It's Bad Business to extend Zeke or Jaylon this year

Jumbo075 · May 4, 2019

Unlike Dak Prescott whose contract expires next March, the Cowboys have a 5th year option on Zeke, and Jaylon Smith will be a Restricted Free agent in 2020. There is no good business reason for the Cowboys to rush to extend the contracts of Zeke or Jaylon Smith in 2019.

The following players have contracts that expire, but will be Restricted Free Agents that the Cowboys can retain with tender offers:

The TE Rico Gathers - RFA
TE Blake Jarwin - RFA
PK Brett Maher - ERFA
OC Adam Redmond - RFA
DT Daniel Ross - RFA
QB Cooper Rush - RFA
FS Jamiell Showers - ERFA
LB Jaylon Smith
DT Antwaun Woods - ERFA

The Cowboys shouldn't even be considering negotiating long term deals with any players who they are not in danger of losing a year from now, including all restricted free agent candidates, and Zeke Elliott, whose contract doesn't expire until March of 2021.

Here are the contracts that ARE expiring next year without the Cowboys ability to keep them from becoming free agents unless they use a franchise tag (in alphabetical order):

WR Tavon Austin
CB Anthony Brown
WR Randall Cobb
OT La'el Collins
DT Maliek Collins
WR Amari Cooper
DT Christian Covington
SS Kavon Frazier
CB C.J. Goodwin
FS Jeff Heath
WR Allen Hurns
DE Kerry Hyder
SS George Iloka
CB Byron Jones
LS L.P. Ladouceur
LB Sean Lee
OC Joe Looney
LB Justin March-Lillard
QB Dak Prescott
DE Robert Quinn
FS Darian Thompson

The top priorities for getting contract extensions completed are QB Dak Prescott and WR Amari Cooper. It really doesn't matter which order they do them in, as long as both get done this summer. After that, the Cowboys have decisions to make on 4 key players highlighted in blue. If I were to prioritize the 6 key players the Cowboys should be negotiating with, it would be in this order:

QB Dak Prescott
WR Amari Cooper
CB Anthony Brown
CB Byron Jones
DT Maliek Collins
OT La'el Collins

After Prescott and Cooper, I would try to sign Anthony Brown to an extenstion next - mainly because he's a valuable slot corner, and I think I would be more likely to have success signing him to an extension during this year. For Byron Jones, I'd let his contract ride, and decide to either franchise him next year and negotiate a new deal like they did with Lawrence this season, or let him walk. I think both Maliek Collins and La'el Collins are going to be allowed to test free agency.

There are a few veterans signed to one-year deals who you might try to resign next year to inexpensive new deals. But the time to make those decisions is next February.

Bottom line, the Cowboys only really have 4 players they should be seriously considering for new deals now: Prescott, Cooper, Brown and Jones. Everyone else can wait for next year.

Bowdown27 · May 4, 2019

I honestly don’t see them getting done this offseason. I think Dak and amari do. Jaylon and zeke get done next offseason. See what goes on this upcoming season and see what we’ll have to pay them

ItzKelz · May 4, 2019

Zeke's contract is a priority according to Stephen. The question is why? Of course we have no real idea of the answer to that. As the OP stated there is no real reason to hurry into it. My personal opinion is that there is financial benefit to signing Zeke now instead of waiting until next offseason. Stephen seems dedicated to keeping as many of our very good players as possible for a SB run over the next few seasons. It could be that locking down corner stone players like Zeke and Jaylon now for lesser money may be a strategy to make it happen. Salaries go up ridiculously every FA season. Stephen now has first hand experience with that via DLaw. Just my opinion.

Hawkeye0202 · May 4, 2019

Jumbo075 said:
The top priorities for getting contract extensions completed are QB Dak Prescott and WR Amari Cooper. It really doesn't matter which order they do them in, as long as both get done this summer. After that, the Cowboys have decisions to make on 4 key players highlighted in blue. If I were to prioritize the 6 key players the Cowboys should be negotiating with, it would be in this order:

QB Dak Prescott

WR Amari Cooper

CB Anthony Brown

CB Byron Jones

DT Maliek Collins

OT La'el Collins

Agree, get Dak and Coop done now. I'm not sure we bring any of the last four back. Early indication CB is supposed to be a fair strong crop in the 2020 draft. So I can see a high pick there hoping to find Brown/Jones replacement. Both Collins replacements could very well on the roster already. So with CB being a premium position, I can easily see our 1st or 2nd rounder going that direction.

beware_d-ware · May 4, 2019

My concern with Jaylon is that he is good chance some team will be willing to throw a big offer sheet at him, and also be willing to give up a first to do it. He's 24 and I'd say he's a top 10 MLB right now, so some team in win-now mode might be willing to make an offer we can't match.

