Nation
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Romo's cap number is alarming but his base salary for 2015 (17M) was designed to take advantage of the final year of the contract that does not have any money from his original signing bonus amortized against it. With an older player coming off back surgery you wonder if that will be the right thing to do, but that's a question to be answered after the 2014 season.
Orton seems to be playing Bonus Russian Roulette - not wanting to play in 2014, but not wanting to give back any signing bonus money if he retires. It's a concern to me that the backup quarterback is not fully invested, because that's a job you need someone to fully prepare for day-in and day-out without the reward of playing time.
Brandon Weeden costs nothing, which is probably around what he's worth. It's definitely a position they should be investing at least a developmental draft pick in. At the best you get Romo's eventual replacement. At worst you get a cost-efficient backup QB on your roster instead of investing close to 5M a year at a position you are hoping never plays. Teams with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning take the latter approach, and I have no problem doing the same with a team with Tony Romo.
Orton seems to be playing Bonus Russian Roulette - not wanting to play in 2014, but not wanting to give back any signing bonus money if he retires. It's a concern to me that the backup quarterback is not fully invested, because that's a job you need someone to fully prepare for day-in and day-out without the reward of playing time.
Brandon Weeden costs nothing, which is probably around what he's worth. It's definitely a position they should be investing at least a developmental draft pick in. At the best you get Romo's eventual replacement. At worst you get a cost-efficient backup QB on your roster instead of investing close to 5M a year at a position you are hoping never plays. Teams with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning take the latter approach, and I have no problem doing the same with a team with Tony Romo.
If Lance Dunbar shows in 2014 I'd expect him to get a tender as a Right of First Refusal free agent.
Randle at best is an unknown and at worst a "meh" so this isn't a position I'd be shocked to see the Cowboys a 3rd round pick in the next two years if they have legitimate concerns about signing Murray to a contract that works for both parties. This draft is supposed to be deep at running back where you might be able to find that level of talent on the third day of the draft.
As of today, the 2015 free agent receiver class is stacked. It includes Dez, Demaryius Thomas, Jordy Nelson, Crabtree, Maclin, Brandon Marshall, Torrey Smith, Randall Cobb, and Cecil Shorts just for starters. Some of those guys will be signed to contract extension or see a franchise tag, but if Dez were to price himself out of the market there are at least options out there. But at the same time I don't see this as having any potential ending other than a franchise tag or a long term contract, with the latter more likely to me.
As for the other free agents, Dwayne Harris is another story and he may be victim of a stacked free agent class, which hopefully means we can sign him on the cheap as he has been a difference maker on special teams. I'd expect Beasley to see the RFA tag come his way as well. Receiver is another deep position this year, with BAN-INCOMING-IN-3-2-1 currently projecting 7 players with 1st round grade and 14 players with 2nd round grades or higher. It's certainly a position to watch when it comes to the Cowboys 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round raft picks.
Tight End seems like it has a good deal of continuity to it, unless they decide to go in a different direction on Hanna this offseason or next. Witten has an 8.5M cap number for 2015 which is pretty steep but with a 5.2M cap hit if released you'd think it's worth the 3M to keep him around, unless they opted to make him a June 1st cut. But as an iconic player for the franchise I'd wager that instead they find a way to keep Witten on the team for his entire career.
Escobar has serious athleticism and adding arguably the best TE coach in the league in Mike Pope could have him in line for an expanded role. He has the size to be a legit red zone weapon for when teams over-commit to Dez as well as to box out defenders at the top of seam routes. There are scenarios where I could see the Cowboys using a Day Three draft pick at Tight End if they think Hanna has maxed out his potential, or if they want to add a blocking tight end, or simple if there is the right mix of value at the draft slot. But it isn't one to be particularly concerned about over the long haul.
Escobar has serious athleticism and adding arguably the best TE coach in the league in Mike Pope could have him in line for an expanded role. He has the size to be a legit red zone weapon for when teams over-commit to Dez as well as to box out defenders at the top of seam routes. There are scenarios where I could see the Cowboys using a Day Three draft pick at Tight End if they think Hanna has maxed out his potential, or if they want to add a blocking tight end, or simple if there is the right mix of value at the draft slot. But it isn't one to be particularly concerned about over the long haul.
I'm of the belief that Left Tackle is one of the three or four most important positions on any football team and that having a stud there makes all your other positions better, and that having a bust there will make 4 other Pro Bowlers across the line a lot less efficient. Fortunately at the Left Tackle spot Dallas has an absolute stud in Tyron Smith, who didn't let up a quarterback hit or hurry after Week 7 of last season. He very well may target Joe Thomas money (7/$84M with 44 guaranteed) and I think he's worth the price.
Moving to Right Tackle is a whole 'nother story. Doug Free is an obvious 2015 cap issue with an 11M number and I'm not sure the team should work out another extension with him now that he is in his 30s. This makes offensive tackle a real possibility as early as Pick #16, although I'd like to see the team trade down to acquire additional picks rather than make that move. With the benefit of not needing to find someone with left tackle feet, I'm of the belief you can find a mauler in the run game who is good enough at pass protection to slot in as a RT of the future in the late 1st round or even in the 2nd.
Both Darrion Weems and Jeremy Parnell are free agents, so there will need to be something done at that spot in the near future.
Moving to Right Tackle is a whole 'nother story. Doug Free is an obvious 2015 cap issue with an 11M number and I'm not sure the team should work out another extension with him now that he is in his 30s. This makes offensive tackle a real possibility as early as Pick #16, although I'd like to see the team trade down to acquire additional picks rather than make that move. With the benefit of not needing to find someone with left tackle feet, I'm of the belief you can find a mauler in the run game who is good enough at pass protection to slot in as a RT of the future in the late 1st round or even in the 2nd.
Both Darrion Weems and Jeremy Parnell are free agents, so there will need to be something done at that spot in the near future.
