12/10 Mock Draft and Free Agency

[bleachedwheat]

Restructures- Dak, CD, and Tyler Smith- opening up around 60m in cap space

Franchise Tag- WR George Pickens around 28m

Resign- RB Williams (3yrs 24m...18m GTD), DE Clowney (2yrs 16m...10m GTD), G Robert Jones (1yr 3m),
T Adeniji (1yr 3m).

Cuts- CB Diggs (post June 1st, saves 15.5m), RT Steele (post June 1st, saves 14m), FS Hooker (saves 7m).

Pay cut/new contract- DT Kenny Clark (2yrs 28m... 21m GTD). Add a void year and spread the cap hit over 3 years to make it cheaper. Would make base salary around 7m. He has no GTD money on his current contract. It's either something like this or cutting him to get out of his 21m cap hit next year. It has to be done before the 3rd day of the new league year. He has an 11m dollar roster bonus that turns into guaranteed money on that date.

FA- RB Kareem Hunt (1yr 2.5m), DE AJ Epenesa (3yrs 30m... 22m GTD), SS Nick Cross (4yr 60m... 45m GTD).

Draft
1A- LB Sonny Styles (6'4, 243) Ohio State... Everyone's favorite pick for the Cowboys lately. Green dot guy, super athletic and not a bad coverage LB; he used to be a safety. Just got to hope he makes it this far down the board.

1B- T Trevor Goosby (6'7, 315) Texas... most people will despise this pick. Goosby is a more athletic Tyler Guyton with higher upside. He is still raw but will be a top 15 pick next year if he returns to school. Needs to add 10-15lbs.

4- FS Amare Ferrell (6'2, 200) Indiana... solid rangy tackler with great recognition and ball skills... 8 picks in his career.

5- DE Michael Heldman (6'4, 260) Central Michigan... He is underrated in this draft cycle thus far. 10.5 sacks and 16 TFL's this year. Has really good bend for a bigger edge rusher. Always in the back field causing problems.

5C- C/G Matt Gulbin (6'4, 315) Michigan State... Has played both Guard spots and Center. Hoffman will leave in FA, need a good backup for Beebe. The guy has a nice anchor and has enough athleticism to get to the LB's on Duo blocks.

5C- 1-Tech Zion Wilson (6'3, 320) East Carolina... 7 sacks from a 1-Tech is nutty production. Used to be an O-lineman.

7- CB Caleb Offord (6'2, 200) Kennesaw State...12 PBU's this year. Usually follows the best WR from the other team around the field.

7C- TE Will Kacmarek (6'6, 260) Ohio State... the other TE for the Buckeyes. One of the best blocking TE's in this years draft class. He isn't used much in the passing game but has the chops to make plays if called upon. He is starting to get more attention and might go higher than this.
Might not even have this pick come draft time but Draftek has it on their site as of now.

UDFA's
QB Jack Strand Minnesota State(Div lll), WR Chas Nimrod South Florida, WR/KR/PR Malik Benson Oregon,
Edge Robert Holtz Gardner-Webb, LB James Conway Fordham (all-time career tackling leader for Div 1 and Div 3),
CB Jarod Washington SC State (MEAC Def player of the year), Slot Kasyus Kurns Tarleton State, S Jacob Thomas JMU

Depth Chart
QB Dak, Milton... PS Strand
RB Williams, Hunt, Blue... PS Mafah, Davis
FB Luepke... PS Fairweather

WR CD, Pickens, Flournoy, Mingo, Turpin... PS Holden, Nimrod, Benson
TE Ferg, Schoon, Spann-Ford... PS Kacmarek

LT Guyton, Thomas, Adeniji
LG Smith, Jones, Keegan
C Beebee, Gulbin... PS French
RG Booker, Bass, Keegan
RT Goosby, Cornelius, Adeniji

LE Epenesa, Clowney, Heldman... PS Odeleye
3-Tech Williams, Osa, Thomas
1-Tech Kenny, Z. Wilson, Winfrey... PS Toia
RE EZE, Houston, Land... PS Holtz

SLB Liufau... PS Sanborn
MLB Styles, L. Wilson... PS Conway
WLB Overshown, James... PS Barron

CB1 Revel, Bridges... PS Ballentine
CB2 Carson, Offord... PS Washington
Slot Bland, Steward... PS Childress, Kurns

FS Ferrell, Clark, Butler... PS Jacob Thomas
SS Cross, Juanyeh, Bell... PS Wood

 

[gtb1943]

Restructures- Dak, CD, and Tyler Smith- opening up around 60m in cap space

Franchise Tag- WR George Pickens around 28m

Resign- RB Williams (3yrs 24m...18m GTD), DE Clowney (2yrs 16m...10m GTD), G Robert Jones (1yr 3m),
T Adeniji (1yr 3m).

