35 mill to spend. what do you do?

[robjay04]

I really hope that's not true.

We should attempt to make a pairing where everyone is happy, but not at the expense of Dallas' future. Especially considering Romo made 24 million last year for some preseason and garbage time action.

You trade Romo to a place he don't want to go, he can just leak retirement considerations and end it.

Regardless, Jerry hasn't traded a player in about a decade. It's probably been 20 years since he made a trade involving a decent player. He's good to his players and that's how you get an all pro 24 year old LT to sign a contract that is possibly the biggest discount in history. We could've traded Ware as well but we didn't, we respected his contributions to the franchise enough to let him pick his own team.

You do want to get value for your players but not to the point where you are forgetting that they are people.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Why resign Claiborne he has never played a full season ?

Not me. Can't count on him.

 

[thisiscowboyscountry]

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?

I would resign Carr, Claiborne, Church, Wilcox, Mcclain, Cooper, and Mcfadden. Don't think were keeping Leary, but if twill is resonable I would bring him back.

With the rest of the money de is the #1 priority, but I wouldnt enter the Jones or Pierre-Paul sweepsteaks. I would sign someone on the other side of 30 who can still be a good contributer as atleast a part time pass rusher who would likely come at half the cost and not mortgage the future. Outside of that we need to find a backup QB, if twill signs elsewhere I would look at a midrange WR to replace himthat may be a few yearsmolder than twill but come at a cheaper price.

On draft day I would like to see de in the first, best player available among cb, wr, and rt in the 2nd, then take the same approach in round 3.

 

[TheCount]

You trade Romo to a place he don't want to go, he can just leak retirement considerations and end it.

Regardless, Jerry hasn't traded a player in about a decade. It's probably been 20 years since he made a trade involving a decent player. He's good to his players and that's how you get an all pro 24 year old LT to sign a contract that is possibly the biggest discount in history. We could've traded Ware as well but we didn't, we respected his contributions to the franchise enough to let him pick his own team.

You do want to get value for your players but not to the point where you are forgetting that they are people.[/QUOTE[

That's what I said, you try to make everyone happy.

 

[Sydla]

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

If you get a 3rd that becomes a 1st, he's going to have to do more than just playing in at least half their games. There'd probably need to be playoff escalators much like there was with the Bradford deal to Minnesota. Can't remember but the 4th they gave up could have ended up a 3rd or 2nd depending on Minny's success in the playoffs.

 

[Sydla]

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.

McClain won't cost that much. And you look to add a DT in the draft. Collins and Crawford at 3 tech, McClain and Thornton at 1 Tech. Bring in another DT in the draft.

There are really no good young DTs in FA that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

 

[Kaiser]

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

Or a 3rd this year with a conditional pick in 2017 that depends on his performance. I think that is the most likely scenario.

 

[cowboys1981]

Sign
DT Brandon Williams
SDE Chandler Jones
WDE Dion Jordan (1 yr deal-incentive based)

Resign
OG Jonathan Cooper
CB Mo Claiborne(1 yr deal)
S Barry Church

 

[Kaiser]

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

The 49'ers included a player and a 3rd round pick to get a 1st back, but its still a good example. They also could have traded Steve Young at 37 for a high pick if they had his replacement in the lineup already.

Also two things that make the question somewhat meaningless is that Romo didn't start until he was 26 while most of QBs in the comparison were taking a pounding at age 22 or 23.

Another factor is that its very, very rare for a team to replace an elite QB with an elite QB immediately, Dallas follow Aikman with Quincy and Hutchinson, very few times in NFL history do you see a Steve Young follow Montana or Dak follow Romo.

 

[Bluefin]

McClain won't cost that much.

And you look to add a DT in the draft. Collins and Crawford at 3 tech, McClain and Thornton at 1 Tech. Bring in another DT in the draft.

There are really no good young DTs in FA that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Terrell McClain is going to want more money than Cedric Thornton (4yrs, $17M).

That money would be better spent on a DE in free agency.

