2018 Free Agency Philosophy

[Alexander]

We have all read Stephen Jones' ideas on it, which basically is public relations meant to keep the thought that Dallas will be immediately active and the fans calm.

Then we get the usual debate around here, some that think we "can do whatever we want" in free agency and start dreaming of things that will never ever happen, some that are praising the penny-pinching because they think Dallas has had crazy swings in how they approach it.

I still have a problem understanding why so many people have a hard time characterizing what we do in free agency. We are not inactive, nor are we going on ridiculous shopping sprees.

The moderate approach seems best, but at the end of it all, that is not just the only key.

The last shopping spree was five years ago. The 2012 class with Brandon Carr, Kyle Orton, Dan Connor, Brodney Pool, Lawrence Vickers, Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau.

Since they have not splurged to that much of a degree.

2013 - Justin Durant, Will Allen
2014 - Brandon Weeden, Terrell McClain, Jeremy Mincey, Henry Melton
2015 - Greg Hardy, Darren McFadden, Corey White, Jasper Brinkley, Andrew Gachkar, Ray Agnew, Jed Collins
2016 - Benson Mayowa, Albert Morris, Cedric Thornton
2017 - Nolan Carroll, Stephen Paea, Demontre Moore

The problem is not necessarily the expense, it is the choice of signings just as much.

They have wasted small, but hardly insignificant amounts, on some pretty bad players. We will be spending a good amount of dead money on Thornton and Carroll in particular.

That is a big black mark on the job the pro personnel department has been doing over the period identifying the talent and just as much of a demerit for Stephen Jones for the contracts that were worked.

When you sign over 25 free agents in six years and pretty much zero remain with the team now, and only a couple did not completely bust out, it is not the free agent process at fault. It how the Cowboys handle it. They shop mid-to-low tier and get what they pay for. Sometimes even less than that due to the deals that are cut.

At the end of the day, if they don't do a better job of both evaluation and contracts, it does not matter.

All I see are more organizational issues that are the culprit. Apparently Garrett's brother has been removed from the pro personnel side and into "special projects" with Mickey Loomis' kid installed in the summer. Hopefully things change.​

 

[Tristan]

I agree, its all about making the "right" signing, when teams mistakingly let go of young budding all stars like Malcom Jenkins and Alshon Jeffery we should be the first to scoop them up but the eagles have been clutch and thus they are champions. Take Jeffries and Jenkins off the eagles and they dont even make the playoffs imo

 

[xwalker]

We have all read Stephen Jones' ideas on it, which basically is public relations meant to keep the thought that Dallas will be immediately active and the fans calm.

Then we get the usual debate around here, some that think we "can do whatever we want" in free agency and start dreaming of things that will never ever happen, some that are praising the penny-pinching because they think Dallas has had crazy swings in how they approach it.

I still have a problem understanding why so many people have a hard time characterizing what we do in free agency. We are not inactive, nor are we going on ridiculous shopping sprees.

The moderate approach seems best, but at the end of it all, that is not just the only key.

The last shopping spree was five years ago. The 2012 class with Brandon Carr, Kyle Orton, Dan Connor, Brodney Pool, Lawrence Vickers, Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau.

Since they have not splurged to that much of a degree.

2013 - Justin Durant, Will Allen
2014 - Brandon Weeden, Terrell McClain, Jeremy Mincey, Henry Melton
2015 - Greg Hardy, Darren McFadden, Corey White, Jasper Brinkley, Andrew Gachkar, Ray Agnew, Jed Collins
2016 - Benson Mayowa, Albert Morris, Cedric Thornton
2017 - Nolan Carroll, Stephen Paea, Demontre Moore

The problem is not necessarily the expense, it is the choice of signings just as much.

They have wasted small, but hardly insignificant amounts, on some pretty bad players. We will be spending a good amount of dead money on Thornton and Carroll in particular.

That is a big black mark on the job the pro personnel department has been doing over the period identifying the talent and just as much of a demerit for Stephen Jones for the contracts that were worked.

When you sign over 25 free agents in six years and pretty much zero remain with the team now, and only a couple did not completely bust out, it is not the free agent process at fault. It how the Cowboys handle it. They shop mid-to-low tier and get what they pay for. Sometimes even less than that due to the deals that are cut.

