2017 Free Agents. Decisions

[T-RO]

Leary will get a big contract. He's part of the best line in football, that alone even if he played average would net him a decent contract. The fact that he plays at a good level, as a run blocker at least, he'll go somewhere in desperate need for O-Line help.

There are teams with franchise QBs getting killed weekly that will be in the running for him.

No doubt there will be high demand...that's why he'll be tough to retain.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Maybe Claiborne departs, but no way in hell I'd let him depart if the price was only 3-4 mil and the Cowboys won't either! You won't find a proven corner in free agency for less than $4mil per year.

Morris got 3 million this pass offseason because he'd never shown anything. This year he has shown show real ability.

Pro Football Focus has him rated as a Top-10 cornerback in the league this year with a score of 84.3 on the season. He's rated out good in pass protection and against the run.

Claiborne can cement his value if he comes back in the next few weeks and continues his fine play, though he'll probably be playing with some residual limitation.

Ya but when he only plays a quarter to half the season he's not worth more than 3-4 mil.

 

[mattjames2010]

Ya but when he only plays a quarter to half the season he's not worth more than 3-4 mil.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/cornerback/

That's the FA class. This is really going to dictate why we bring back either Carr or Claiborne. Out of this list, these are the top CBs

Trumaine Johnson
Dre Kirkpatrick
Stephon Gilmore
Morris Claiborne

I don't see Rex allowing Gilmore to go, he likes his CBs too much. I think Bengals keep Kirkpatrick, so we might be in the running for Johnson. I would hope we would sign a nice depth guy as well with Scandrick being injury prone lately.

Most likely, I think we bring back Morris Claiborne and try to get someone like Johnson. If that fails, welcome back Carr for a 2 year deal and see what happens in the draft.

 

[T-RO]

Off the top of my head, based on the savings the Cowboys would get by releasing them prior to June 1st...

Romo $5.1 mil
Free $5 mil
Hanna $1.5 mil
Morris $1.7 mil

Hanna will be a tough one. Microfracture is often unsuccessful. Really tough if it turns out he just can't play again at the same level.

Romo is gone for sure, IMO. Morris too.

Free? I suspect the Cowboys like him more than the fans here, but the salary implications make him a borderline decision.

 

[EPL0c0]

Leary is the really interesting player.

IMO he is underpaid. I think he deserves a bigger contract. I think Leary has leverage in Dallas based mostly on the fact that Chaz Green can't stay healthy. Because whether you put Collins at LG or RT, you still have a hole.

I think he goes elsewhere.

So unless they can get Looney playing LG or Kadeem Edwards (practice squad), it's a real issue. Pickings for an affordable FA OG are thin. Luke Joeckel is a FA and could probably be had cheap. If DAL can develop him, it could be worth a look.

 

[T-RO]

Ya but when he only plays a quarter to half the season he's not worth more than 3-4 mil.

In only one season has he played less than half the games. Played 47 out of 76 games over his career.

Sure his injury history will diminish his value and some will question why he played so much better in a contract year.

But most every free agent will come with questions.

I like your idea of setting a budget and being willing to let him go if he gets a better offer. I just think the baseline offer needs to be more than you suggested.

 

[Leadbelly]

I think Mo signs to a contract that is limited in long term guaranteed money and has the performance/active roster incentives. If he continues to fall apart physically, the team will be able to walk. Since he's never made it through a season, it would not be considered "likely to be earned" incentive.

Something a bit below Brandon Flowers - 4 years and $36 mil. incl. $8 mil. signing bonus and a $2 mil roster bonus in last year. First 2 years guaranteed. For Mo, maybe 4y for $29m and $12m guaranteed.

 

[T-RO]

Leary is the really interesting player.

IMO he is underpaid. I think he deserves a bigger contract. I think Leary has leverage in Dallas based mostly on the fact that Chaz Green can't stay healthy. Because whether you put Collins at LG or RT, you still have a hole.

I think he goes elsewhere.

So unless they can get Looney playing LG or Kadeem Edwards (practice squad), it's a real issue. Pickings for an affordable FA OG are thin. Luke Joeckel is a FA and could probably be had cheap. If DAL can develop him, it could be worth a look.

Leary will walk for sure. We already have two of the league's most expensive linemen with Smith and Frederick. Martin will get a massive extension (I hope).

If we can lock up Martin that will max out (more than max out) what we can spend on the line. In the next 4-6 years we will be filling the other two spots with guys on rookie contracts or with cheap free agents.

 

[thisiscowboyscountry]

Dallas will definetely sign back Terrance Williams.

Depends on the cost, I wouldnt offer more than 2 million a year, but it wouldnt surprise me if someone offers him 4 to 5 million a season. Butler is probably the cheaper option and is just as good. I also rather consider receiver in the 2nd or 3rd round.

 

[StarBoyz83]

In only one season has he played less than half the games. Played 47 out of 76 games over his career.

Sure his injury history will diminish his value and some will question why he played so much better in a contract year.

But most every free agent will come with questions.

I like your idea of setting a budget and being willing to let him go if he gets a better offer. I just think the baseline offer needs to be more than you suggested.

Suprised he's played that many. I thought it would be at least 15 or so less

 

[NEODOG]

I'd give Mo a damn good reason not to leave

Church Wilcox would get my interest in keeping

Butler & TWill , I'd offer but lowball on safe side....

