Very well said sir. There is a lot of overlap in making those decisions.
When you mentioned keeping LVE and some others still on rookie deals, are you thinking of a hybrid of option 1 and 2? I don’t want to put words in your mouth or misunderstand.
I’m really not saying that they will or won’t keep LVE (although I think they probably find a way)... I’m just saying in a broad sense that they’ll keep some of the players that they value highly and others like Jones or Collins will be let go.
Obviously, I’m not privy to what the Cowboys will do, but common sense tells me that they’ll keep the guys they feel like can’t be replaced by draft picks, and will let go some of the players that they feel can be.
For instance: La’el Collins is a solid player but we’ve already likely seen the team’s plans for RT. With the pick of McGovern in the third round, it is likely that this time next year will see Collins on another roster with McGovern at LG and Connor Williams moving out to RT in Dallas... and a compensatory pick coming to help replace others.
I think that, roughly, is the plan for the players that the Cowboys feel aren’t irreplaceable via the draft.
With Jones, it might be to sign the much cheaper Anthony Brown to a contract, let Byron walk, and then play Brown outside and move Lewis into the slot. Then, Jackson, Olumba, or a draft pick from next season would be the 4th corner.
Would that be as good as the Jones/Awuzie/Brown/Lewis combo they now have in Dallas? Probably not, but I don’t think the drop off would be that significant.
And ultimately, I think that is the decision the Cowboys must make. Which good players leaving will create a big drop off, and which players can be replaced without the position falling off a cliff?
Now, is LVE one of those guys that are irreplaceable? Is he a guy that is really good but won’t kill the team by leaving? That, we don’t know. It is the kind of decision that the team will make over and over in the next few years... and the team needs to get it right more often than not.
Clearly, all of this depends on the team continuing to hit on draft picks like they have been. If they do, I think it’s going to keep them in contention for a long time.
If they don’t, then they’ll slide.
I’m not sure if that is option 1 or option 2 in your scenario... but I do think that is how the team will do it moving forward. I also think it is the best way to go as long as there is a salary cap.