Cuts- CB Diggs (post June 1st, saves 15.5m), RT Steele (post June 1st, saves 14m), FS Hooker (saves 7m).

Pay cut/new contract- DT Kenny Clark (2yrs 28m... 21m GTD). Add a void year and spread the cap hit over 3 years to make it cheaper. Would make base salary around 7m. He has no GTD money on his current contract. It's either something like this or cutting him to get out of his 21m cap hit next year. It has to be done before the 3rd day of the new league year. He has an 11m dollar roster bonus that turns into guaranteed money on that date.

FA- RB Kareem Hunt (1yr 2.5m), DE AJ Epenesa (3yrs 30m... 22m GTD), SS Nick Cross (4yr 60m... 45m GTD).

Draft
1A- LB Sonny Styles (6'4, 243) Ohio State... Everyone's favorite pick for the Cowboys lately. Green dot guy, super athletic and not a bad coverage LB; he used to be a safety. Just got to hope he makes it this far down the board.

1B- T Trevor Goosby (6'7, 315) Texas... most people will despise this pick. Goosby is a more athletic Tyler Guyton with higher upside. He is still raw but will be a top 15 pick next year if he returns to school. Needs to add 10-15lbs.

4- FS Amare Ferrell (6'2, 200) Indiana... solid rangy tackler with great recognition and ball skills... 8 picks in his career.

5- DE Michael Heldman (6'4, 260) Central Michigan... He is underrated in this draft cycle thus far. 10.5 sacks and 16 TFL's this year. Has really good bend for a bigger edge rusher. Always in the back field causing problems.

5C- C/G Matt Gulbin (6'4, 315) Michigan State... Has played both Guard spots and Center. Hoffman will leave in FA, need a good backup for Beebe. The guy has a nice anchor and has enough athleticism to get to the LB's on Duo blocks.

5C- 1-Tech Zion Wilson (6'3, 320) East Carolina... 7 sacks from a 1-Tech is nutty production. Used to be an O-lineman.

7- CB Caleb Offord (6'2, 200) Kennesaw State...12 PBU's this year. Usually follows the best WR from the other team around the field.

7C- TE Will Kacmarek (6'6, 260) Ohio State... the other TE for the Buckeyes. One of the best blocking TE's in this years draft class. He isn't used much in the passing game but has the chops to make plays if called upon. He is starting to get more attention and might go higher than this.
Might not even have this pick come draft time but Draftek has it on their site as of now.

UDFA's
QB Jack Strand Minnesota State(Div lll), WR Chas Nimrod South Florida, WR/KR/PR Malik Benson Oregon,
Edge Robert Holtz Gardner-Webb, LB James Conway Fordham (all-time career tackling leader for Div 1 and Div 3),
CB Jarod Washington SC State (MEAC Def player of the year), Slot Kasyus Kurns Tarleton State, S Jacob Thomas JMU

Depth Chart
QB Dak, Milton... PS Strand
RB Williams, Hunt, Blue... PS Mafah, Davis
FB Luepke... PS Fairweather

WR CD, Pickens, Flournoy, Mingo, Turpin... PS Holden, Nimrod, Benson
TE Ferg, Schoon, Spann-Ford... PS Kacmarek

LT Guyton, Thomas, Adeniji
LG Smith, Jones, Keegan
C Beebee, Gulbin... PS French
RG Booker, Bass, Keegan
RT Goosby, Cornelius, Adeniji

LE Epenesa, Clowney, Heldman... PS Odeleye
3-Tech Williams, Osa, Thomas
1-Tech Kenny, Z. Wilson, Winfrey... PS Toia
RE EZE, Houston, Land... PS Holtz

SLB Liufau... PS Sanborn
MLB Styles, L. Wilson... PS Conway
WLB Overshown, James... PS Barron

CB1 Revel, Bridges... PS Ballentine
CB2 Carson, Offord... PS Washington
Slot Bland, Steward... PS Childress, Kurns

FS Ferrell, Clark, Butler... PS Jacob Thomas
SS Cross, Juanyeh, Bell... PS Wood

very thorough
I would argue on some of this but if somehow NGM did this in the offseason I would actually have to say nice things about him and look forward to just maybe a great season

 

[Sydla]

Out on that Williams contract.

