BTB: Top Ten Highest Paid Cowboys In 2017: Are They Worth It?

[RS12]

#1 Tony Romo, 2017 Cap Hit: $24.7 M
It’s odd how things can drastically change in such a short amount of time. The size of Romo’s contract has been a topic of debate ever since he signed a $108 million extension back in 2013. When healthy, he’s certainly one of the better quarterbacks in the league and he’s been worth every penny for a Cowboys team that has relied on him heavily to compete from season to season. But things are different now. For starters, he’s had trouble staying healthy which makes him an expensive sideline commodity. And after his last injury opened the door for the Dak Prescott era to commence, his importance to the team has severely diminished.

Is he worth it?

No. We all love Romo, but regardless of where you stand in the Tony vs. Dak debate, his value over his replacement is nowhere remotely close to the cost that it would take to keep him on the roster.


#2 Dez Bryant, 2017 Cap Hit: $17 M
The stock price of Bryant has fluctuated throughout his entire career. There was a point where he was a wild card and some were unsure if he’d materialize into the star the Cowboys were hoping. But then in 2012, he dominated with three straight seasons of at least 88 catches, 1,200 yards, and 12 touchdowns, including a franchise record 16 TDs in 2014. That production earned him a five-year, $70 M deal.

And as luck would have it, as soon as he signed that lucrative deal, he would have trouble staying healthy. He’s missed a total of ten games spread out over the last two seasons, making some fans question is value.

Is he worth it?

Yeah. He’s an All-Pro and 3x Pro Bowler and when he’s on the field - he’s spectacular. Even with the recent injuries, he’s still played in 87 percent of the games during his seven-year career. He’s only 28 and with three years left on his deal, the Cowboys are still getting him during his prime years.


#3 Tyron Smith, Cap Hit: $15.8 M
There is not much to talk about here. Smith is a 2x All-Pro, 4x Pro Bowler, and arguably the best left tackle in the league. He did miss three games last year due to injury, but that was a fluke as he’s only missed one other game during his entire six-year career. He’s a seasoned veteran who’s still only 26 years old. The Cowboys hit the jackpot with Smith.

Is he worth it?

Absolutely.

#4 Travis Frederick, Cap Hit: $14.8 M
While that 2017 cap hit figure will drop considerably with a looming restructure, his average cost is just under $10 M. Like both Dez and Tyron, Frederick is also an All-Pro and multi-year Pro Bowler.

Is he worth it?

You betcha. He’s been a stellar center from the moment he arrived in Dallas and after the way he played last season, he still looks like a bargain.

#5 Sean Lee, Cap Hit: $12.4 M

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2017...worth-it-tony-romo-dez-bryant-ezekiel-elliott

 

[gmoney112]

I hate when people use "Cap hit". It gives the impression that if you just move on from that player, that's what you save.

The only thing that matters when keeping a player is his salary. The cap hit is largely just an accounting from working the cap to your advantage.

Your best players should have abnormally large cap hits. That means you're doing it right.

 

[unionjack8]

tyrone Crawford - NO!

 

[xwalker]

I hate when people use "Cap hit". It gives the impression that if you just move on from that player, that's what you save.

The only thing that matters when keeping a player is his salary. The cap hit is largely just an accounting from working the cap to your advantage.

Your best players should have abnormally large cap hits. That means you're doing it right.

I had the same thought.

Here are the top players:

By Average Salary:
$18,000,000 Tony Romo
$14,000,000 Dez Bryant
$12,200,000 Tyron Smith
$9,400,010 Travis Frederick
$9,000,000 Tyrone Crawford
$7,400,000 Jason Witten
$7,000,000 Sean Lee
$6,239,085 Ezekiel Elliott
$5,000,000 Doug Free
$4,250,000 Cedric Thornton
$3,800,000 Orlando Scandrick


By 2017 Salary:
$14,221,000 Travis Frederick
$14,000,000 Tony Romo
$13,000,000 Dez Bryant
$10,000,000 Tyron Smith
$9,000,000 Sean Lee
$7,400,000 Jason Witten
$7,250,000 Tyrone Crawford
$5,000,000 Doug Free
$3,500,000 Cole Beasley
$3,200,000 Dan Bailey
$3,000,000 Orlando Scandrick
$3,000,000 Cedric Thornton
$2,250,000 James Hanna
$1,642,881 Zack Martin
$1,584,379 Ezekiel Elliott
$1,500,000 Benson Mayowa
$1,500,000 Chris Jones
$1,471,000 Jeff Heath
$1,250,000 Kyle Wilber
$1,216,994 Byron Jones
$1,200,000 Alfred Morris
$1,170,906 Demarcus Lawrence
$1,100,000 LP Ladouceur

 

[ShiningStar]

he just said what people already know. Only the delusional got sucked into Tyrone Crawford. Doug Free is a continued link and their defense is "who would you replace him with"? Now if they keep Dunbar another season, they are proving they dont care anymore.

 

[Alexander]

I hate when people use "Cap hit". It gives the impression that if you just move on from that player, that's what you save.

