Any chance Jerry uses the first 1st rounder on Jeremiyah Love?

[rambo2]

I really want to use both of our firsts on defenses. That would make the fourth round our earliest opportunity to take a RB.

The downside of the trades for Q and GP

They probably need a 2nd round back or maybe just sign the 2 backs that we are using now. Before you say it, I know that they currently don't have a 2nd round pick.

 

[Kwyn]

He's on the roster already. If you sign him in the offseason it's status quo (and they should try to bring him back).

The point people are making and have made for years about the Cowboys and their failures in FA is that they do not spend money to try to improve a position with an outside FA. Like despite having a clear need at LB, they likely won't spend on a quality FA LB. They'll sign some JAG and hope he works out. Going out and re-signing Pickens and then trying to tell us that's a big time FA signing is really more of the disingenuous excuse making we get from the homers.

How little self respect does one have to have to continually make excuses for Jerry? It's so weird to me.

We all understand what you are saying. It’s not a crazy idea. You see free agency as external talent to be added to the current roster.

Thats just half of free agency and refusing to acknowledge the other half, and half is a serious understatement, is just demanding the entire process be cast aside and redefined as you decide it should be.

The entire point of free agency is that the end of the season these players are no longer on your team. They are free (except a few RFA’s)

There is no arguing that they aren’t FAs.

You either find money to resign them or you choose to let them go.

The rest of this is just for my entertainment …

The Cowboys are currently dead last in available cap room in 2026. We’re at negative $46m

And that’s only accounting for 44 players.

So, you need 9 players just to have 53.

We have seven draft picks, but let’s assume we’ll just keep the two firsts and three fifths. That leaves room for four and a few more for padding for practice squad and injury stashing.

Pickens - FA signing
Aubrey - FA signing
Williams (or external or draft)
Clowney (or external or draft)
Bass (or external or draft)
Hoffman (or external or draft)
Wilson (or external or draft)

Every one of those is more negative cap.

And, if you want a big splashy free agents, that’s $20m

We’re now probably $80-$90m over the cap before we restructure Dak, CeeDee, Quennin, Clark and cut Steele and Diggs.

So, while seeing that one or two splashy free agents as being the entire point of it, that’s really just a small part and ignoring the rest, like Pickens, is silly.

​

Player	Pos.				Snaps	Age	Current APY
Kenneth Murray	LB				94.2%	28	$7,750,000
Donovan Wilson	S				76.5%	31	$7,000,000
Dante Fowler Jr.	EDGE				33.3%	32	$6,000,000
Robert Jones	RG				0.0%	27	$3,750,000
Jadeveon Clowney	EDGE				27.7%	33	$3,500,000
Kaiir Elam	CB				67.8%	25	$3,422,703
Javonte Williams	RB				75.0%	26	$3,000,000
Payton Turner	EDGE				0.0%	27	$2,500,000
George Pickens	WR				83.7%	25	$1,688,047
Sam Williams	EDGE				45.9%	27	$1,556,064
Jack Sanborn	LB				33.9%	26	$1,500,000
Miles Sanders	RB				9.5%	29	$1,337,500
Jalen Tolbert	WR				53.9%	27	$1,283,930
C.J. Goodwin	CB				0.0%	36	$1,255,000
Hakeem Adeniji	LT				9.1%	29	$1,170,000
Brock Hoffman	RG				60.8%	27	$1,100,000
Juanyeh Thomas	S				39.2%	26	$1,030,000
Damone Clark	LB				11.7%	26	$975,639
T.J. Bass	RG				28.6%	27	$901,667
John Stephens	WR				0.0%	27	$899,333
Brandon Aubrey	K				39.8%	31	$898,333
Josh Butler	CB				0.0%	30	$877,500
Reddy Steward	CB				41.4%	25	$840,000

 

[Kwyn]

Who should they sign? Give us some names

Here are a few to consider

LB - Devin Lloyd, Devin Bush
S - Jaylin Hawkins, Quentin Lake
CB - Alontae Taylor, Jaylen Watson
Edge - Jaelyn Phillips
RB - Breece Hall

 

[rambo2]

Here are a few to consider

LB - Devin Lloyd, Devin Bush
S - Jaylin Hawkins, Quentin Lake
CB - Alontae Taylor, Jaylen Watson
Edge - Jaelyn Phillips
RB - Breece Hall

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Sydla]

I don't defend Jerry. If you don't understand the definition of a FA that is your problem.

I understand the definition. I am calling out the disingenuous claim of signing a guy who was on your roster the previous season as being active in FA. It's not. Signing a guy you already had on your roster is status quo. It completely misses the point of the criticism of Jerry and Stephen and their ignoring of FA to make the team better.

Your obtuseness here though is very entertaining.

 

[Chasing6]

I understand the definition. I am calling out the disingenuous claim of signing a guy who was on your roster the previous season as being active in FA. It's not. Signing a guy you already had on your roster is status quo. It completely misses the point of the criticism of Jerry and Stephen and their ignoring of FA to make the team better.

