News: Archer: Cowboys' 2018 free-agent class might not have staying power, either

[Alexander]

Cowboys' 2018 free-agent class might not have staying power, either
8:00 AM ET

• Todd ArcherESPN Staff Writer

FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys had 18 unrestricted free agents when the market opened, and 11 of them have departed.

Only Terrance Williams, Brice Butler, Darren McFadden, Jonathan Cooper and Kellen Moore re-signed with the Cowboys. Williams was a surprising return with a four-year, $17 million deal. McFadden and Moore returned on minimum-salary benefit contracts with a combined $180,000 in guaranteed money.

Barry Church, Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, J.J. Wilcox, Terrell McClain, Jack Crawford, Ronald Leary, Ryan Davis, Mark Sanchez, Lance Dunbar and Gavin Escobar left for better opportunities, more money or both.

Only two unrestricted free agents remain unsigned -- linebackers Andrew Gachkar and Justin Durant -- and neither is expected to return.

With 2017 class of free agents largely settled, what will the Cowboys’ 2018 class of free agents look like, and how many of them will return?

DeMarcus Lawrence, Alfred Morris, Joe Looney, Anthony Hitchens, Kyle Wilber, Leon McFadden, Chris Jones, L.P. Ladouceur, Jonathan Cooper, Darren McFadden, Moore, Stephen Paea and Byron Bell are scheduled to be free agents. Free-agent pickup Nolan Carroll could be added to the list if the Cowboys choose not to pick up his 2018 option.

http://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cow...ent-class-might-not-have-staying-power-either

 

[Risen Star]

Put up or shut up year for Lawrence. Last year was a disaster for him. Played too heavy.

 

[jwooten15]

DeMarcus Lawrence, Alfred Morris, Joe Looney, Anthony Hitchens, Kyle Wilber, Leon McFadden, Chris Jones, L.P. Ladouceur, Jonathan Cooper, Darren McFadden, Moore, Stephen Paea and Byron Bell are scheduled to be free agents. Free-agent pickup Nolan Carroll could be added to the list if the Cowboys choose not to pick up his 2018 option.

Depending on how D Law and Cooper perform, it's pretty ironic that the only two guys I'd like to resign on that list are the special teamers. The rest of them? Ehhh.

 

[Daillest88]

Lawrence wasn't right last year. Jerry called him out on it before he even played a snap in the regular season. Unsuccessful back surgery.. I think he will play much better this year, but he will be gone

 

[Stash]

Put up or shut up year for Lawrence. Last year was a disaster for him. Played too heavy.

Until he "puts up" double digit sacks, anybody talking about a new contract for him and that twice-repaired back can "shut up".

 

[Alexander]

Depending on how D Law and Cooper perform, it's pretty ironic that the only two guys I'd like to resign on that list are the special teamers. The rest of them? Ehhh.

You could flush the majority of these players and not feel a thing, some won't even make the team.

Jones is the only one I would take seriously to pitch a contract to and I hardly believe he is irreplaceable.

 

[jwooten15]

You could flush the majority of these players and not feel a thing, some won't even make the team.

Jones is the only one I would take seriously to pitch a contract to and I hardly believe he is irreplaceable.

He's nearly more valuable as the holder on FGs than as a punter. Don't want to mess up that system

 

[Idgit]

Man that's a lot of 'who cares.' We've done a good job of wrapping up special players, but there are a lot of 'guys' on the team still, too.

Shouldn't Zack Martin be on that list though? Not that there's a big question about what to do with him.

 

[ksg811]

Man that's a lot of 'who cares.' We've done a good job of wrapping up special players, but there are a lot of 'guys' on the team still, too.

Shouldn't Zack Martin be on that list though? Not that there's a big question about what to do with him.

They picked up Martin's 5th year option, so he's not a FA until 2019. It's really irrelevant anyway because he's getting an extension soon.

 

[gmoney112]

Put up or shut up year for Lawrence. Last year was a disaster for him. Played too heavy.

I don't know about too heavy, I don't think he was ever really fully healthy, to practice anyway. He was limited in every single practice report last year. Seriously, all season long.

But yeah. Hopefully he's over it. For our sake anyway.

 

[Idgit]

They picked up Martin's 5th year option, so he's not a FA until 2019. It's really irrelevant anyway because he's getting an extension soon.

Ah. Of course they had and would have. I hadn't heard though. I keep expecting to hear that deal getting done here before the start of camp.

 

[Idgit]

I don't know about too heavy, I don't think he was ever really fully healthy, to practice anyway. He was limited in every single practice report last year. Seriously, all season long.

But yeah. Hopefully he's over it. For our sake anyway.

You don't extend a young DE with a history of back surgeries anyway. Unless the market really doesn't like him and he comes back for a one or two year compromise deal, he's a guy you have to let walk. It sucks, because he's one of your better DLs when he's in there, but you can't bet heavily on a bad back and somewhat disappointing production.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

You don't extend a young DE with a history of back surgeries anyway. Unless the market really doesn't like him and he comes back for a one or two year compromise deal, he's a guy you have to let walk. It sucks, because he's one of your better DLs when he's in there, but you can't bet heavily on a bad back and somewhat disappointing production.

If he has a fully healthy season (sans back issues specifically) and notches 8-12 sacks, I'd have no problem bringing him back. I'm not sure it's wise to expect either of those things to happen, much less both.

 

[StarBoyz83]

If he has a fully healthy season (sans back issues specifically) and notches 8-12 sacks, I'd have no problem bringing him back. I'm not sure it's wise to expect either of those things to happen, much less both.

He would have to put up that kind of season in order to be brought back on a cheap one year prove it deal.

 

[Texas_Pete]

Only one lock: Chris Jones. He was lethal last year with the field position he gave our defense. I definitely want him back.

 

[Idgit]

If he has a fully healthy season (sans back issues specifically) and notches 8-12 sacks, I'd have no problem bringing him back. I'm not sure it's wise to expect either of those things to happen, much less both.

It's tempting. As disappointing as its been, I do like the player. But NFL is about avoiding mistakes. It's tough to see a guy his age with a healthy double-digit sack season accepting a contract with guaranteed money I'd be comfortable with. Even Dez' back issues bothered me on his deal, and it's a bigger issue at DE. Two surgeries and a substance abuse suspension....that's a big risk at that position.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

He would have to put up that kind of season in order to be brought back on a cheap one year prove it deal.

I don't agree with that. He would have just "proven" it. And the market would pay him as such.

 

[Idgit]

He would have to put up that kind of season in order to be brought back on a cheap one year prove it deal.

No way. A young DE with double digits on the open market is going to get overpaid by somebody. He'd be beyond prove-it deals at that point. It just shouldn't be us.

 

[Kolemmitt]

DLaw had a lot of things go wrong last year. Suspension, back issues, and he got heavy to play LDE but then they played him at played the RDE. The last half of '15 he was one of the best LDE in the league. I hope they move him back to LDE, move Crawford back to DT, and get a true RDE to play on the other side.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Could be a good thing, this years Draft Class as well as 2018 is tremenously physically talented, Dallas needs to pick the right players, this is crucial.