Signing Mo & Martin are my top priority

 

[jamesdojr]

His injury history isnt a minor one. Its been major and constant injuries, one after another after another...

Who knows what he will actually be offered. No one has a crystal ball. But, his injury history will absolutely drive his $ significantly lower than if he would have been durable year after year. Possibly low enough to allow us in the bidding war and be ok.

Yes, Some idiot GM might give him a huge contract that takes us and alot of other teams out of the game. I feel sorry for that fool. But so be it. In that case, goodbye and thanks for pretty much nothing... considering where he was drafted.

Lots of guys with question marks get huge money in free agency and Mo will get a big hunk of cheese.

32 teams out there and they all need at least 3 good cornerbacks. A minimum of 12 teams will be looking around for a corner and the power of auction bidding will do the rest to escalate his value.

Claiborne played VERY well early in the season. There will be a team or two or three willing to on Claiborne's risks in hopes of getting a top-20 corner.

 

[jrumann59]

I did forget him. Maybe someone can clarify. The sites I've looked at list him as an unrestricted free agent in 2018.

Stephen Jones on the Fan last week confirmed Carr is FA at the end of the season.

 

[CowboysLegend365]

Leary will get a big contract. He's part of the best line in football, that alone even if he played average would net him a decent contract. The fact that he plays at a good level, as a run blocker at least, he'll go somewhere in desperate need for O-Line help.

There are teams with franchise QBs getting killed weekly that will be in the running for him.

I agree, people saying "keep Leary" are living a dream. They have expressed how much they like Collins (age, contract in part) and Leary will command at least 5 million/yr next season.

With Martin's deal coming up soon, I think there's no way Leary stays here. It's really not Leary vs. Collins, it's Leary vs. Martin. (and I think we know who is more valuable there.)

 

[windjc]

Here are the 2017 free agents and what I think the Cowboys will do:

Rolando McClain GONE
Morris Claiborne HERE
Ron Leary PROBABLY GONE
Barry Church HERE
Mark Sanchez HERE
Andrew Gachkar PROBABLY GONE
Darren McFadden GONE
Lance Dunbar HERE
Jack Crawford HERE
Gavin Escobar HERE
Terrell McClain HERE
Justin Durant PROBABLY GONE
Johsua Thomas GONE
Terrance Williams HERE
Kellen Moore KEEP HIM OR SANCHEZ
J.J. Wilcox HERE
Brice Butler HERE

FIFY

 

[T-RO]

Stephen Jones on the Fan last week confirmed Carr is FA at the end of the season.

Thanks bro.

There was zero data on his 2017 contract but it didn't list him as UFA.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Rolando McClain --- Gone.
Morris Claiborne --- #1 offseason priority. The secondary was playing at an elite level when he was healthy.
Ron Leary --- I think we should make a strong effort to keep him, but I could see us going with the younger option in Collins.
Barry Church --- Keep him. There aren't many good safeties in this league, and this guy's a leader on the defense.
Mark Sanchez --- Rather have Moore. Sanchez has done nothing for us.
Andrew Gachkar --- I don't know. I guess he's okay on special teams. Probably wouldn't notice if he was gone.
Darren McFadden --- Gone
Lance Dunbar --- We don't seem to use him anymore. Might as well get rid of him.
Jack Crawford --- Decent player but not a star you can rely on. Keep him but also address the D-line.
Gavin Escobar --- Another disappointing 2nd round TE. His blocking to too much of a liability. Get rid of him.
Terrell McClain --- I think we should keep him. We seem to be okay at the DT position. Add some solid DEs around them.
Justin Durant --- Rather see what we have in the young guys Smith and Wilson. Get rid of him.
Johsua Thomas --- Who?
Terrance Williams --- If we can keep for him cheap. He's our 3rd best WR and probably our 5th best receiving option.
Kellen Moore --- If we can't find anything better. Seems to be a smart player and he actually won us a game last year.
J.J. Wilcox --- Not bad depth if we could bring him back for dirt cheap. Nothing special.
Brice Butler --- Hasn't really done much. Doesn't seem to be a good receiver. Move on.

Top priorities: 1) Claiborne, 2) T. McClain, 3) Leary.

 

[jobberone]

McClain is a keeper. He's our best DT right now. The two safeties need competition next year. Without good enough they stay.

Rolando McClain gone from league
Morris Claiborne keep
Ron Leary would love to keep; doubtful
Barry Church keep
Mark Sanchez discard
Andrew Gachkar not sure
Darren McFadden discard
Lance Dunbar keep if contract great; draft replacement
Jack Crawford bubble
Gavin Escobar bubble
Terrell McClain keep
Justin Durant competes in camp; likely gone
Johsua Thomas camp
Terrance Williams keep
Kellen Moore competes camp
J.J. Wilcox keep
Brice Butler competes camp; likely stays
Carr depends on contract

 

[stilltheguru88]

We aren't keeping Church AND Wilcox.

 

[Oh_Canada]

TWill is expendable in my view, but I think the team values him more than those outside the organization and that's why he'll probably stay.

Prefer Wilcox over Church, as I think there is still some improvement left in him, but again the team and JG specifically will value Church.

Think Sanchez, McClain and Crawford resign.

Hope the team targets Jabaal Sheard in FA.