 

[exciter]

Restructures- Dak, CD, and Tyler Smith- opening up around 60m in cap space

Franchise Tag- WR George Pickens around 28m

Resign- RB Williams (3yrs 24m...18m GTD), DE Clowney (2yrs 16m...10m GTD), G Robert Jones (1yr 3m),
T Adeniji (1yr 3m).

Cuts- CB Diggs (post June 1st, saves 15.5m), RT Steele (post June 1st, saves 14m), FS Hooker (saves 7m).

Pay cut/new contract- DT Kenny Clark (2yrs 28m... 21m GTD). Add a void year and spread the cap hit over 3 years to make it cheaper. Would make base salary around 7m. He has no GTD money on his current contract. It's either something like this or cutting him to get out of his 21m cap hit next year. It has to be done before the 3rd day of the new league year. He has an 11m dollar roster bonus that turns into guaranteed money on that date.

FA- RB Kareem Hunt (1yr 2.5m), DE AJ Epenesa (3yrs 30m... 22m GTD), SS Nick Cross (4yr 60m... 45m GTD).

Draft
1A- LB Sonny Styles (6'4, 243) Ohio State... Everyone's favorite pick for the Cowboys lately. Green dot guy, super athletic and not a bad coverage LB; he used to be a safety. Just got to hope he makes it this far down the board.

1B- T Trevor Goosby (6'7, 315) Texas... most people will despise this pick. Goosby is a more athletic Tyler Guyton with higher upside. He is still raw but will be a top 15 pick next year if he returns to school. Needs to add 10-15lbs.

4- FS Amare Ferrell (6'2, 200) Indiana... solid rangy tackler with great recognition and ball skills... 8 picks in his career.

5- DE Michael Heldman (6'4, 260) Central Michigan... He is underrated in this draft cycle thus far. 10.5 sacks and 16 TFL's this year. Has really good bend for a bigger edge rusher. Always in the back field causing problems.

5C- C/G Matt Gulbin (6'4, 315) Michigan State... Has played both Guard spots and Center. Hoffman will leave in FA, need a good backup for Beebe. The guy has a nice anchor and has enough athleticism to get to the LB's on Duo blocks.

5C- 1-Tech Zion Wilson (6'3, 320) East Carolina... 7 sacks from a 1-Tech is nutty production. Used to be an O-lineman.

7- CB Caleb Offord (6'2, 200) Kennesaw State...12 PBU's this year. Usually follows the best WR from the other team around the field.

7C- TE Will Kacmarek (6'6, 260) Ohio State... the other TE for the Buckeyes. One of the best blocking TE's in this years draft class. He isn't used much in the passing game but has the chops to make plays if called upon. He is starting to get more attention and might go higher than this.
Might not even have this pick come draft time but Draftek has it on their site as of now.

UDFA's
QB Jack Strand Minnesota State(Div lll), WR Chas Nimrod South Florida, WR/KR/PR Malik Benson Oregon,
Edge Robert Holtz Gardner-Webb, LB James Conway Fordham (all-time career tackling leader for Div 1 and Div 3),
CB Jarod Washington SC State (MEAC Def player of the year), Slot Kasyus Kurns Tarleton State, S Jacob Thomas JMU

Depth Chart
QB Dak, Milton... PS Strand
RB Williams, Hunt, Blue... PS Mafah, Davis
FB Luepke... PS Fairweather

WR CD, Pickens, Flournoy, Mingo, Turpin... PS Holden, Nimrod, Benson
TE Ferg, Schoon, Spann-Ford... PS Kacmarek

LT Guyton, Thomas, Adeniji
LG Smith, Jones, Keegan
C Beebee, Gulbin... PS French
RG Booker, Bass, Keegan
RT Goosby, Cornelius, Adeniji