If you are anticipating the money will be mostly the same either way, and you've identified Jaylon as a core player you want to keep, I don't see why you wouldn't begin negotiating a new deal ahead of the RFA deadline.

Hawkeye0202 · May 4, 2019

ItzKelz said:
Zeke's contract is a priority according to Stephen. The question is why? Of course we have no real idea of the answer to that. As the OP stated there is no real reason to hurry into it. My personal opinion is that there is financial benefit to signing Zeke now instead of waiting until next offseason. Stephen seems dedicated to keeping as many of our very good players as possible for a SB run over the next few seasons. It could be that locking down corner stone players like Zeke and Jaylon now for lesser money may be a strategy to make it happen. Salaries go up ridiculously every FA season. Stephen now has first hand experience with that via DLaw. Just my opinion.

Just me, but I think the thinking may be IF you've made the decision to give him the 2nd contract, sooner is better than later before he reaches the so-declining age ( thinks 27-28 ) for his position life cycle. Every year waiting is risking a year closer to the cycle.

The Natural · May 4, 2019

Its absolutely good business to reward players whose performance on the field warrants a new deal. Zeke has been at the top of the league every year he’s been on the field, mfs dont want to extend him but they want to extend some damn Anthony Brown lol

jazzcat22 · May 5, 2019

Cooper, then Dak. Though I prefer they wait and see how Dak does this year. They can always franchise tag him if need be.

But if they both get done this year, then Zeke gets done next, even if this year.

Then wait and see next off season on everyone else. But Jaylon would be the priority at that point. Maybe Jones if he has a great year.

xwalker · May 5, 2019

Jumbo075 said:
Unlike Dak Prescott whose contract expires next March, the Cowboys have a 5th year option on Zeke, and Jaylon Smith will be a Restricted Free agent in 2020. There is no good business reason for the Cowboys to rush to extend the contracts of Zeke or Jaylon Smith in 2019.

The following players have contracts that expire, but will be Restricted Free Agents that the Cowboys can retain with tender offers:

The TE Rico Gathers - RFA

TE Blake Jarwin - RFA

PK Brett Maher - ERFA

OC Adam Redmond - RFA

DT Daniel Ross - RFA

QB Cooper Rush - RFA

FS Jamiell Showers - ERFA

LB Jaylon Smith

DT Antwaun Woods - ERFA

The Cowboys shouldn't even be considering negotiating long term deals with any players who they are not in danger of losing a year from now, including all restricted free agent candidates, and Zeke Elliott, whose contract doesn't expire until March of 2021.

Here are the contracts that ARE expiring next year without the Cowboys ability to keep them from becoming free agents unless they use a franchise tag (in alphabetical order):

WR Tavon Austin

CB Anthony Brown

WR Randall Cobb

OT La'el Collins

DT Maliek Collins

WR Amari Cooper

DT Christian Covington

SS Kavon Frazier

CB C.J. Goodwin

FS Jeff Heath

WR Allen Hurns

DE Kerry Hyder

SS George Iloka

CB Byron Jones

LS L.P. Ladouceur

LB Sean Lee

OC Joe Looney

LB Justin March-Lillard

QB Dak Prescott

DE Robert Quinn

FS Darian Thompson

The top priorities for getting contract extensions completed are QB Dak Prescott and WR Amari Cooper. It really doesn't matter which order they do them in, as long as both get done this summer. After that, the Cowboys have decisions to make on 4 key players highlighted in blue. If I were to prioritize the 6 key players the Cowboys should be negotiating with, it would be in this order:

QB Dak Prescott

WR Amari Cooper

CB Anthony Brown

CB Byron Jones

DT Maliek Collins

OT La'el Collins

After Prescott and Cooper, I would try to sign Anthony Brown to an extenstion next - mainly because he's a valuable slot corner, and I think I would be more likely to have success signing him to an extension during this year. For Byron Jones, I'd let his contract ride, and decide to either franchise him next year and negotiate a new deal like they did with Lawrence this season, or let him walk. I think both Maliek Collins and La'el Collins are going to be allowed to test free agency.

