Hitchens is the most reliable LB we have

[CowboyRoy]

He's not getting 4/$45MM whoever made that projection was on crack. He will get between $6-8MM AAV, though, probably. Maybe a bit more.

I agree. Someone will pay him in that range for 3 years and he will walk.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I play Hitch over Smith, for starters. He's our 2nd best LB right now. I was hoping to get him done for $6MM/year, so, like Lawrence Timmons/AJ Klein money. I'm not sure that's possible, though, because he'll get more on the market. He might be a better fit, even, in a 3-4 defense, so he could play for literally any team that needs a LB.

We'd have to keep him under Sean Lee's $7MM AAV, though, right?

Agreed.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Jaylon needs competition

I think Jaylon is going to be one hell of a linebacker. Just needs to get completely healthy. He will be a monster. I would love to add another first round linebacker to go along with him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We have a way bigger problem at LB than at three of the four positions you listed, believe it or not.

I know that's true. I was automatically figuring the Cowboys would go LB in the 1st or 2nd.

 

[renny]

I'd make a hard run at him before he hits FA and try and convince him to stay. Sean Lee is getting up there in age, and we all know he's almost a guarantee to miss some games each year.

This is the problem for me.

Say we let Hitchens walk. That would mean Jaylon Smith, another high investment, will be expected to start at MLB next year. I think Jaylon is a great kid and I'm encouraged by what I saw late in the season, but let's be honest, he's still wearing a brace to make it possible for him to lift his foot. I know the hope and expectation is that it will continue to get better, with the possibility he won't need the brace going forward. He was a high selection and the team will want to see a return on their investment.

With Jaylon and Lee slated to be our 2LB crew, the value doesn't really match up with selecting another LB at 19. Your hope is that Jaylon and Lee stay healthy and play excellent, effectively rendering the selection of a round 1 LB to have little impact on the team. However, if either of them goes down, which carries a better possibility here than other teams, then that LB would play a ton.

We already have that guy in Hitchens. He's been an excellent insurance policy who knows the scheme inside and out. Not every player can deliver off the bench when their number is called, but Hitchens is one of those guys.

You don't get rid of a proven 25 year old linebacker when you already have injury issues with your two other linebackers one 32 years old. I would hope Hitchens stays at MLB and Jaylon would move to the SLB spot with Lee at the WLB. That is my #1 hope on defense this year.

 

[renny]

That’s only because the running backs and receivers were afraid of Hitchens so ran towards Smith instead.

Ask the running back from Atlanta about Hitchens! Why would you want to lose him and look for someone to replace him and complain we need help at linebacker later?

 

[Sydla]

You don't get rid of a proven 25 year old linebacker when you already have injury issues with your two other linebackers one 32 years old. I would hope Hitchens stays at MLB and Jaylon would move to the SLB spot with Lee at the WLB. That is my #1 hope on defense this year.

You do get rid of a 25 year old LB if some team is going to pay him like 8-9MM a year on average.

The problem you have and others have is that you are essentially ignoring the financial implications here. In a perfect world with no cap implications, sure, we'd love to have Hitchens back.

But we don't live in that world. We live in a cap world and paying a guy who is a nice LB, elite MLB money, makes no sense at all.

 

[aria]

Ask the running back from Atlanta about Hitchens! Why would you want to lose him and look for someone to replace him and complain we need help at linebacker later?

Huh? I don’t want to lose him, I think that would be a big mistake and don’t think he’s as easily replaceable as some would like to think.

 

[renny]

I hate FA now.

It's going to end up like the MLB soon enough, salary bubble collapse. Teams meeting the floor will grudgingly overpay players and pray they get half the production.

I like Hitchens, but market value looks like it's going to be stupid. This just based on projection from what I've seen, if he ends up being affordable then right on.

I'm still looking at Bowman, I know he likes the Bay but if I can get him cheaper than Hitchens on a fair enough deal, I'd probably do it quickly.

LB is also a candidate for BPA in the draft. Also wouldn't be surprised to see a few of our mid/later round picks that we have a few of thrown at it. Churn.

Honestly, I prefer Hitchens over Bowman. Hitchens future is brighter and Bowman is over 30. If the Cowboys let Hitchens walk, they will be thin at LB WHEN Lee is out with an injury.

 

[renny]

Hitchens is cool but not irreplaceable. If he wants to stay he will stay

That was the same attitude with Church, Parnell, Leary, Amendola and others. Don't miss your water until your well is dry.

 

[renny]

You do get rid of a 25 year old LB if some team is going to pay him like 8-9MM a year on average.

The problem you have and others have is that you are essentially ignoring the financial implications here. In a perfect world with no cap implications, sure, we'd love to have Hitchens back.

But we don't live in that world. We live in a cap world and paying a guy who is a nice LB, elite MLB money, makes no sense at all.

Who is paying Hitchens 8-9 mill a year? Let me know when Hitchens gets 8 to 9 mill a year.

 

[LocimusPrime]

For those who are calling hitch a situational player, what other lb is subbing for him on third downs? Surely not jaylon who doesn't change directions easily. And teams just don't throw only on third downs anymore. I've seen him playing on third downs often.

Good points

 

[renny]

If he gets to the market, he's gone. And we probably won't sign him prior unless we have Martin and Lawrence worked out. I can't imagine why Lawrence would sign early. Even so, Hitchens has to know he'll get more on the market, so unless he wants to stay in Dallas, yeah, he's probably gone.

Which sucks, because we sit here not signing other teams' guys in VFA and saying it's because we want to sign our own. And then let one of our better defenders who plays through injury and plays 3 positions for us walk at 25 YO. What's the point?

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!

 

[LocimusPrime]

That’s only because the running backs and receivers were afraid of Hitchens so ran towards Smith instead.

A lot of jaylons tackles were 6-7 yds pass the line of scrimmage. He didn't do a great job at tackles for loss or tackles around the line of scrimmage.

 

[renny]

And even worse is the free agents we do happen to sign are past their prime or are JAGS who really don't fit..........................Sad.

Bowman

 

[renny]

Huh? I don’t want to lose him, I think that would be a big mistake and don’t think he’s as easily replaceable as some would like to think.

On top of that, I don't believe a team will pay Hitchens in the 8-9 million range. Hitchens is a solid linebacker, but why would a team pay that type of money for a linebacker who hasn't made a Pro Bowl? Sean Lee is not getting paid in that range.

 

[LocimusPrime]

You don't get rid of a proven 25 year old linebacker when you already have injury issues with your two other linebackers one 32 years old. I would hope Hitchens stays at MLB and Jaylon would move to the SLB spot with Lee at the WLB. That is my #1 hope on defense this year.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Jerry is dead set on having Jaylon play so he can prove how smart he is....

Let him continue to heal and develop and in the mean time prepare for the worst and hope for the best. What if Jaylon is boo boo again and Sean Lee gets hurt? You gonna trot out Wilson and wilbur? Jaylon and Wilson sounds bad too

 

[ScipioCowboy]

He's not getting 4/$45MM whoever made that projection was on crack. He will get between $6-8MM AAV, though, probably. Maybe a bit more.

No, no. We will offer him a one year, vet minimum, “prove it” deal since that seems to be everyone’s cap panacea.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Right on Diego, but I pray to Dios that he heals up properly and makes progress this year. But we can't defend in him. If yes the starter on defense, we will lose amigos. Lose amigo