Armchair GMs, what do you do to salvage next year?

[Uncle_Hank]

First off, I'm using Over the Cap for my numbers. Their salary cap calculator is a handy tool: https://overthecap.com/calculator/dallas-cowboys/

As it stands now, the team will have about $21,385,798 in cap space next year. It's going to cost $37 million or something like that just to tag Dak. That puts the Cowboys in a really bad negotiating position and an even worse cap position. Like, really bad. So what do you do?

1. First off, you cut Dontari Poe as fast as you possibly can. That's going to net you an instant $4 million in savings.

2. According to the cap calculator, trading Amari Cooper for whatever you can get will net you an extra $14 million against the cap since the other team will be taking on his base salary.

3. Here's where it gets controversial. You've got guaranteed base salaries for Lawrence and Elliot, meaning you have to pay them whether they're on the team or not. Next year is going to be a salary cap anomaly, so you might as well bite the bullet and restructure those salaries to push the hit into future years. Not ideal, but there really isn't any other option.

The Cowboys salary cap grand total after making those moves? $60,217,548 plus whatever you got for Amari.

Not a bad haul. Probably not enough to fill enough holes to be competitive, but not a bad haul.

 

[sunalsorises]

Amari Cooper does seem dispensable. They’d have to trade him now, though, I think. I’d honestly fire McCarthy. Get an interim in there now. It would put players on notice as well. Whoever can’t play under the interim coach is gone in the off season.

 

[fishspill]

First, you gotta decide if you didn’t make a huge mistake on your coaching hire. If you’re gonna stick with him then you start culling those who aren’t on board with him.
Second, the OL and Zeke model is done. Flush it. Get what you can for some pieces and let most of the others go. You don’t have to get rid of everyone but sell early and regret for a year instead of late and regret for 4 years.
Third, you are going with Dak or you are going with a wildcard, be it a draft pick or FA. Pick one and start the process.
Fourth, don’t do anything stupid like lose out on picking in the top 5 of every round to win 1-3 more games. I don’t think this will be an issue but the WRs are so good you might accidental do this despite the rest of the team being a MASH unit or dumpster fire.
Fifth, don’t give a damn about what some jabroni on a message board has to say about building an NFL winner because that dude has no clue on how to do that.

 

[Uncle_Hank]

Amari Cooper does seem dispensable. They’d have to trade him now, though, I think. I’d honestly fire McCarthy. Get an interim in there now. It would put players in notice as well. Whoever can’t play under the interim coach is gone in the off season.

Not sure you get to be your interim coach though, unless you want to make a splash and hire Urban Meyer just for the drama. Sounds like a total Jerry move, honestly.

 

[Lutonio]

You don’t salvage next year. You set expectations and clearly define it as a rebuilding year.

 

[StuckMojo]

I’m not sold on this coaching staff. Didn’t want MM but with all the injuries I think he gets a pass.

 

[USArmyVet]

First off, I'm using Over the Cap for my numbers. Their salary cap calculator is a handy tool: https://overthecap.com/calculator/dallas-cowboys/

As it stands now, the team will have about $21,385,798 in cap space next year. It's going to cost $37 million or something like that just to tag Dak. That puts the Cowboys in a really bad negotiating position and an even worse cap position. Like, really bad. So what do you do?

1. First off, you cut Dontari Poe as fast as you possibly can. That's going to net you an instant $4 million in savings.

2. According to the cap calculator, trading Amari Cooper for whatever you can get will net you an extra $14 million against the cap since the other team will be taking on his base salary.

3. Here's where it gets controversial. You've got guaranteed base salaries for Lawrence and Elliot, meaning you have to pay them whether they're on the team or not. Next year is going to be a salary cap anomaly, so you might as well bite the bullet and restructure those salaries to push the hit into future years. Not ideal, but there really isn't any other option.

The Cowboys salary cap grand total after making those moves? $60,217,548 plus whatever you got for Amari.

Not a bad haul. Probably not enough to fill enough holes to be competitive, but not a bad haul.

Cooper's cap hit for 2020 is $12M with $40M in dead money so Dallas would eat $28M if they traded Cooper which they can't do. He is on the team through the end of the 2021 season, just like Zeke, Jaylon Smith, and DeMarcus Lawrence so Dallas is stuck with heartless me first players through the end of next year.

 

[acr731]

Not sure you get to be your interim coach though, unless you want to make a splash and hire Urban Meyer just for the drama. Sounds like a total Jerry move, honestly.

Jerry should have done that in the first place. The hiring of MM was way too fast and Jerry obviously put no thought whatsoever into the process.

 

[nightrain]

Someone like Jeff Bezos needs to make a ridiculous offer to Jerry for the team and rescue the organization, its fans and the DFW community from this sickening experience.

 

[Chuck 54]

2021?
I sign Dak, and the rest of the offense and backups are set.
I draft all defense, making sure I get a DT early, another DT grinder mid-rounds, another CB or 2, a safety or 2, at least 1 competitive LB.

 

[Creeper]

First off, I'm using Over the Cap for my numbers. Their salary cap calculator is a handy tool: https://overthecap.com/calculator/dallas-cowboys/

As it stands now, the team will have about $21,385,798 in cap space next year. It's going to cost $37 million or something like that just to tag Dak. That puts the Cowboys in a really bad negotiating position and an even worse cap position. Like, really bad. So what do you do?

