35 mill to spend. what do you do?

[negativecreep]

You build depth, OL, DL, LB, DB, it might not hurt to atleast checkout a LS. That's my opinion, it really is a game of inches, depth and consistency make a huge difference.

 

[Nightman]

I don't touch Dez contract....I would hate to keep extending him and he stays on our books for the next 10 years

Dez is a Cowboy for life........think Anquan Boldin type career

 

[Nightman]

As much as I like Romo, thinking we can get a 1st or 2nd for him is a pipe dream.......as with anything, something is only worth what someone is willing to pay........if you're an NFL G.M. do you give up a 1 for a player with Tony's injury history not knowing if he can last a season, a game or even a down?

GMs have to win now.....Romo makes you an instant playoff team or SB contender

I would ask for a 3rd that moves to a 1st if he starts at least half their games

 

[jamesdojr]

Resign a few of our own players and save the rest. We have other players that will need to be signed in 2018. I hope we never make another Big Splash in free agency again.

I like your thinking. I really do but you want to sign NO ONE at all. Not even one guy... lol. we need to upgrade on defense. We have to at least bring on 1 guy like Eric Berry or Dre Kirkpatrick, Dontari Poe, Stephon Gilmore... just one. And then bring in guys for better depth aand then land another great draft.

If I could be assured that we could have another draft like last year, I agree but last year's Cowboys draft might go down as one of the best drafts ever. We can't depend on that every year. It just doesn't happen that often.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Players on NFI do not receive credit towards free agency.

Darren McFadden only played in the final 3 regular season games.

Players need to be on the roster for 6 games in order for the season to count towards free agency.

McFadden hurt himself at home doing something stupid and was unavailable to play football for most of the season.

That is the case if they are not paid in full. The club has the option to do that. We paid him in full.

 

[Bluefin]

- Bring back McClain

Terrell McClain will turn 29 before training camp, so will Cedric Thornton, and Tyrone Crawford will turn 28 in November.

I expect McClain will walk for more money.

At any rate, I'd much rather try to add another young DT to the mix.

- Bring back one of Carr or Claiborne

Expected.

I'd like to go fishing for a free agent CB, too, before looking for help in the draft and undrafted free agent signings.

I'll happily carry six CBs on the 53 next season if we can find that many that are deserving.

Orlando Scandrick, Anthony Brown, Morris Claiborne/Brandon Carr, veteran FA?, drafted rookie, Leon McFadden/TBD?

- Bring back Wilcox - Sign Tony Jefferson, SS from Arizona

I'd expect one or the other, not both, with Barry Church an option as well.

We need secondary players who can cover, in the box safeties have limitations.

- Bring back McFadden as the #2

Shouldn't cost much.

The rest I don't care about. Well maybe Butler as the 5th WR if he comes back cheap.

I minimum deal with a tiny signing bonus.

Brice Butler would have to earn a spot in training camp/pre-season. I'd sign another low cost veteran FA, draft a wideout, hope Andy Joones progresses in year two and sign the usual host of undrafted hopefuls.

Compete.

- Sign Mario Addison, DE from Carolina

Mario Addison checks in at number four.

- Sign a vet LB for depth.

Likely unnecessary.

Sean Lee, Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson are solid.

Jaylon Smith will hopefully be a massive talent infusion and Mark Nzeocha can replace Andrew Gachkar on special teams.

Justin Durant may retire.

- Sign a vet WR like a Boldin or Patterson

Find someone.

Then work the draft like they have for the last few years. BPA but with a keen eye on defense and possibly a speed WR.

Solid.

 

[Bohuntr97]

Dez is a Cowboy for life........think Anquan Boldin type career

Not to be rude but Boldin is now on his 4th team and was once traded for a 6th rounder, another time was released. Even the great Jerry Rice played for 3 different teams. Its the NFL and with a salary cap, players become expendable. Aikman was released the day before he was due a 70 million extension.

 

[jamesdojr]

I don't extend Dez and if I can avoid it I don't restructure Lee. Tron and Free restructures are a given.

I resign Mcclain, Irving, Cooper, Mcfadden and Moore. I sign Claiborne to a similar 1 year deal as last year.

I make one free agent splash. Eric Berry

.

Perfect. You're hired!

 

[basstapp]

I sign Cordarrelle Patterson.

Patterson solves two issues

1. Dynamic kick returner
2. Speed receiver to take the top off the defense.

 

[manster4ever]

No to Sanchez, Dunbar, Gachkar, JCrawford to cut your bill to ~$12 mil.
Spend $18 Mil on 3 FAs - 2 DL and 1 CB.
Draft top 2 picks BPA for DL and CB.
Draft OT for third pick.

2018 current contracts add up to ~$120M even including Romo (though no Witten and Free). That is $60mil under the cap in 2018 - so the cap concerns are vastly overstated.

NICELY DONE!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bluefin]

That is the case if they are not paid in full. The club has the option to do that. We paid him in full.

I quoted the NFI legalese above in post #27.

It actually says a team can withhold money from the player but that the contract will continue to run, regardless.

There is an exception for players in the final year of their contract, like Darren McFadden, but it goes away if the player gets activated during the regular season.

I think the 'paid in full' bit has more to do with players who end up on injured reserve. Undrafted rookies and later round draft picks often have split salary clauses in their contracts and will not accrue a season of service towards unrestricted free agency if they get put on the shelf during the off-season or early in the regular season.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I quoted the NFI legalese above in post #27.

