Breaking Down The Cowboys' Free Agents: Are There Any "Must Keeps"?

[RS12]

Mackenzy Bernadeau. He is a capable backup for the entire interior of the line. But his price tag will likely go up if the team wishes to retain his services. He may also wish to go somewhere he can compete for a starting job. The team also has Ronald Leary for now, who can play as a guard but is not a proven backup at center. Bernadeau is a hard one to decide on. The team could go either way with him.


Charles Brown. Strictly a depth spot on the roster. He is highly unlikely to stick around.

Matt Cassel. Unless we are all reading things completely wrong, the Cassel era in Dallas has come and gone.

Morris Claiborne. Although he still has some injury issues, 2015 was unquestionably his best year. But his previous injury history has to be a big caution flag on just how big a deal he should be offered. With the team also having to make a decision on Brandon Carr, who is very pricey for his contributions, Claiborne may elect to test the free agent waters before he makes a decision on any offer from Dallas, and given the value of corners in the league, is likely to get a better deal elsewhere.

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...eeps-greg-hardy-rolando-mcclain-jeremy-mincey

 

[Killerinstinct]

Hanna, Dunbar, Jack Crawford, Bernie

Those are the ones I would keep.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Let them all go.

Send a message that mediocrity and nonperformance will no longer be rewarded.

 

[robjay04]

I don't think there are any "must keeps" this season. We need to save money to lock down more of our OL.

I did want to keep Hardy but if the team wants to make a run at Mario Williams instead, it would essentially fill the same void.

 

[FaSho]

Hanna, Dunbar, Jack Crawford, Bernie

Those are the ones I would keep.

I agree. I'd love to keep Ro too, and Claiborne, but only at the right price, which probably isn't likely.

Hanna become more of a must-sign when Escobar broke his anus (or whatever injury he had)

 

[robjay04]

I agree. I'd love to keep Ro too, and Claiborne, but only at the right price, which probably isn't likely.

Hanna become more of a must-sign when Escobar broke his anus (or whatever injury he had)

The more I think about it, it's just time to cut it off with Claiborne. If he played 16 games this season, maybe I will consider it but it was another season for him battling injuries.

Truth is...his injuries started when he was in the process of being roasted by Mike Evans. Before that? He was okay but that could be a product of teams not really testing our pass defense because they didn't have to since we couldn't score points.

I understand that we need corners but we can find some that will offer us more than he has.

 

[Killerinstinct]

I agree. I'd love to keep Ro too, and Claiborne, but only at the right price, which probably isn't likely.

Hanna become more of a must-sign when Escobar broke his anus (or whatever injury he had)

HAHA Damn that is an injury to avoid.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Let them all go.

Send a message that mediocrity and nonperformance will no longer be rewarded.

What? Have you seen Dunbars numbers extrapolated? He was on pace for a great year. You don't walk away from production like that. I get the frustration but let's not jump the shark. He's one of the few explosive players on the roster and I expect him to come back completely healthy.

 

[USMarineVet]

What? Have you seen Dunbars numbers extrapolated? He was on pace for a great year. You don't walk away from production like that. I get the frustration but let's not jump the shark. He's one of the few explosive players on the roster and I expect him to come back completely healthy.

I agree. They finally broke the leash on Dunbar and he was explosive; especially in the short passing game. He added a dimension we've needed for quite some time up until his unfortunate injury. Dunbar's on the top of my list to resign.

 

[KingintheNorth]

What? Have you seen Dunbars numbers extrapolated? He was on pace for a great year. You don't walk away from production like that. I get the frustration but let's not jump the shark. He's one of the few explosive players on the roster and I expect him to come back completely healthy.

Will be more expensive than I would want to pay a #2 (or #3) RB, plus is coming off an injury. Very replaceable.

 

[Hoofbite]

What? Have you seen Dunbars numbers extrapolated? He was on pace for a great year. You don't walk away from production like that. I get the frustration but let's not jump the shark. He's one of the few explosive players on the roster and I expect him to come back completely healthy.

Extrapolations are pointless if you can't suit up. I'd bring him back but not because of any sort of idea about "if he ever stays healthy".