LE Epenesa, Clowney, Heldman... PS Odeleye
3-Tech Williams, Osa, Thomas
1-Tech Kenny, Z. Wilson, Winfrey... PS Toia
RE EZE, Houston, Land... PS Holtz

SLB Liufau... PS Sanborn
MLB Styles, L. Wilson... PS Conway
WLB Overshown, James... PS Barron

CB1 Revel, Bridges... PS Ballentine
CB2 Carson, Offord... PS Washington
Slot Bland, Steward... PS Childress, Kurns

FS Ferrell, Clark, Butler... PS Jacob Thomas
SS Cross, Juanyeh, Bell... PS Wood

You can only have 2 players designated as June 1st cuts per season. Zack Martin is already taking up one of those spots at 16m. It's either Diggs or Steele... not both!

 

[bleachedwheat]

You can only have 2 players designated as June 1st cuts per season. Zack Martin is already taking up one of those spots at 16m. It's either Diggs or Steele... not both!

Interesting. I didn't know that Zack's contract was considered a post June 1st cut. They should really make an exception to that rule for retiring players.

Diggs is 12.5 pre or 15.5 post and Steele is 8.75 pre or 14 post. That makes it easy. Overall, Steele would be the better post June 1st cut 2.25m more in savings. Diggs would be a pre June 1st designation.

 

[StuckMojo]

That would be 4 1st round picks on Oline in 5 years

 

[Killerinstinct]

I think that is a weak CB situation. Carson Revel and Brand as the starters is what we have now. I don't like spending another first rd pick on the O line. I like that you remade the safety position and I like that you added a F.A. DE.

 

[exciter]

Interesting. I didn't know that Zack's contract was considered a post June 1st cut. They should really make an exception to that rule for retiring players.

Diggs is 12.5 pre or 15.5 post and Steele is 8.75 pre or 14 post. That makes it easy. Overall, Steele would be the better post June 1st cut 2.25m more in savings. Diggs would be a pre June 1st designation.

They restructured his contract for the express purpose of being able to designate him as a June first!

 

[bleachedwheat]

CB Jarod Washington SC State is playing this Saturday in the HBCU championship. He had 20 PBU's this year. I want to see how he does in this game. So far he looks like a legit prospect.

 

[My3Sons]

Interesting. I didn't know that Zack's contract was considered a post June 1st cut. They should really make an exception to that rule for retiring players.

Diggs is 12.5 pre or 15.5 post and Steele is 8.75 pre or 14 post. That makes it easy. Overall, Steele would be the better post June 1st cut 2.25m more in savings. Diggs would be a pre June 1st designation.

The FO completely screwed the pooch on the Z Martin extension before he retired. It was shockingly bad, even for them.

 

[John813]

You can only have 2 players designated as June 1st cuts per season. Zack Martin is already taking up one of those spots at 16m. It's either Diggs or Steele... not both!

Martin was a 2025 post june 1st cut. After March of 2026, his designation should "expire" for the 2026 season for two post june 1st cuts, right? Pretty sure it's just for a given year.

That being said, to me just cut Diggs outright, and save 12.5mil right away when released.
Get that cap savings now, and not wait till June 1st.

 

[exciter]

Martin was a 2025 post june 1st cut. After March of 2026, his designation should "expire" for the 2026 season for two post june 1st cuts, right? Pretty sure it's just for a given year.

That being said, to me just cut Diggs outright, and save 12.5mil right away when released.
Get that cap savings now, and not wait till June 1st.

No, it's spit into 2 seasons.
He counted about 8m in dead cap last season. His bulk of around 16m will be this season. He counts as one. You can have 2 designated a year , not 2 per year if you still have one from the previous season on his 2nd year.

Sure you could do that, but they try to limit the amount of dead cap per season and Martin's dead cap for this season is already substantial.
Diggs is guaranteed to be released. His dead cap as a June 1st would be minimal. I'd guess there's zero chance of Steele being cut this season with them wanting until next year!

 

[Mr_437]

I commend the work put in, but I was thrown off by the Javonte Williams contract and couldn't recover.

 

[rojan]

I like your approach. For RBs, we are overpaying for Williams and I don't like Hunt as he is long in the tooth. We can get similar production from a mid round pick. I think we can be a little more aggressive in FA in addressing DE, CB, and S.