2017 Free Agents. Decisions

[Risen Star]

Not sure why people assume it's a given that Collins would excel at RT. 34 inch arms are pretty much the standard at tackle, and he come in at 33.25. Yes there are pro bowl tackles that have similar arm length, however, most of them are taller than 6'4.

And if people complain about his pass protection inside, it surely won't get better at RT.

It possibly could work, but given that the coaching staff never gave him any reps at RT, there's literally no reason to think he would succeed there.

Lol...what kind of blind team supporting crap is that?

Because I've seen Collins play OT. He's better than what's there now.

 

[Risen Star]

Lots of folks are assuming that Collins can be an effective right tackle.

And lots of folks don't have an opinion. They just blindly support every move the team makes.

Guess which one is worth reading?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

And lots of folks don't have an opinion. They just blindly support every move the team makes.

Guess which one is worth reading?

11-1

Go Cowboys!

 

[reddyuta]

We got to replace Twill, last year we were close to drafting one and I think this year we will draft one quite high.

 

[Risen Star]

We got to replace Twill, last year we were close to drafting one and I think this year we will draft one quite high.

Hopefully...but not a reach for one.

In a perfect scenario we'd add a couple of WRs in the draft.

 

[xwalker]

Not sure why people assume it's a given that Collins would excel at RT. 34 inch arms are pretty much the standard at tackle, and he come in at 33.25. Yes there are pro bowl tackles that have similar arm length, however, most of them are taller than 6'4.

And if people complain about his pass protection inside, it surely won't get better at RT.

It possibly could work, but given that the coaching staff never gave him any reps at RT, there's literally no reason to think he would succeed there.

Joe Thomas: Possibly the best OT in the NFL has short arms (32-1/2") but a large wingspan.

Many Right Tackles over the years have had similar arm length to Collins. Bryan Bulaga (33-1/4").

Also, Collins has a large wingspan despite medium length arms. Wingspan = Shoulder Width + Arm Length x 2

It is difficult to know that the Coaching Staff thinks about him at RT because they were not going to move him there while Free is at RT. Garrett and Free, much like Garrett and Romo/WItten are buddies. As long as the front office keeps Free on the team, Garrett will have him starting. The front office probably made the final call on Romo vs Dak as Garrett probably would have made Romo the starter when he came back.

 

[T-RO]

Barry Church - He is offered a contract but no bidding wars
J.J. Wilcox - Offered a deal but no bidding wars

I saw last night where 2017 is an ultra good, ultra rich safety draft class.

So it would be easier to get a new safety if we decide to draft one. Wilcox and Church's agents will be disappointed as the market won't be as thirsty.

Supply glut ensures price on safeties will drop.

 

[Alexander]

At WR, I think T-Will will get overpaid by another team. Look what some FA WR's got last off-season.

Allen Hurns 4 years/40 mil....gross.
Marvin Jones 5 year/40 mil
Mohamed Sanu 5 years/32 mil

I bet we could get Brice Butler back reallllly cheap. I wouldn't mind Butler as the #2 and drafting a WR to groom as the eventual #2. Dak and Butler have shown to have good chemistry in limited opportunities for Butler.

I would believe you, but he has disappeared for the most part save his toe dance TD. He is not having those big plays like he had down the stretch in 2014.

Hurns earned his contract with good production. Jones was pretty productive playing second fiddle to Green and is proving it was no fluke. Sanu, well, I just think Atlanta overpaid.

I know some teams will probably Alvin Harper him, but still.

 

[Alexander]

It is difficult to know that the Coaching Staff thinks about him at RT because they were not going to move him there while Free is at RT. Garrett and Free, much like Garrett and Romo/WItten are buddies. As long as the front office keeps Free on the team, Garrett will have him starting. The front office probably made the final call on Romo vs Dak as Garrett probably would have made Romo the starter when he came back.

I guess you are trying to say there is some favoritism? Possibly. Seen it with other players.

But the fact is they have avoided doing anything with Collins at tackle since the first week of his first camp and have been adamant that he is a guard ever since. You did not see that with players like Larry Allen. But for whatever reason, they are shooting down that theory every time they are asked.

 

[Alexander]

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

I think he will be a vapor trail out the door.

He has been a good professional taking his "demotion" in stride last year but he came back huge this year and will be chasing the money. Someone will give it to him too. This is not a great OL class.

 

[Alexander]

We are idiots if we don't re-sign Leary and move Collins to RT.

Get ready for it because practically every time that is brought up, they are pretty forceful in shooting down that idea---at least the moving Collins piece.

 

[Alexander]

Lance Dunbar- I think some team will pay him more than we want to pay, and I think Ezekiel Elliott is a better receiver anyway

What team is this stupid? There are some dumb teams out there, but let's get some perspective.

We would be bidding against our own overinflated estimation of his worth more than anything else.

 

[Bluefin]

Who is Joshua Thomas? never heard of him.

CB.

Dallas drafted him in 2011 and he didn't make the cut. He bounced around the league and re-joined the team during last season because of injuries. Thomas went camping with the Cowboys this summer where he again met the Turk.

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

I thought Carr had one more year left.

Right now, Brandon Carr is under contract for the 2017 season, but it's a voidable year, so he will become an unrestricted free agent following this season.

When Dallas signed Carr to a mammoth $50M contract in 2012, the deal included a large second year base salary. For cap purposes, most of that salary was converted into a signing bonus in 2013. Signing bonuses can be spread out over a maximum of five years and there were only four years remaining on Carr's deal in '13.

The voidable year in '17 was added to the contract to allow for maximum signing bonus pro-ration.

