Cowboys expected to have about $10.8 million in cap space for 2016 after arbitration win by NFLPA

[texbumthelife]

I think we can get some bargain signings this year. There are a lot of ok FA out there that are obvious upgrades.

The topic of this thread pretty much goes completely against that argument--and is the entire purpose of the thread. With the salary cap increasing, with pressure from the players union, the players aren't going to be taking less than at least new market value--they're the ones who pressed the cap increase. Most, if not all, players are going to expect over market value considering the cap increase and the general theme for FA.

 

[BigStar]

As always, it's about finding the right guys, not the best, the biggest names or the most expensive. The defense needs to decide if it wants to play predominantly man or zone and sign a CB accordingly. There really is no arguing they need to address the interior DL as well. Second level DT FA's usually don't get mega deals. Someone like Mebane would make a lot of sense.

Stay away from Lamar Miller. I've been saying for weeks someone is going to open up the bank to him. He is not going to get some ridiculous 3.5-4.5M/year as some are suggesting. He is going to get a good bump in pay because of the increase to the cap. Vernon Oliver really isn't a target. He is going to get elite money, if he doesn't get franchised/re-signed.

The CB market is going to be interesting. Janoris Jenkins isn't even the best corner on the market and people are whispering big numbers for him. Defenders are going to ride the wake created by the Superbowl in a copy-cat league and get disproportionate deals. This would be a good year to remain prudent and focus on the draft.

Agree, I would like Lamar Miller...for my imaginary lower price than probably will receive Are there any zone corners out there that make sense in mid tier range? Trumain Johnson and Janoris Jenkins will get big salaries, as well as Weddle (again Miller ref.).

I wanted TJ Ward when he was available and he signed a reasonable deal with Denver but the team never sniffed at him thinking we were set w/Church and Wilcox (smh). Give me a S, (above vet minimum) and a 1 tech, and I will take that as a good FA session. Signing Colt McCoy as immediate backup to Tony while we pick a QB @ 4 also makes a lot of sense.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

We can do whatever we want in free agency. - Everyone, circa 2013 offseason

I still can't believe people are spewing that after watching the Cowboys and Stephen let players go or refuse to re-sign guys to get in a better CSI situation.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Agree, I would like Lamar Miller...for my imaginary lower price than probably will receive Are there any zone corners out there that make sense in mid tier range? Trumain Johnson and Janoris Jenkins will get big salaries, as well as Weddle (again Miller ref.).

I wanted TJ Ward when he was available and he signed a reasonable deal with Denver but the team never sniffed at him thinking we were set w/Church and Wilcox (smh). Give me a S (above vet minimum) and a 1 tech, and I will take that as a good FA.

Wasn't most of awards contract guaranteed though?

 

[texbumthelife]

Agree, I would like Lamar Miller...for my imaginary lower price than probably will receive Are there any zone corners out there that make sense in mid tier range? Trumain Johnson and Janoris Jenkins will get big salaries, as well as Weddle (again Miller ref.). I wanted TJ Ward when he was available and he signed a reasonable deal with Denver but the team never sniffed at him thinking we were set w/Church and Wilcox (smh). Give me a S and a 1 tech, and I will take that as a good FA.

I have been touting Casey Heyward quite a bit. I think he gets a reasonable deal. He was a great nickle back and has experience playing off, press and zone. He has good size and instincts.

Lane would be another good fit, but word is he will give Seattle a discount to stay there.

I want absolutely nothing to do with Weddle.

 

[fivetwos]

Stephen is certainly right. You have to overpay for free agents. The draft is the way to build.

However, if you don't hit on your picks, and couple it with not spending on free agents, how are you supposed to build a winning team?

Answer is simple: you don't. You lose games.

 

[BigStar]

Wasn't most of awards contract guaranteed though?

It wasn't a huge contract (but not sure of specifics tbh) but was more telling that we didn't take a feeler on him bc we were "set" w Church and Wilcox and no need to even look at him longer, etc. Sometimes FAs work out, usually not the mega deals, but some mid range FAs do. Look @ SEA (DL were mostly FAs) in their first SB win.

 

[BigStar]

Stephen is certainly right. You have to overpay for free agents. The draft is the way to build.

However, if you don't hit on your picks, and couple it with not spending on free agents, how are you supposed to build a winning team?

Answer is simple: you don't. You lose games.

HEY, we draft well in the first round buddy.... You're 100% correct though; relying on the draft works if you can do so after RD 1...

 

[Alexander]

I still can't believe people are spewing that after watching the Cowboys and Stephen let players go or refuse to re-sign guys to get in a better CSI situation.

That is the beauty of the statement. That's them doing what they wanted.

 

[BigStar]

I have been touting Casey Heyward quite a bit. I think he gets a reasonable deal. He was a great nickle back and has experience playing off, press and zone. He has good size and instincts.

Lane would be another good fit, but word is he will give Seattle a discount to stay there.

I want absolutely nothing to do with Weddle.

Agree with Weddle bc of age. Thanks for the info on Heyward; wasn't on my radar.

