just a PT player anymore. He was a thumper and all over the place. We won't have the luxury of having the draft before the FA. We won't know if we have a Roquie Smith or whatever his name is. It's a big gamble for the worst spot in this team IMO sans speed on this offense.

He blossomed into a decent LB. Nothing more.

There are other vet LBs out there who will be cheaper. It's a waste of cap space to put a long term deal for pretty sizeable money in front of Hitchens.

That's the exact kind of move a team looking to screw up their cap after finally fixing it, makes.