Cowboys Free Agent Wishlist

[strongarmqb]

I appreciate your post and this is not meant towards you specifically, but this board does not give Darren McFadden enough credit for the year he had.

McFadden was 4th in the league in rushing yards (behind AP, Martin, Gurley), 3rd in YPC among the top 25 players in carries (behind Martin, Gurley), and this was without the defense having to worry about Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. I do not believe the team should be in any rush to replace him. I am happy with McFadden/Turbin/Dunbar/Rookie(2nd-4th rounder).

Receiving threats are a huge concern to me. Dynamic playmakers down the field should be a priority for this team with Dez having health issues and Witten aging. Alshon Jeffrey would be nice but would cost a fortune that I would not be willing to pay. I'm really starting to believe that Dallas would be wise to draft Laquon Treadwell.

I like your suggestions at back up QB and agree that the team should not draft a QB it does not believe in. That being said if the scouts believe one of the guys is the real deal and he is available then we should pull the trigger on the QB with the top pick.

I 100% agree that we should stay put and draft Treadwell. Can you imagine this offense with him and Dez on the outside?? Would we ever see a safety in the box again?

 

[Future]

Fits the ugly ginger profile Garrett seems to prefer.

https://encrypted-tbn1.***NOT-ALLOWED***/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRcnMue6VUEhkUJuxz1FRuQz2OkWGxSxhA5vz_w7vt2LvCcngAoMw

I will reluctantly support this.

I actually like Glennon.

But, should Romo go down for any length of time, I don't think he's really much of an upgrade over Weeden.

 

[HappyOnions]

Out of all of the guys mentioned, the only one I'd want to take a chance on is RG3. I like Kaepernick but I feel that he wants to be a starter in this league and some team out there will bring him in to compete for the starting position. I'm pretty sure Kaepernick would start for a number of teams: Rams, Cleveland, Texans, Buffalo, and possibly Philly.

Miller will cost too much and I'd much rather go after Derrick Henry or Alex Collins in the draft. They would come much cheaper and could develop into our feature back while giving the Cowboys a potent backfield with McFadden and Dunbar.

Eric Berry would be nice but there's no way KC lets him walk. The guy has rightfully earned every cent that he will likely get and is nothing short of a hero in KC and around the league (coming back from lymphoma and playing at a pro bowl level)

 

[Kolemmitt]

If attempting to trade for a QB, I prefer Mike Glennon. Would also prefer Glennon to any free agent option as well.

Greg Cosell on Glennon: I was surprised nobody swung a trade for Glennon this offseason. NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell called him "far more advanced" than Robert Griffin III, saying "they shouldn't even be in the same discussion." Glennon played behind one of the NFL's worst lines last year and it showed, but his 18 career starts include moments of genuine promise.

If Jones is the future at FS & they're shopping for a running mate...SS George Iloka may be a good fit if he hits the market. I do like Gipson as well, and adding him could allow Jones to continue playing a more versatile role. But if wanting Jones to move to FS full-time...I wonder if they simply let Church & Wilcox compete for the SS spot? Not what I want to see...but hard to say.

Personally wouldn't want anything to do with Gordon. Love his talent...not his troubles. Also don't think they need that noise around Dez. Marvin Jones is among the potential free agent WR's that's intriguing, though I think the Bengals may try to hang onto him and let Sanu depart. I think Jeffery stays in Chicago.

One DT I like that is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, is Jaye Howard. There has been extension talks with the Chiefs already though, but they also have other UFA's like Berry, Sean Smith, Johnson, etc. They also gave DE Bailey an extension, and have Poe at NT.

Ian Williams would be another 1-tech candidate...but the 49'ers will reportedly be approximately $40 million under the cap, and Williams is a team captain & an important cog on their DL. Think he stays put.

I like Miller...but it would depend on the price. As mentioned, there's a deeper market in the draft.

I like a lot of what you said. I do not see us going for too many big names, but possibly a number of mid-tier free agents that will not cost a ton, but will still provide a bump in talent.

I agree that the staff will probably roll with Jones at FS and Church/Wilcox at SS, but I would prefer a mid-level FA. Iloka is a guy I have been thinking about.

I really like the idea of Glennon. He could be a solid back up right away but he is also young and talented enough to be a possible future starter.

I agree a 1-tech would help a ton, I'm just not going to hold my breath as the staff seems to really like Hayden.

The only big kinda big name I would like to see is Danny Trevathan. I would like another consistent play making LB and I think with the number of FA's Denver will have this year he may be available.

