Now that most of the big coaching decisions have been made and the staff is nearly complete, I've started to take a look at the roster, and the players I would keep and those I would let go. I'm interested to see what you all would do if it were up to you?
- I would franchise tag Prescott for this year. Give the new staff a year or so to work with him and then truly decide if he is worth the huge investment. Having said that, I fully expect the team to give him a long term deal instead. $35 million annually.
- Give Amari Cooper the big money contract. He's a proven commodity on the field and a safe bet off the field. It will certainly be overpaying, but you signed on for that when you traded for him. $18-$20 million annually.
- Pay Robert Quinn. No Cowboys defender was more disruptive and more productive than he was. If anyone deserves to get paid around here, it's him. Don;t let good pass rushers get away. $10 million annually.
- Let Byron Jones walk. Good player, great teammate, team guy. Allergic to the football and will likely cost $14-$15 million a year. Just not a playmaker and this defense needs them.
- Cut Tyrone Crawford. A no-brainer. Saves you $8 million in cap room that can be used for an actual starter.
- Sign DT Jordan Phillips. A huge, mountain of a man at 6'6" and 340 lbs to solidify the middle of your defense. A young player that came into his own in 2019 with 9.5 sacks. Pay Phillips the money you saved by releasing Crawford. $6 - $8 million annually.
- Sign Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix to help to solidify one of your safety spots. Bye bye Jeff Heath, thanks for everything. $5 - $6 million annually.
- Sign TE Eric Ebron. A former 1st round pick and a high end athlete at the position, much needed in McCarthy's offense. 13 touchdowns in 2018 is no joke. $7 million annually.
- Re-sign Randall Cobb. He was worth the money last year and will likely want to stick around.
- Re-sign Tavon Austin for the same modest salary as in 2019. I think the new staff and special teams coach will better utilize him.
- Bring back Sean Lee in whatever capacity he chooses. If he wants to play another year? Let him play. If he wants to get into coaching? Make him a defensive assistant. The point is that you don't let a football guy and mind like that leave the building.
- Dedicate your draft capital to fixing your defense. The offensive side has enough talent and investments and the defense doesn't. While the offensive picks have hit, the defensive ones have missed, so it's back to the drawing board and the draft.
That's my early plan, what do you folks think we should do?
1) We need to complete the coaching staff and strength coaches. We haven’t found our new RB, WR, and TE coaches yet.
That’s essential with talking to our scouts and personnel dept. So glad McClay and his group has not been affected by McCarthy changes.
And we have college all star games to evaluate with the coaches, and later on FA and pre-draft workouts.
2) in discussing Cooper within organization, to see if we want to keep/let him walk. If we do keep him, I am targeting Coop with a certain range
figure – and nothing more. He’ll get under the mark of M. Thomas and if impasse, my other options is seek out a new lead WR per draft-trade or FA.
3) I’m franchise-tagging Prescott. If retaining cooper, I’m placing Transitional Tag on him and with a 2nd round tender at that. I think I’d rather vvy for Rams’ Dante Fowler over Quinn per 3-4 scheme fit.
4) I lean more to letting Jones walk and seek out bigger money contract in FA, and we get the 3rd round comp pick a year later, as I want big play factor at CB, target CB within first 1 and 2 rounds, at best- offer Byron a B-tier contract. Solid and will never make big turnover plays.
5) Will need immediate starters in DL and secondary -per FA/draft/trade. Need immediate depth at DL, LB and DB.
6) Target one “
splash” big name FA (yeh, right with Stephen jones around ?) Chris jones-KC ..Barrett-Bucs.. DJ Reader-Hou.. Dante Fowler-Rams or re-sign Quinn, B-tiers: Mike Pierce- NT (ravens ) A. Billing-Cincy,
7) I’m addressing TE in draft, if right spot draftee falls’ have to be by 3rd round- while expanding Jarwin. 3rd TE to be address post-draft and camp.
8) Because experience and depth needed in new 3-4 scheme. At best, Lee return at vet minimum as a backup. I’d only be interested in Crawford’s return as a reduced-bargain priced backup. Otherwise likely cap casualty.
9) Replenish depth on OL. Looney likely to be gone, ditto for Fleming as we need a better option anyway. Knight returns and should McGovern beat out Williams, i'm slating CW as my OT/OG utility guy.
10) Get an impact returner/slot in late round, FA vet vs useless Tavon Austin- way too timid and limited to make any use of him