The Cowboys and Carr can alter the deal at any time before next off-season, if desired.

I'd prefer to keep Morris Claiborne instead, but I expect one of the corners to return to the team next season.

 

[Risen Star]

Get ready for it because practically every time that is brought up, they are pretty forceful in shooting down that idea---at least the moving Collins piece.

Yeah I don't get it. They have 5 blue chip offensive linemen. Get all 5 on the field. Collins looked plenty dominant at OT in college. Granted that was on the left side but I highly doubt that matters considering his skill set. He's a more natural RT than LT.

What's their plan? More Doug Free and then Chaz Green?

 

[Beats_By_Zeke]

Is there a list of the big name free agents from other teams?
More particular on the defense.

 

[BigStar]

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

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

The only big issue I see here is with the secondary.

Claiborne will get a big check when there are 32 teams bidding on him. I suspect the Cowboys will make efforts to sign him, but the price will get too high. Fortunately we have Brown and Scandrick. Will need a CB in the draft or FA.

Wilcox/Church. I would think the Cowboys will go hard to retain one of the two, probably Church. I suspect the salary needed won't be too painful.

Butler and Williams ultimately are JAGs. Keep or replace won't make much difference. I'd sure like the cowboys to get a WR/KR when they replace.

Kellen Moore could be retained on a minimum contract...so maybe it's him over Sanchez.

McClain and Crawford. I'll defer to other posters as I don't have a meaningful evaluation on these guys. But this upcoming draft is purported rich on defense ends. Tapper will also hopefully be contributing. McClain is a starter on our depth chart but is more of a rotational player, IMO.

I would definitely try to retain Mo but like you said FA gets crazy about corners and could land a 8/9M on open market. I would go with Wilcox but think Church will be the cheaper option.

I would let both go if we don't retain JJ or unless resigns for a low ball deal; he;s just too slow to justify as a need. Great 3rd S though (ideally) and good for some D hyprid packages.

Agree, let both Wrs walk and draft another and sign a mid tier FA @ WR. I would oddly try to keep Sanchez if not ridiculous but him making more money than Dak will stand out I'm sure.

I would try to retain McClain even with his injury history. I admit, I thought he was a JAG mostly until this last season; he'd be great in a rotation with Collins. Like Tapper's potential too, but would still look at what becomes available @ RE in FA too (they will be overpaid assuredly, so may be our one big signing if at all).

Like Wilson, Lee, Hitchens, and hopefully Smith but again would only look for a mid tier LB and go via the draft.

Good OP

 

[T-RO]

CB.

Right now, Brandon Carr is under contract for the 2017 season, but it's a voidable year, so he will become an unrestricted free agent following this season.

When Dallas signed Carr to a mammoth $50M contract in 2012, the deal included a large second year base salary. For cap purposes, most of that salary was converted into a signing bonus in 2013. Signing bonuses can be spread out over a maximum of five years and there were only four years remaining on Carr's deal in '13.

The voidable year in '17 was added to the contract to allow for maximum signing bonus pro-ration.

The Cowboys and Carr can alter the deal at any time before next off-season, if desired.

I'd prefer to keep Morris Claiborne instead, but I expect one of the corners to return to the team next season.

This is the explanation I was looking for. Awesome, bro!

 

[T-RO]

I would definitely try to retain Mo but like you said FA gets crazy about corners and could land a 8/9M on open market. I would go with Wilcox but think Church will be the cheaper option.

I would let both go if we don't retain JJ or unless resigns for a low ball deal; he;s just too slow to justify as a need. Great 3rd S though (ideally) and good for some D hyprid packages.

Agree, let both Wrs walk and draft another and sign a mid tier FA @ WR. I would oddly try to keep Sanchez if not ridiculous but him making more money than Dak will stand out I'm sure.

I would try to retain McClain even with his injury history. I admit, I thought he was a JAG mostly until this last season; he'd be great in a rotation with Collins. Like Tapper's potential too, but would still look at what becomes available @ RE in FA too (they will be overpaid assuredly, so may be our one big signing if at all).

Like Wilson, Lee, Hitchens, and hopefully Smith but again would only look for a mid tier LB and go via the draft.

Good OP

Church might make a lot of sense as he's very familiar with scheme, trustworthy and won't cost a lot.

Since the draft is rich with safeties maybe we can grab a decent one in the 4th round or so.

 

[BigStar]

Church might make a lot of sense as he's very familiar with scheme, trustworthy and won't cost a lot.

Since the draft is rich with safeties maybe we can grab a decent one in the 4th round or so.

I like Church bc he's a good tackler but would even leave the position open to the draft tbh. Wilcox might fetch more than his worth in FA and will admit I'm not a huge Church fan, but not enough disregard resigning him for a reasonable 2-3 year deal as a fallback option. We've seen how ugly it can get with Safeties who don't know their assignments so would take him just to give the secondary that foundation. Wilcox is by no means perfect as we all know; hope he shows a little loyalty tbh considering his ugly start. I just like the idea of having an enforcer who can lay the wood back there with some range (speed); phrasing. (Archer fans)

 

[T-RO]

I like Church bc he's a good tackler but would even leave the position open to the draft tbh. Wilcox might fetch more than his worth in FA and will admit I'm not a huge Church fan, but not enough disregard resigning him for a reasonable 2-3 year deal as a fallback option. We've seen how ugly it can get with Safeties who don't know their assignments so would take him just to give the secondary that foundation. Wilcox is by no means perfect as we all know; hope he shows a little loyalty tbh considering his ugly start. I just like the idea of having an enforcer who can lay the wood back there with some range (speed).

Nice post, but tbh the only loyalty a player should show is to his family and financial security.