1. First off, you cut Dontari Poe as fast as you possibly can. That's going to net you an instant $4 million in savings.

2. According to the cap calculator, trading Amari Cooper for whatever you can get will net you an extra $14 million against the cap since the other team will be taking on his base salary.

3. Here's where it gets controversial. You've got guaranteed base salaries for Lawrence and Elliot, meaning you have to pay them whether they're on the team or not. Next year is going to be a salary cap anomaly, so you might as well bite the bullet and restructure those salaries to push the hit into future years. Not ideal, but there really isn't any other option.

The Cowboys salary cap grand total after making those moves? $60,217,548 plus whatever you got for Amari.

Not a bad haul. Probably not enough to fill enough holes to be competitive, but not a bad haul.

The right move is to either sign Dak to a long term deal that is cap friendly in 2021 or let him go to another team. Restructuring Zeke and Lawrence makes a bad situation worse. I would only restructure guys I can depend on for the next couple of years. Knowing they had to sign Dak I have no idea why they did Zeke first, and Jaylon Smith. Dumb. After 2021, they can start shedding the bad contracts on or two at a time. But they have problems with their own free agents next year too. They better hope Diggs and Robinson turn out to be okay because they are screwed otherwise.

 

[Ranched]

I’d honestly fire McCarthy.

 

[MysteryIceGuro]

AmariChill GM would be the best GM, I think we can all agree. Nevermind the cap for now. We need to get this culture situated, or it won’t matter who we bring in.

First order of business, get Jerry Jones and his family as far away from this team as possible. I say we give him another highly known team. Hell, sell this man the Yankees or some high valued Soccer time. He’ll bite and leave.

2nd order, Operation: Kill the Culture. Get rid of McCarthy, Nolan, and Kellen. Cut Crawford, Poe, and Griffen it try to trade them. Even give Zeke a little scare. Let everyone know they aren’t safe. Find the toughest, most rigid coach currently on staff and make him interim head coach. Let these mfos know their place. Bring up Jaylon, Zeke, and D-Law and let them know, I WILL cut them, regardless of their dead cap if their production doesn’t go up.

3rd order: operation, trade up. Trade away all pieces we can. I want the team to lose, of course, but I still want to see effort and fight. At least give me close losses to show you were in the game. With that, I try to get in the top 3 picks. With that, we can trade down. I begin to scout to fix this D-line. Win in the trenches, win the game. We need a good, fast DT. Then, a good S to help in the secondary. Then an LB, CB, and DE to help. Lastly, I’ll draft an OL just in case Tyron goes down. Knight can stay. Cut Steele. We can begin scouting players now.

 

[John813]

Cooper's cap hit for 2020 is $12M with $40M in dead money so Dallas would eat $28M if they traded Cooper which they can't do. He is on the team through the end of the 2021 season, just like Zeke, Jaylon Smith, and DeMarcus Lawrence so Dallas is stuck with heartless me first players through the end of next year.

Nope. Its guaranteed base of 20 mil which means it travels with him if traded. Prorated bonuses are the only dead cap if traded. 8mil dead cap if traded pre June 1st

 

[J817]

Someone like Jeff Bezos needs to make a ridiculous offer to Jerry for the team and rescue the organization, its fans and the DFW community from this sickening experience.

Im thinking someone from the Walton family or a former American Arlines, AT&T CEO maybe. Someone who wants that Dallas celebrity spot light. It will be $10 billion or more to pull it off.

 

[sunalsorises]

Someone like Jeff Bezos needs to make a ridiculous offer to Jerry for the team and rescue the organization, its fans and the DFW community from this sickening experience.

no way Jerry sells for any price. The Cowboys is Jerry’s identity which is also why he will never let someone else truly run the team.

 

[jrumann59]

Go young. To be honest. Cut Poe, get looks at the young rotational pieces. OL depth next year will be good. See if you have an heir apparent to to T. Smith, if not draft a guy that can project to LT. Get the Dorance Armstrongs, Bradlee Anae, Gallimores and Hills more playing time. Time to see what Ceedee can do on the outside, keep playing Schultz see what you got either use him as a trade piece or Jarwin as a trade piece. He was supposed to be the superior blocker of the two and his guy was responsible for strip sack. Find a DB ont he roster to start opposite of Diggs. At safety yeah they will need to battle through and draft or trade for one. the LBs Smith and LVE for at least 1 more year but might as well find replacements for one or both that can step in and at least play the 3rd LB in a base 4-3.

 

[nightrain]

no way Jerry sells for any price. The Cowboys is Jerry’s identity which is also why he will never let someone else truly run the team.

Well, his identity's no more than a turd in a pond these days.

 

[tico]

Dump the Garrett boys or hott boys whatever

 

[eromeopolk]

2021?
I sign Dak, and the rest of the offense and backups are set.
I draft all defense, making sure I get a DT early, another DT grinder mid-rounds, another CB or 2, a safety or 2, at least 1 competitive LB.

You are the only one that lead off with GM 101. Sign your franchise QB long term. Then invest in your defensive line and secondary.

I would go back to a 4-3 Defense as we do not have the personnel to run a 3-4 no way shape or form. Hybirds defense are like hybird cars...they suck.