Your obtuseness here though is very entertaining.

Is it status quo if we let him walk?

 

[Sydla]

We all understand what you are saying. It’s not a crazy idea. You see free agency as external talent to be added to the current roster.

Thats just half of free agency and refusing to acknowledge the other half, and half is a serious understatement, is just demanding the entire process be cast aside and redefined as you decide it should be.

The entire point of free agency is that the end of the season these players are no longer on your team. They are free (except a few RFA’s)

There is no arguing that they aren’t FAs.

You either find money to resign them or you choose to let them go.

The rest of this is just for my entertainment …

The Cowboys are currently dead last in available cap room in 2026. We’re at negative $46m

And that’s only accounting for 44 players.

So, you need 9 players just to have 53.

We have seven draft picks, but let’s assume we’ll just keep the two firsts and three fifths. That leaves room for four and a few more for padding for practice squad and injury stashing.

Pickens - FA signing
Aubrey - FA signing
Williams (or external or draft)
Clowney (or external or draft)
Bass (or external or draft)
Hoffman (or external or draft)
Wilson (or external or draft)

Every one of those is more negative cap.

And, if you want a big splashy free agents, that’s $20m

We’re now probably $80-$90m over the cap before we restructure Dak, CeeDee, Quennin, Clark and cut Steele and Diggs.

So, while seeing that one or two splashy free agents as being the entire point of it, that’s really just a small part and ignoring the rest, like Pickens, is silly.

​

Player	Pos.				Snaps	Age	Current APY
Kenneth Murray	LB				94.2%	28	$7,750,000
Donovan Wilson	S				76.5%	31	$7,000,000
Dante Fowler Jr.	EDGE				33.3%	32	$6,000,000
Robert Jones	RG				0.0%	27	$3,750,000
Jadeveon Clowney	EDGE				27.7%	33	$3,500,000
Kaiir Elam	CB				67.8%	25	$3,422,703
Javonte Williams	RB				75.0%	26	$3,000,000
Payton Turner	EDGE				0.0%	27	$2,500,000
George Pickens	WR				83.7%	25	$1,688,047
Sam Williams	EDGE				45.9%	27	$1,556,064
Jack Sanborn	LB				33.9%	26	$1,500,000
Miles Sanders	RB				9.5%	29	$1,337,500
Jalen Tolbert	WR				53.9%	27	$1,283,930
C.J. Goodwin	CB				0.0%	36	$1,255,000
Hakeem Adeniji	LT				9.1%	29	$1,170,000
Brock Hoffman	RG				60.8%	27	$1,100,000
Juanyeh Thomas	S				39.2%	26	$1,030,000
Damone Clark	LB				11.7%	26	$975,639
T.J. Bass	RG				28.6%	27	$901,667
John Stephens	WR				0.0%	27	$899,333
Brandon Aubrey	K				39.8%	31	$898,333
Josh Butler	CB				0.0%	30	$877,500
Reddy Steward	CB				41.4%	25	$840,000

It's really not that hard.

Claiming signing a guy who was a part of the team that just ended the season as being active and using FA to improve the team is disingenuous. This team does not have a problem with signing guys they had on the roster.

What they largely do other than bargain bin shopping is ignoring outside FAs that can be used to fill a clear hole from the previous season.

 

[Sydla]

Is it status quo if we let him walk?

The criticism of Jerry is that he and his son largely refuse to spend any money on OUTSIDE FAs. Pickens isn't an outside FA. We could literally sign him today if we wanted. The fact Jerry would wait to sign him after the start of the 2026 league year shouldn't then get him a pass on the criticism that he and his son largely ignore FA to make the team better.

Your entire premise is tied to a calendar. That's it.

So to be clear, if they signed Pickens today and then did nothing in FA again, you'd agree that we largely ignored FA as a means to improve. But if they wait and sign Pickens on March 11, 2026 at 4:01PM, you'll then claim that Jerry was active in FA and the criticism of him is unfair.

LOL.

 

[Chasing6]

It's really not that hard.

Claiming signing a guy who was a part of the team that just ended the season as being active and using FA to improve the team is disingenuous. This team does not have a problem with signing guys they had on the roster.

What they largely do other than bargain bin shopping is ignoring outside FAs that can be used to fill a clear hole from the previous season.

They prefer to sign there own FA's over someone else's. In that scenario they are still FA's. Jerry for some reason thinks he saves money by out bidding other teams, instead of locking them up before FA starts.

 

[Sydla]

They prefer to sign there own FA's over someone else's. In that scenario they are still FA's. Jerry for some reason thinks he saves money by out bidding other teams, instead of locking them up before FA starts.

But the point that people are making is Jerry and his son do not use FA to improve the team. Signing Pickens at 4:01PM on March 11 doesn't improve the team. It's the status quo. But guess what also keeps the status quo? Signing Pickens today.

This entire argument is simply based on the calendar. That's it.