It actually says a team can withhold money from the player but that the contract will continue to run, regardless.

There is an exception for players in the final year of their contract, like Darren McFadden, but it goes away if the player gets activated during the regular season.

I think the 'paid in full' bit has more to do with players who end up on injured reserve. Undrafted rookies and later round draft picks often have split salary clauses in their contracts and will not accrue a season of service towards unrestricted free agency if they get put on the shelf during the off-season or early in the regular season.

No, you cannot withhold money from people that are out for injuries sustained while performing their contractual duties which is what IR is. It is for NFI that the pay caveat applies.

I have absolutely no interest in reading through the CBA again right now but DMC was paid in full, got service time for this past year, and is now a FA.

He was ready several weeks before they activated him. If they were to try and play the game you are talking about there would be a big stink about it. You only need half a dozen weeks in a season to get the tenure. Jerry Jones does not play those games with his players though. It is something I would expect out of the Chargers or Commanders.

 

[Bohuntr97]

Just curious, Over The Cap has us at $178 million on the books for next season. Putting us nearly nine million over, which is why most feel Romo will be released as that alone frees up $5 mill. I think that is the concern. Are you talking about the following season?

Sorry, this is for manster4rever.

 

[fishspill]

Restructure TSmith, Frederick, and Lee, extend Dez:

Cap space: Roughly 30mill.

Trade Romo for a third rounder and conditional in 2018-save 5mill.

What do you do?

Me:

RE-sign: Carr, Wilcox, Sanchez, Gachkar, T.McClain, McFadden, TWill, Irving, Dunbar, J.Crawford, Cooper

I like continuity, availability and appreciate role players which many of these guys are.

Total cap hit: approx 18-19mill

Sign:

Cordelle Patterson-I am not a huge fan of #13 myself. Too one dimensional for my liking and prone to fumbling, Patterson offers an upgrade as a returner and talented enough to develop as a WR still.

Andre Branch, DE-truth be told I would prefer Sheard, but something tells me he commands big bucks given his exposure with the Pats. Branch seems to be ascending and has very good ability.

Micah Hyde SS-Love his versatility and attitude. Good player, not sure if he will be overpaid but if not love for Cowboys to pick him up.

Draft:

Thought to say at this point:

Rd 1 targets-Taco Charlton, Solomon Thomas, Sidney Jones, Caleb Brantley

What does CowboysZone do with 30 mill in cap space and a low first rounder?

You're thinking farther ahead than me! Need to do what they've been doing: gather a team in FA that leaves them open to taking any position in the draft. That said, I love solid vet WR and older spot DEs. And I still think we'd be better getting a thumper RB to spell Zeke on some 1st and 2nd downs so he can be on for more 3rd downs.

 

[JsnSA]

Dez is a Cowboy for life........think Anquan Boldin type career

You mean like this?
Anquan Boldin #80 WR
2016 Detroit Lions
2015 San Francisco 49ers
2014 San Francisco 49ers
2013 San Francisco 49ers
2012 Baltimore Ravens
2011 Baltimore Ravens
2010 Baltimore Ravens
2009 Arizona Cardinals
2008 Arizona Cardinals
2007 Arizona Cardinals
2006 Arizona Cardinals
2005 Arizona Cardinals
2004 Arizona Cardinals
2003 Arizona Cardinals

 

[Sarge]

Pay the refs.

 

[bb721]

Watch

Feel free to prove me wrong, I haven't looked this up, but off the top of my head I can't recall any team EVER giving up a first round pick for a player who will be 37 when the season starts. Add in Tony's contract and his injury history and I think you are over estimating what his value is to teams other than the Cowboys.

 

[Carson]

Feel free to prove me wrong, I haven't looked this up, but off the top of my head I can't recall any team EVER giving up a first round pick for a player who will be 37 when the season starts. Add in Tony's contract and his injury history and I think you are over estimating what his value is to teams other than the Cowboys.

It would be shocking to get a 2nd. 3rd rounder tops we get for him

 

[ringmaster]

Re-signing a few of our own free agents sounds right.



Darren McFadden is not a free agent.

Re-sign a QB, Jonathan Cooper if he's cheap, maybe Morris Claiborne for 1-2 years, either Barry Church or J.J. Wilcox, and let the rest go unless minimum deals will do.

Add 4-6 external free agents and plug up the remaining spots with draft picks.



Cap space is going to be an absolute non-issue.

Tony Romo's contract will be off the books.



Never say never.

It isn't sound business strategy to attempt "winning" NFL free agency every off-season with big money additions, but that doesn't prohibit the occasional splash signing.

Dallas' goal will be to re-sign their own deserving free agents and bring in new blood through the draft.

We don't need to go on a spending spree akin to the New York Giants of last off-season, but should be prepared to spend for DE and CB.

I think they will resign Cooper as for some of the other free agents Butler, Church, Moore, McClain, and Claiborne would be the guys I would love to see them resign.

 

[Bohuntr97]

Feel free to prove me wrong, I haven't looked this up, but off the top of my head I can't recall any team EVER giving up a first round pick for a player who will be 37 when the season starts. Add in Tony's contract and his injury history and I think you are over estimating what his value is to teams other than the Cowboys.

Joe Montana to the Chiefs was 37. However we are talking about a 4 time SB champ.