 

[DandyDon1722]

Extrapolations are pointless if you can't suit up. I'd bring him back but not because of any sort of idea about "if he ever stays healthy".

Hoof to be honest I don't understand a single thing of that post.

With that train of thought you might as well exclude every player in the league. It is a game of injuries - it's just the nature of the business you have to accept that. In fact, I believe it's more of an anomaly that you make it through the year not missing any games which leads me to the next point--

Extrapolations are certainly not pointless. How else do you evaluate potential without them? You have to bring him back under the idea that he stays healthy and he deserves to be brought back. BTW - I'm not talking money here I'm talking about production. He's given us enough body of work to work with.

If he wants too much money then of course you look elsewhere but if you start throwing guys like that away in the NFL because of injury you are gonna be in deep trouble.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Will be more expensive than I would want to pay a #2 (or #3) RB, plus is coming off an injury. Very replaceable.

If money is the issue I understand and agree Chris but that's not what you posted. You wanted to send a message of mediocrity and that certainly doesn't apply to Dunbar.

We've gotta be very careful in evaluating who can play and who can't and he's shown enough to warrant keeping him if the price is right.

 

[mattjames2010]

Berny, Claiborne or Carr, Crawford, Dunbar, Hanna, and McClain are who I bring back. I wouldn't mind Mincey, but that's an easy upgrade.

 

[jazzcat22]

Why do some fans give a pass on one player but want another player gone for the same reasons..

I am ready to move on from Dunbar. He is injury prone, just as many say DMC is injury prone. And Lee is made of glass. But yet they say keep Dunbar and Lee, but wanted DMC gone before he had the chance to show he can stay healthy. Now 2 years in a row he has done that.

Now,if they sign Dunbar, I will be fine with that, but they better have a RB in place and be prepared, and to compete with him in TC.

 

[gimmesix]

My must keep on offense is Dunbar.

My want to keeps are Bernadeau (because we don't have a center backup) and Turbin (until we pick up a better RB).

My have to keeps on defense if we don't go after replacements are McClain (need a stud linebacker to pair with Lee), Hardy (need a vet pass rusher at least until the young guys get it figured out), Claiborne (have to have a starting-caliber third corner), Crawford (depth) and Hayden (need to get a better starter AND backup before cutting ties).

 

[mattjames2010]

Why do some fans give a pass on one player but want another player gone for the same reasons..

I am ready to move on from Dunbar. He is injury prone, just as many say DMC is injury prone. And Lee is made of glass. But yet they say keep Dunbar and Lee, but wanted DMC gone before he had the chance to show he can stay healthy. Now 2 years in a row he has done that.

Now,if they sign Dunbar, I will be fine with that, but they better have a RB in place and be prepared, and to compete with him in TC.

Dunbar's placement on the roster will be #3 RB, he's a role player. He got injured during a return, something I don't think he should have been doing in the first place. But he had a key role in this offense, they worked him heavily into the playbook last offseason. You don't just let him walk, especially when he'll be cheap. You're not going to find many RBs with his skill set on the open market, he obviously excels in receiving. People complain about DMC because he's been in this league for 8 years, only had one healthy season before this year, and is taking the bulk of the carries. That's different than Dunbar.

Dunbar is worth the risk, unless you point to an RB with receiving skills like his on the market.

 

[KingintheNorth]

If money is the issue I understand and agree Chris but that's not what you posted. You wanted to send a message of mediocrity and that certainly doesn't apply to Dunbar.

We've gotta be very careful in evaluating who can play and who can't and he's shown enough to warrant keeping him if the price is right.

Overpaying a change-of-pace back would fall under rewarding mediocrity in my books. If his contract demands are reasonable, that changes things.

 

[bodi]

let then all walk

 

[darthseinfeld]

What? Have you seen Dunbars numbers extrapolated? He was on pace for a great year. You don't walk away from production like that. I get the frustration but let's not jump the shark. He's one of the few explosive players on the roster and I expect him to come back completely healthy.

Id bring him back on a one year deal. Doesnt have much a market and well when he had to carry the passing game