The only thing that matters when keeping a player is his salary. The cap hit is largely just an accounting from working the cap to your advantage.

Your best players should have abnormally large cap hits. That means you're doing it right.

But when your best players are mediocre, then you are not doing it right.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Thornton I can live without. I was really excited to get him also. But he shown next to nothing. This may offend, but if you look at $$ vs production. Crawford, Witten and Free should be examined for replacements. Id even dangle Free or Craw as draft day trade options

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I had the same thought.

Here are the top players:

By Average Salary:
$18,000,000 Tony Romo
$14,000,000 Dez Bryant
$12,200,000 Tyron Smith
$9,400,010 Travis Frederick
$9,000,000 Tyrone Crawford
$7,400,000 Jason Witten
$7,000,000 Sean Lee
$6,239,085 Ezekiel Elliott
$5,000,000 Doug Free
$4,250,000 Cedric Thornton
$3,800,000 Orlando Scandrick


By 2017 Salary:
$14,221,000 Travis Frederick
$14,000,000 Tony Romo
$13,000,000 Dez Bryant
$10,000,000 Tyron Smith
$9,000,000 Sean Lee
$7,400,000 Jason Witten
$7,250,000 Tyrone Crawford
$5,000,000 Doug Free
$3,500,000 Cole Beasley
$3,200,000 Dan Bailey
$3,000,000 Orlando Scandrick
$3,000,000 Cedric Thornton
$2,250,000 James Hanna
$1,642,881 Zack Martin
$1,584,379 Ezekiel Elliott
$1,500,000 Benson Mayowa
$1,500,000 Chris Jones
$1,471,000 Jeff Heath
$1,250,000 Kyle Wilber
$1,216,994 Byron Jones
$1,200,000 Alfred Morris
$1,170,906 Demarcus Lawrence
$1,100,000 LP Ladouceur

Even using just average annual salary is misleading. Not every contract is structured the same way and many are never meant to reach maturity.

To really figure out who are the Cowboys highest paid players you'd need to review each contract and extrapolate the desired intent and likelihood of completion.

At any rate using salary is MUCH more reasonable than cap hit. People fundamentally don't understand what they are looking at when they see a players cap hit. And they never appreciate how much lower it was in the early years and accrue some positive benefits to the team from that. I feel like I've had to say this a lot this offseason.

 

[jterrell]

tough to figure it either way.
cap hit come june 2nd is probably most accurate way.

average annual salary is even more misleading than the misleading cap hit... lol.

a guy that has a 20m base then was given an 18m bonus and now has a 6m cap hit is ranked about 20th... whereas he just got paid the most of anyone on the team in the present year.

 

[haleyrules]

Crawford...wth. Big waste of resourses. He is the very definition of average or slightly less

 

[jterrell]

Even using just average annual salary is misleading. Not every contract is structured the same way and many are never meant to reach maturity.

To really figure out who are the Cowboys highest paid players you'd need to review each contract and extrapolate the desired intent and likelihood of completion.

At any rate using salary is MUCH more reasonable than cap hit. People fundamentally don't understand what they are looking at when they see a players cap hit. And they never appreciate how much lower it was in the early years and accrue some positive benefits to the team from that. I feel like I've had to say this a lot this offseason.

for THIS type discussion CAP hit and BASE should BOTH be included but I'm guessing BTB would argue that confuses the readers.
as you note it is more complex and not that that simple as you weigh worth versus possible savings.

Doug Free is very worth cutting if we are confident we can get reasonable RT play elsewhere.
His 7.5 cap hit is too rich for his one dimensional run blocking and he'd free up 5 million dollars.

Ty Craw is a bit tougher call. You'd have to waive him POST June 2nd to save ANY money but post June 2nd designation could free up 7 million dollars!
BUT... TC has injury guarantees and who knows if this dude could pass a physical. You might have to eat that 7.25m base for 2017 anyways.....

 

[haleyrules]

Thornton I can live without. I was really excited to get him also. But he shown next to nothing. This may offend, but if you look at $$ vs production. Crawford, Witten and Free should be examined for replacements. Id even dangle Free or Craw as draft day trade options

Agreed. Hard to trade these mostly used up players. Could get something for Free. He is competent run blocker. Witten should retire a Cowboy. He has been too loyal and great to dump in a for nothing trade. He should be a Cowboy to the end.

 

[StarBoyz83]

for THIS type discussion CAP hit and BASE should BOTH be included but I'm guessing BTB would argue that confuses the readers.
as you note it is more complex and not that that simple as you weigh worth versus possible savings.

Doug Free is very worth cutting if we are confident we can get reasonable RT play elsewhere.
His 7.5 cap hit is too rich for his one dimensional run blocking and he'd free up 5 million dollars.

Ty Craw is a bit tougher call. You'd have to waive him POST June 2nd to save ANY money but post June 2nd designation could free up 7 million dollars!
BUT... TC has injury guarantees and who knows if this dude could pass a physical. You might have to eat that 7.25m base for 2017 anyways.....

They gambled on Crawford thinking they could get him for cheaper thinking he'd blow up. He didn't so now it seems they're stuck over paying him for a few years unfortunately.