So to argue that signing Pickens after FA starts is proof Jerry is active in FA is really disingenuous and misses the point people make about how Jerry and his son use FA.

PS - Don't read my post as saying they shouldn't resign Pickens. They should. Frankly, they should be working on an extension now. But again, giving Jerry credit for being active in FA if he signs the guy he had on his roster in January is just disingenuous.

 

[Sydla]

Like the running back position. Our running back was a free agent and so were some of our edge rushers.

Our RB was a bargain bin signing that worked out. We can sit here and list the dozens and dozens of cheap acquisitions that fail.

You aren't arguing that how we handle FA is smart, are you?

 

[Chasing6]

But the point that people are making is Jerry and his son do not use FA to improve the team. Signing Pickens at 4:01PM on March 11 doesn't improve the team. It's the status quo. But guess what also keeps the status quo? Signing Pickens today.

This entire argument is simply based on the calendar. That's it.

So to argue that signing Pickens after FA starts is proof Jerry is active in FA is really disingenuous and misses the point people make about how Jerry and his son use FA.

PS - Don't read my post as saying they shouldn't resign Pickens. They should. Frankly, they should be working on an extension now. But again, giving Jerry credit for being active in FA if he signs the guy he had on his roster in January is just disingenuous.

Yes it does, because at 4:00:30 he was not on the team.

 

[Sydla]

Yes it does, because at 4:00:30 he was not on the team.

It's still disingenuous. It's absolutely not being active in FA.

Further, it's likely pretty stupid but Jerry has never been one to do things the wise way.

 

[rambo2]

It's still disingenuous. It's absolutely not being active in FA.

Further, it's likely pretty stupid but Jerry has never been one to do things the wise way.

You are right, but they have made some very good moves this year.

 

[Kwyn]

It's really not that hard.

Claiming signing a guy who was a part of the team that just ended the season as being active and using FA to improve the team is disingenuous. This team does not have a problem with signing guys they had on the roster.

What they largely do other than bargain bin shopping is ignoring outside FAs that can be used to fill a clear hole from the previous season.

You make it sound like there’s no practical reality to keeping our own free agents. As if there’s no decision invoked

If your argument is that the Cowboys should go out and spend on other teams free agents at the expense of losing some of our own, then fine. But you have to start talking about who we lose

There’s no free ride

You want a $15m and a $10m free agent from another team? Identify $25m in current Cowboy free agents you are willing to let go.

Or, more importantly, determine the dollar amount of the cap is devoted to free agency, chop $25m off, and then divvy up the rest.

If Pickens is part of your plan, be ready to make some other serious sacrifices. Like Aubrey for instance.

 

[gtb1943]

You make it sound like there’s no practical reality to keeping our own free agents. As if there’s no decision invoked

If your argument is that the Cowboys should go out and spend on other teams free agents at the expense of losing some of our own, then fine. But you have to start talking about who we lose

There’s no free ride

You want a $15m and a $10m free agent from another team? Identify $25m in current Cowboy free agents you are willing to let go.

Or, more importantly, determine the dollar amount of the cap is devoted to free agency, chop $25m off, and then divvy up the rest.

If Pickens is part of your plan, be ready to make some other serious sacrifices. Like Aubrey for instance.

now that is BS. The money can be found; teams do it all the time.
Only Natural Gas Man does not do it.
every year the Cowboys carry over more Cap Money then virtually any other team. That is a symptom right there.

 

[Sydla]

You make it sound like there’s no practical reality to keeping our own free agents. As if there’s no decision invoked

If your argument is that the Cowboys should go out and spend on other teams free agents at the expense of losing some of our own, then fine. But you have to start talking about who we lose

There’s no free ride

You want a $15m and a $10m free agent from another team? Identify $25m in current Cowboy free agents you are willing to let go.

Or, more importantly, determine the dollar amount of the cap is devoted to free agency, chop $25m off, and then divvy up the rest.

If Pickens is part of your plan, be ready to make some other serious sacrifices. Like Aubrey for instance.

And yet somehow other teams can do it.

The idea it’s Pickens or other players in FA is flawed. But also continues to miss the larger point.

 

[rambo2]

Let's say it outside the top 10 .......11-15 range

BTW......I'm starting to think they could target LBer or CB with the 2nd, 1st.

In the 11 to 15 range, yes absolutely Love could be the pick. Say the Cowboys have pick 11, they could take Love there or trade back to 14 and take him.

 

[zekecowboy]

There is nothing funnier watching the homers claim signing one of our own guys is being active in FA.

I agree with Sydia. Resigning a player on your team is not participating in free agency. You use free agency to improve your team to replace weak players/holes on your team.

I really wonder if some of these homers are getting paid to post positive comments. Either that or angling to become a monitor of CBZ.

 

[zekecowboy]

I am saying signing a FA is signing a FA.

In football, free agency is a system where players with expiring contracts become available to sign with any team in the league. Unlike trades, which happen between two teams, free agency allows a player to move to a new team without compensation going to their old team if they are an unrestricted free agent.