Maliek Collins and Tyrone Crawford should take the most snaps at DT next season because we will play more Nickel than base defense. Thornton would be next and David Irving will play inside a lot, too.

I don't see the need to pay McClain.

Adding a rookie DT to the unit would be ideal.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Terrell McClain is going to want more money than Cedric Thornton (4yrs, $17M).

That money would be better spent on a DE in free agency.

Maliek Collins and Tyrone Crawford should take the most snaps at DT next season because we will play more Nickel than base defense. Thornton would be next and David Irving will play inside a lot, too.

I don't see the need to pay McClain.

Adding a rookie DT to the unit would be ideal.

Yep. I don't want McClain back. Sure, he was our best DT earlier in the season, but that's not really saying much. We need one true run-stuffing 1-tech, and that'll be Thornton. I can see us going back to a starting duo of T. Crawford at 3-tech and Collins at 1-tech if we get some help at DE. The only reason we moved Crawford this season was because we were desperate at DE. Draft another DT early to replace Crawford in a year, and spend some money and picks on DE.

Here's what I wanna see our D-line depth chart looking like next year:

DT - T. Crawford, Collins, Thornton, early-round draft pick
DE - high-priced free agent, early-round draft pick, Lawrence, Mayowa, Tapper
DE/DT - Irving

 

[jblaze2004]

No to resigning carr and twill. They can be replaced with draft picks/low cost FA.

 

[waving monkey]

The mantra is resign own FA's and draft BPA
as usual the draft will surprise and create a thunder storm on this board.

 

[waving monkey]

Yep. I don't want McClain back. Sure, he was our best DT earlier in the season, but that's not really saying much. We need one true run-stuffing 1-tech, and that'll be Thornton. I can see us going back to a starting duo of T. Crawford at 3-tech and Collins at 1-tech if we get some help at DE. The only reason we moved Crawford this season was because we were desperate at DE. Draft another DT early to replace Crawford in a year, and spend some money and picks on DE.

Here's what I wanna see our D-line depth chart looking like next year:

DT - T. Crawford, Collins, Thornton, early-round draft pick
DE - high-priced free agent, early-round draft pick, Lawrence, Mayowa, Tapper
DE/DT - Irving

I like a high draft pick at the D1 position also,especially if a good DE can't be drafted
also I'd understand if a middle round D3 was drafted. Two good D3's rotating and fresh

 

[Kaiser]

Terrell McClain is going to want more money than Cedric Thornton (4yrs, $17M).
.

Want money and get money are two different things . McClain was the better player last year but he has only started 27 games in six NFL seasons, 15 of which were last year. Thornton started 45 of 48 games in the three seasons before he hit FA, while playing on a very good defense.

I do want McClain resigned, but I doubt his agent even asks for the same contract Thornton got.

 

[Oh_Canada]

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.

Might be right on Dunbar.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Branch is interesting.

I was a fan of Patterson when he was drafted but at this point he reminds me of Brice Butler. A fast guy with size but may lack focus and intelligence. He is not a punt returner, only KR.

Draft BPA. Don't force a pick for a pass rusher. It could be WR, DE, CB, S, RT, DT and maybe LB.

Agree on BPA, but anyone of those I chose probably could be around the time they pick.

Patterson is an upgrade on Lucky. He showed flashes in the past as a receiver.

 

[rpntex]

watch

Oh, we will all be watching.

The ONLY "1" Dallas gets for Romo would be a conditional pick in 2018. They'll get a 3rd (or 4th) this year, and a conditional 3rd in the 2018 draft. That could escalate to a 2nd or 1st, dependent upon Romo's performance in 2017.

 

[rpntex]

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

This what I see happening. Of course, the pick won't come until 2018 in this scenario.

 

[xwalker]

Agree on BPA, but anyone of those I chose probably could be around the time they pick.

Patterson is an upgrade on Lucky. He showed flashes in the past as a receiver.

Still have to have Lucky or somebody as the punt returner. Patterson is KR only.