At the end of the day, if they don't do a better job of both evaluation and contracts, it does not matter.

All I see are more organizational issues that are the culprit. Apparently Garrett's brother has been removed from the pro personnel side and into "special projects" with Mickey Loomis' kid installed in the summer. Hopefully things change.​

Good info about Garrett's brother being re-assigned.

I think the past results would indicate that young players are as good as low tier free agents; therefore don't bother signing low tier guys.

If you are not going to sign mid-tier or higher, then just go with rookies and UDFAs or veteran minimum free agents with no guarantees.

In ther words, if they're not going to spend about 7M+ per on a DT, then don't bother.

 

[KingintheNorth]

This Front Office has improved their drafting so for many here, they get a pass on their horrid free agent signings.

To me, they are either limited or incompetent in regards to free agency. I only hope they can be honest about whatever their deficiency is and improve upon it.

 

[Alexander]

If you are not going to sign mid-tier or higher, then just go with rookies and UDFAs or veteran minimum free agents with no guarantees.

In ther words, if they're not going to spend about 7M+ per on a DT, then don't bother.

That is what I would do. Instead of signing three or four lower tier players after free agency has ended, go after one bigger signing.

When you look at things, you combine the costs to sign three mediocre players to pay for a better player. But we don't look at it in that fashion.

Going into last season, they truly thought adding Carroll, Paea and Moore improved depth and provided "veteran insurance".

At the end of it, all they did was sink money on bad players that were so bad, they could not even justify keeping them on the roster for very long. Why not just add one good player that pushes some of your returning talent down to depth? Makes a lot more sense to me.

 

[Creeper]

I do agree with you that its not as much the money as who they signed. I remember 2012 when they signed Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau. What they gave them they could have signed Ben Grubbs for about the same money. Sure they got two guards for the price of one, but neither was any good!

 

[Alexander]

I do agree with you that its not as much the money as who they signed. I remember 2012 when they signed Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau. What they gave them they could have signed Ben Grubbs for about the same money. Sure they got two guards for the price of one, but neither was any good!

That 2012 offseason was deplorable. Bad free agency, bad drafting. Easily set the team back in key areas that they were still paying for years later.

 

[CouchCoach]

The talent evaluation by this team has long been the major drawback and just because they're better at drafting doesn't mean they are good. Are they really good in the later rounds? Have the risks really brought rewards?

They make questionable decisions with commitments to players that prevent going after a player like Jeffries, they were tied to Dez. They have really been very poor at FA evaluation and that affects their thinking when going into the off season, once bitten, twice shy.

 

[Alexander]

The talent evaluation by this team has long been the major drawback and just because they're better at drafting doesn't mean they are good. Are they really good in the later rounds? Have the risks really brought rewards?

They make questionable decisions with commitments to players that prevent going after a player like Jeffries, they were tied to Dez. They have really been very poor at FA evaluation and that affects their thinking when going into the off season, once bitten, twice shy.

Self evaluation is a organizational trait that can make or break football teams.

The reason the Eagles are where they are is that they took a look at their football team a few offseasons ago, didn't like what they saw, then they went out to fix the culture and also the talent. They did not look at the roster and think it was "set". They did not sit there and "hope" things improved just because of time elapsing.

There are some signs Dallas might be coming around. Overhauling the OL and the secondary more recently is a step.

But there are other chronic areas where they perpetually "like what they have" and that holds them back.

 

[Risen Star]

Just imagine how bad it'd be if we didn't have Will McClay.

But we do.

Cowboys!!

 

[Alexander]

Just imagine how bad it'd be if we didn't have Will McClay.

But we do.

Cowboys!!

I wonder why people think McClay's influence extends beyond the draft and deep into the pro personnel side.

Even the best sign of talent mining in David Irving came as the player was just out of the draft that season.

 

[Risen Star]

I wonder why people think McClay's influence extends beyond the draft and deep into the pro personnel side.

Even the best sign of talent mining in David Irving came as the player was just out of the draft that season.