 

[BigStar]

I still can't believe people are spewing that after watching the Cowboys and Stephen let players go or refuse to re-sign guys to get in a better CSI situation.

Agreed, can and want are two different things that the FO likes to blend the two together as to not look complacent.

 

[texbumthelife]

Agree with Weddle bc of age. Thanks for the info on Heyward; wasn't on my radar.

Hayward hasn't gotten much pub. He's been buried on the Packers depth chart because they draft corners high every year it seems. He's going to be the odd man out this year however, unless they decide to cut one of their outside guys. He's not a flawless prospect by any means, but he has the tools to excel outside, more than inside, where he played in GB. He's long limbed and very athletic. I think he would be most effective in a cover-3 look, but he's got the make-up speed to be great in a read and react cover-2 zone also. I think Marinelli will continue to vary his looks quite a bit, so I think Heyward's versatility would be a good addition.

 

[fivetwos]

I wouldn't like to see a scenario where they pass on a QB at 4 to take a shot at winning with Romo, then couple that with not being active in free agency.

Either go for it or don't. Half assing each approach gets you 8-8.

You want proven starting players it costs money. That's that.

These contracts aren't even guaranteed. Cut them if it doesn't work out. Sure you have dead money, but there has to be some sort of fallout for not getting it right.

 

[BigStar]

Hayward hasn't gotten much pub. He's been buried on the Packers depth chart because they draft corners high every year it seems. He's going to be the odd man out this year however, unless they decide to cut one of their outside guys. He's not a flawless prospect by any means, but he has the tools to excel outside, more than inside, where he played in GB. He's long limbed and very athletic. I think he would be most effective in a cover-3 look, but he's got the make-up speed to be great in a read and react cover-2 zone also. I think Marinelli will continue to vary his looks quite a bit, so I think Heyward's versatility would be a good addition.

I think Marinelli will be going to more zone with MO not resigned and hopefully Carr cut. Scan, mid tier CBs who excel in zone (as it sounds like Hayward does) can fill out the rest of CB depth. Zone CBs are much easier to find (and cheaper) and a signing of a Hayward type of prospect or 2, while drafting one in mid range would remake the secondary into what Marinelli seemed to want initially and in the past with the Bears (zone coverage). I could see Byron Jones easily transitioning; using his athleticism as a FS in a zone scheme as opposed to playing man cover 1 looks we saw last year.

 

[texbumthelife]

I think Marinelli will be going to more zone with MO and hopefully Carr cut. Scan, mid tier CBs who excel in zone (as it sounds like Hayward does) Zone CBs are much easier to find (and cheaper) and a signing of a Hayward type of prospect or 2, while drafting one in mid range would remake the secondary into what Marinelli seemed to want initially and in the past with the Bears (zone coverage). I could see Byron Jones easily transitioning; using his athleticism as a FS in a zone scheme as opposed to playing man cover 1 looks we saw last year.

Jayron Hosely would fit the bill perfectly as a tenacious zone corner. Played at Va Tech, who turns out some of the best zone guys in the game. Signing him also weakens the NYG, an added bonus. He's probably my top zone corner target, that's outside that big money tier.

He is only a zone guy though. He gets lost fairly easily when asked to turn and run. You probably move him inside on plays you switch up and go man.

 

[Nightman]

We can do whatever we want in free agency. - Everyone, circa 2013 offseason

We can.

JJones like to play the "we have no cap space" card. He did last year when he played Dez and Murray against each other. Then he finally paid Dez what he deseerved the whole time, let Murray walk and just threw 45m at TCrawford.

Those in the know have been proclaiming since the CBA that the salary cap was going up dramatically every year and it has. It is simple math and the Jones' were in on all of the negotiations. They know what is up.

They played fast and loose when the cap was stagnant and now that cap is very bullish they are playing the value budget. It is all BS. They are printing money, yet they aren't taking full advantage of their cash reserves.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Agreed, can and want are two different things that the FO likes to blend the two together as to not look complacent.

I agree. I've seen enough to realize they don't want to go down that route. And I don't fault them. Free agency is not the game you want to get in past finding depth.

 

[Nightman]

I agree. I've seen enough to realize they don't want to go down that route. And I don't fault them. Free agency is not the game you want to get in past finding depth.

Tell that to DEN that just went on a huge FA spending spree and won the SB after just missing in 2014.

 

[lostar2009]

The topic of this thread pretty much goes completely against that argument--and is the entire purpose of the thread. With the salary cap increasing, with pressure from the players union, the players aren't going to be taking less than at least new market value--they're the ones who pressed the cap increase. Most, if not all, players are going to expect over market value considering the cap increase and the general theme for FA.

We will see.

 

[Aven8]

As Stephen said yesterday at the combine. Good players get paid like superstars in FA while average players
get paid like very good players in FA. Dallas can look back on the many, many failures of overpaying to get
that one big star player that never panned out once they signed the "big" contract. The better strategy is to
go after the mid-level players 2-3 weeks after all the big contracts have been passed out. The draft is how
great teams are build.

Yes, but great drafts start with more than solid 1st round picks. And from the 2nd round on we have sucked for years!