There are a few veterans signed to one-year deals who you might try to resign next year to inexpensive new deals. But the time to make those decisions is next February.

Bottom line, the Cowboys only really have 4 players they should be seriously considering for new deals now: Prescott, Cooper, Brown and Jones. Everyone else can wait for next year.

I think most fans/media have been talking about a new contract for Zeke (and to some extent Jaylon) because they (fans/media) forget that neither will be an unrestricted free agent in 2020.

Then the media asks Stephen/Jerry about Zeke and Stephen obviously gives the politically correct answer and says that keeping Zeke is a high priority.

Having said that, the 5th year option for Zeke is not a substantial bargain because he was a top 10 pick.

The 5th year option for top 10 picks is based on the average of the top 10 players at that position; therefore, it's almost as much as the Franchise Tag which is the average of the top 5.

The 5th year option for 1st round picks that were selected between 11 and 32 is a good deal for teams because it's the average of top 3 to 25 players at that position.

Example (5th year option cost comparison)
• Todd Gurley (2015 Pick #10): $9.630M
• Melvin Gordon (2015 Pick #15): $5.605M

That's almost double for Gurley as compared to Gordon because Gurley was top 10 and Gordon wasn't.

Without the 5th year option, it would have cost $11.214M to Franchise Gurley or Gordon.

Recap of Example ( Cost to keep RBs from the 2015 draft in their 5th year (2019) without a new contract ):
• $5.605M.....Picked 11-32.
• $9.630M.....Picked Top 10.
• $11.214M.....Franchise Tag (RB not picked in the 1st round).

For reference of the RB market value:
• Bell signed a contract in 2019 that averages: $13.125M

The savings of the 5th year option on Gurley as compared to the Average for Bell is: $3.495M

The 3.5M number is a decent savings but if signing the player a year early results in a lower average over 5 years, the Annual Average would only need to be $700K ($3.5M/5) less to make up the difference.

buybuydandavis · May 5, 2019

ItzKelz said:
Zeke's contract is a priority according to Stephen. The question is why?

If you want a contract limited to Zeke's younger years, the earlier the contract the better.

jay94 · May 5, 2019

Signing a running back to a second contract just doesn't make sense these days.

cnuball21 · May 5, 2019

It might be bad business to extend Zeke regardless...

How many teams have won Super Bowls the last decade with 15+ million allocated to their RB?

I know it’s not the popular opinion, but RB is arguably the easiest position to replace on the roster.

cern · May 5, 2019

Jumbo075 said:
Unlike Dak Prescott whose contract expires next March, the Cowboys have a 5th year option on Zeke, and Jaylon Smith will be a Restricted Free agent in 2020. There is no good business reason for the Cowboys to rush to extend the contracts of Zeke or Jaylon Smith in 2019.

The following players have contracts that expire, but will be Restricted Free Agents that the Cowboys can retain with tender offers:

The TE Rico Gathers - RFA

TE Blake Jarwin - RFA

PK Brett Maher - ERFA

OC Adam Redmond - RFA

DT Daniel Ross - RFA

QB Cooper Rush - RFA

FS Jamiell Showers - ERFA

LB Jaylon Smith

DT Antwaun Woods - ERFA

The Cowboys shouldn't even be considering negotiating long term deals with any players who they are not in danger of losing a year from now, including all restricted free agent candidates, and Zeke Elliott, whose contract doesn't expire until March of 2021.