Could it be because he's the assistant director of player personnel and his two bosses are empty suits who have no clue what they're looking at?

 

[Alexander]

Could it be because he's the assistant director of player personnel and his two bosses are empty suits who have no clue what they're looking at?

But most people don't believe that. Or won't admit it.

McClay is in charge. Just Ciskowski was before him. Jerry and Stephen Jones. Figureheads who don't make decisions, they just listen.

 

[McKDaddy]

Good info about Garrett's brother being re-assigned.

I think the past results would indicate that young players are as good as low tier free agents; therefore don't bother signing low tier guys.

If you are not going to sign mid-tier or higher, then just go with rookies and UDFAs or veteran minimum free agents with no guarantees.

In ther words, if they're not going to spend about 7M+ per on a DT, then don't bother.

Agree that they seem to not balance out a good signing from "hey, we got somebody" but it's also easier said than done. I can't fault them if they truly think they are getting a solid player or taking a chance on an unpolished diamond. But a Nolan Carrol? What were you thinking?

 

[Risen Star]

But most people don't believe that. Or won't admit it.

McClay is in charge. Just Ciskowski was before him. Jerry and Stephen Jones. Figureheads who don't make decisions, they just listen.

An assistant director of player personnel certainly should have some input into pro personnel as well as collegiate.

This is why I am thoroughly unimpressed by this guy. Show me the successes. I don't see it. He's getting the Stephen Jones savior treatment from years ago. Eventually everybody will agree he sucks too.

I know I'll be facing a fan exorcism here but I'd get rid of McClay right along with Witten. Yesterday.

 

[Floatyworm]

We have all read Stephen Jones' ideas on it, which basically is public relations meant to keep the thought that Dallas will be immediately active and the fans calm.

Then we get the usual debate around here, some that think we "can do whatever we want" in free agency and start dreaming of things that will never ever happen, some that are praising the penny-pinching because they think Dallas has had crazy swings in how they approach it.

I still have a problem understanding why so many people have a hard time characterizing what we do in free agency. We are not inactive, nor are we going on ridiculous shopping sprees.

The moderate approach seems best, but at the end of it all, that is not just the only key.

The last shopping spree was five years ago. The 2012 class with Brandon Carr, Kyle Orton, Dan Connor, Brodney Pool, Lawrence Vickers, Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau.

Since they have not splurged to that much of a degree.

2013 - Justin Durant, Will Allen
2014 - Brandon Weeden, Terrell McClain, Jeremy Mincey, Henry Melton
2015 - Greg Hardy, Darren McFadden, Corey White, Jasper Brinkley, Andrew Gachkar, Ray Agnew, Jed Collins
2016 - Benson Mayowa, Albert Morris, Cedric Thornton
2017 - Nolan Carroll, Stephen Paea, Demontre Moore

The problem is not necessarily the expense, it is the choice of signings just as much.

They have wasted small, but hardly insignificant amounts, on some pretty bad players. We will be spending a good amount of dead money on Thornton and Carroll in particular.

That is a big black mark on the job the pro personnel department has been doing over the period identifying the talent and just as much of a demerit for Stephen Jones for the contracts that were worked.

When you sign over 25 free agents in six years and pretty much zero remain with the team now, and only a couple did not completely bust out, it is not the free agent process at fault. It how the Cowboys handle it. They shop mid-to-low tier and get what they pay for. Sometimes even less than that due to the deals that are cut.

At the end of the day, if they don't do a better job of both evaluation and contracts, it does not matter.

All I see are more organizational issues that are the culprit. Apparently Garrett's brother has been removed from the pro personnel side and into "special projects" with Mickey Loomis' kid installed in the summer. Hopefully things change.​

Agree....we are horrible @ identifying why a guy is available. Seems like we never look a players situation. Some guys get cut because their former team is in a bad cap situation...and need the money. We never seem to go after those guys.

 

[cowboy_ron]

That is what I would do. Instead of signing three or four lower tier players after free agency has ended, go after one bigger signing.

When you look at things, you combine the costs to sign three mediocre players to pay for a better player. But we don't look at it in that fashion.

Going into last season, they truly thought adding Carroll, Paea and Moore improved depth and provided "veteran insurance".