Here are the contracts that ARE expiring next year without the Cowboys ability to keep them from becoming free agents unless they use a franchise tag (in alphabetical order):

WR Tavon Austin

CB Anthony Brown

WR Randall Cobb

OT La'el Collins

DT Maliek Collins

WR Amari Cooper

DT Christian Covington

SS Kavon Frazier

CB C.J. Goodwin

FS Jeff Heath

WR Allen Hurns

DE Kerry Hyder

SS George Iloka

CB Byron Jones

LS L.P. Ladouceur

LB Sean Lee

OC Joe Looney

LB Justin March-Lillard

QB Dak Prescott

DE Robert Quinn

FS Darian Thompson

The top priorities for getting contract extensions completed are QB Dak Prescott and WR Amari Cooper. It really doesn't matter which order they do them in, as long as both get done this summer. After that, the Cowboys have decisions to make on 4 key players highlighted in blue. If I were to prioritize the 6 key players the Cowboys should be negotiating with, it would be in this order:

QB Dak Prescott

WR Amari Cooper

CB Anthony Brown

CB Byron Jones

DT Maliek Collins

OT La'el Collins

After Prescott and Cooper, I would try to sign Anthony Brown to an extenstion next - mainly because he's a valuable slot corner, and I think I would be more likely to have success signing him to an extension during this year. For Byron Jones, I'd let his contract ride, and decide to either franchise him next year and negotiate a new deal like they did with Lawrence this season, or let him walk. I think both Maliek Collins and La'el Collins are going to be allowed to test free agency.

There are a few veterans signed to one-year deals who you might try to resign next year to inexpensive new deals. But the time to make those decisions is next February.

Bottom line, the Cowboys only really have 4 players they should be seriously considering for new deals now: Prescott, Cooper, Brown and Jones. Everyone else can wait for next year.

Makes perfect sense.

Johnny23 · May 5, 2019

cnuball21 said:
It might be bad business to extend Zeke regardless...

How many teams have won Super Bowls the last decade with 15+ million allocated to their RB?

I know it’s not the popular opinion, but RB is arguably the easiest position to replace on the roster.

True enough but the Joneses don't exactly do things how they should or what's the norm. Zeke's going to get his and so will Jaylon eventually. They're clearing capspace the last few years to dole out those big Cowboys second contracts to star players.

Techsass · May 5, 2019

cnuball21 said:
It might be bad business to extend Zeke regardless...

How many teams have won Super Bowls the last decade with 15+ million allocated to their RB?

I know it’s not the popular opinion, but RB is arguably the easiest position to replace on the roster.

I tried not to like it because I think Zeke is the engine (even tho I was picking Jalen), but you're right.

mattjames2010 · May 5, 2019

Wouldn't be surprised if Zeke doesn't get his contract soon, he'll hold out. If I remember reading, word around Dallas is that Zeke's agent is already pushing for talks to happen - which is probably why Stephen has commented the way he has a couple times already.

cnuball21 · May 5, 2019

Johnny23 said:
True enough but the Joneses don't exactly do things how they should or what's the norm. Zeke's going to get his and so will Jaylon eventually. They're clearing capspace the last few years to dole out those big Cowboys second contracts to star players.

Wtherer or not we agree,,,Dak is about to get 20+ million a year. If we give Zeke 15+ million a year, good luck keeping the rest of the dudes and adding talent around them.

jay94 · May 5, 2019

Dak will be getting closer to 30 mil than 20.

Mr_437 · May 5, 2019

I agree Zeke n Jaylon wait a year then get paid tops at their position.

Dak n Coop get done during TC or in season.

Both Collins are outy after the season, and provide comp picks.

Kris Richard has a system that plays to certain traits, and measurements at outside CB. The legion of boom were all mid to late round picks except ET, so I'm sure the feel between he and McClay they can cover the loss of Byron Jones who would bring in another good comp pick. AB would be most likely re-signed.

A lot of UFAs coming up but DAL is positioned pretty good to replace them.

Johnny23 · May 5, 2019

cnuball21 said:
Wtherer or not we agree,,,Dak is about to get 20+ million a year. If we give Zeke 15+ million a year, good luck keeping the rest of the dudes and adding talent around them.

I'm with you Cnu but we both know they're going to try to do it all. Remember Cooper's close to a monster deal.

It's Bad Business to extend Zeke or Jaylon this year

Jumbo075

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Bowdown27

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ItzKelz

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Hawkeye0202

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beware_d-ware

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Hawkeye0202

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The Natural

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jazzcat22

xwalker

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buybuydandavis

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jay94

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cnuball21

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cern

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Johnny23

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Techsass

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mattjames2010

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cnuball21

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jay94

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Mr_437

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Johnny23

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