At the end of it, all they did was sink money on bad players that were so bad, they could not even justify keeping them on the roster for very long. Why not just add one good player that pushes some of your returning talent down to depth? Makes a lot more sense to me.

Quality over quantity is the way winners do it........I don't understand Jerry's way of continuing to do the same losing ways over and over will somehow start winning.

 

[cowboyblue22]

the problem is with jerry and Stephen they really want to make money most important and be talked about in the press but the thing is they don't know what they are doing and refuse to hire the right people to do that so this is what u get not good enough to compete for the playoffs but good enough to beat bad teams

 

[GenoT]

We all know the general “book” on FA: while you build through the draft, you also look to plug immediate holes and add veteran depth through FA.

IMHO, shopping in the FA market is the most “this is a business” endeavor in team building. Free agents become “free” due to a variety and possibly a combination of reasons; too old, too expensive, injury-prone, the player isn’t happy with his current situation, a player’s desire to “te$t the waters”, attitude/deportment issues, etc...or simply were let go because of a glut at their respective position on their last team.

Except in the case of obtaining a franchise QB, most FAs aren’t being brought in to “save” a team. So a prospective buyer has to be VERY objective when evaluating a FA, as to where he will fit on the team, what he might bring in the way of chemistry (good or bad) and how long his services, and a financial commitment to him, might be required.

Again IMHO, Jerry Jones has, over the years, made some FA acquisitions, based on a gambler’s hunch, that he can cut corner$ by taking on players with good talent, but also having other issues — RoMac and G-Hardy being the most recent. Jones has also been guilty of making splash-signings, such as TO, whose acquisition directly hastened the departure of his then-current HC, Bill Parcells.

I do get the sense that Stephen Jones is working to keep Jerry from making too many hunch or impulse FA moves, which might explain why we’ve been relatively small players in the FA market as of late.

Maybe we’re simply a bit gun-shy at this point?

 

[DaBoys12]

We have all read Stephen Jones' ideas on it, which basically is public relations meant to keep the thought that Dallas will be immediately active and the fans calm.

Then we get the usual debate around here, some that think we "can do whatever we want" in free agency and start dreaming of things that will never ever happen, some that are praising the penny-pinching because they think Dallas has had crazy swings in how they approach it.

I still have a problem understanding why so many people have a hard time characterizing what we do in free agency. We are not inactive, nor are we going on ridiculous shopping sprees.

The moderate approach seems best, but at the end of it all, that is not just the only key.

The last shopping spree was five years ago. The 2012 class with Brandon Carr, Kyle Orton, Dan Connor, Brodney Pool, Lawrence Vickers, Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau.

Since they have not splurged to that much of a degree.

2013 - Justin Durant, Will Allen
2014 - Brandon Weeden, Terrell McClain, Jeremy Mincey, Henry Melton
2015 - Greg Hardy, Darren McFadden, Corey White, Jasper Brinkley, Andrew Gachkar, Ray Agnew, Jed Collins
2016 - Benson Mayowa, Albert Morris, Cedric Thornton
2017 - Nolan Carroll, Stephen Paea, Demontre Moore

The problem is not necessarily the expense, it is the choice of signings just as much.

They have wasted small, but hardly insignificant amounts, on some pretty bad players. We will be spending a good amount of dead money on Thornton and Carroll in particular.

That is a big black mark on the job the pro personnel department has been doing over the period identifying the talent and just as much of a demerit for Stephen Jones for the contracts that were worked.

When you sign over 25 free agents in six years and pretty much zero remain with the team now, and only a couple did not completely bust out, it is not the free agent process at fault. It how the Cowboys handle it. They shop mid-to-low tier and get what they pay for. Sometimes even less than that due to the deals that are cut.

At the end of the day, if they don't do a better job of both evaluation and contracts, it does not matter.

All I see are more organizational issues that are the culprit. Apparently Garrett's brother has been removed from the pro personnel side and into "special projects" with Mickey Loomis' kid installed in the summer. Hopefully things change.​

Good post, and I agree. I did not know about Garrett & Loomis, hopefully this is a change for the better.