 

[Alexander]

I see what you are doing here, but the team did miss McClain went he went down. Problem is-he is always down.

As for the original post, Josh Gordon is less reliable than a VW emissions report-not sure why you want him. Personally a guy like Marvin Jones is a perfect compliment to Bryant-fast, good hands and reliable.

Give me him, Weddle and a lb like Bradham and call it a day.

Bradham is pretty underrated. I would like to upgrade at LOLB for sure, it was pretty amazing we got by with a lot of Kyle Wilber. MLB too as I don't trust McClain at all.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Here are the players that I would like us to sign and draft.

QB
Johnny Manziel [Potential Trade] - There are two ways I could see us getting him. Either in a trade in which I would want to incorporate Josh Gordon somehow. I'd give the Browns maybe a 3rd or a 4th round pick for both Gordon and Manziel. If he were released, I would pick him up off of waivers and let him sit the next two years. He has flashed ability, and it would be worth bringing him in to see if he can mature and grow under Tony Romo. I think sometimes people forget this guy is still pretty young. I wouldn't write him off entirely yet. I think the key here is that he would be your 3rd guy. You would still want to get one of these other guys. 2 million dollars per year.

Robert Griffin III - As much as people dislike the guy, he also has ability. I don't think he ever got a fair shot in Washington, and in that I don't mean that Washington was unfair to him, he might have been just as responsible for that as anyone else. What I mean was he never got a real opportunity to grow as a QB in one system. Would be a great backup option. 4-5 million dollars per year.

Matt Moore - I think we've all liked this guy for a long time. He is the quintessential backup QB. Should have picked him up when we had the chance. 2.5 million dollars per year.

Kaepernick - If Kaepernick was available, I would certainly want him to be the #2. I'm guessing another team would want to start him though. I would cap out at about 6-7 million dollars per year. Wouldn't get him and Manziel though.

Any of these guys would help prevent us from reaching for a QB in the draft.

Low end total - 4.5 million
High end total - 7 million

RB
Lamar Miller - Miller excels in a ZBS and would do even better with improved blocking in Dallas compared to Miami. With assured carries, Miller could even be a star here. I would definitely get him, and probably even make him the starter over McFadden, who did a good job here this year, but never excelled in the ZBS. If we got Miller, I'd hope we wouldn't need to address RB high in the draft. I don't think Miller will break the bank either, as I think I've seen suggested here already. Probably 4-6 million per year.

Lance Dunbar - I think the front office isn't quite sure what to do with Dunbar. He will probably make a bit of bank on the open market given what he did in the first few games here, but there will be that question mark due to his injury. I'd at least like to see us resign him for one or two years. Miller, McFadden, Dunbar, would make for a good running back corp. Dunbar needs to know that running backs are a dime a dozen, especially with a deep market in the draft. 1.5 million dollars.

Low End Total - 10 million dollars
High End Total - 14.5 million dollars

WR
Alshon Jeffery - Doesn't have the speed I would like to enhance our offense, but does have the playmaking ability and would still require teams to account for him which would help open things up for our offense tremendously, especially if Miller is what we think he could be for us. Would help us with not having to draft a WR high in the draft. Signing him would basically mean forgoing replacing Hardy in free agency. That would be putting a lot of pressure and responsibility on Gregory, who really hasn't shown us that he can deliver. Probably give him 9-11 million per year.

Josh Gordon [Trade] - If we can't get Jeffery, Josh Gordon would be an interesting choice, it would mean we wouldn't have to draft a guy who might take two or three years to develop. We would have a top flight offense with him and Dez on opposite corners and if they could both stay out of trouble and stay healthy. I still think it is possible that the Browns cut ties with both he and Manziel altogether. In which I would offer him a one year prove it deal. His cost would depend mostly on how you get him, but lets say it was equivalent to the 2nd round tender of 2.5 million. We won't be going forward with this scenario anyways.

Scenario A
Low End Total - 19 million
High End Total - 25.5 million

Scenario B
Low End Total - 12.5 million
High End Total - 16.5 million

Safety
Tashaun Gipson - Weddle and Berry are the names most mentioned, but I would actually get Gipson if possible. I'm still not sure I would go after a free safety in free agency when I want Jones to play Free Safety, but if we could get Gipson for a better price than Weddle or Berry, perhaps we could afford to have two Free Safeties out there. He got a 2nd round tender last year that he played on this year. Very young and very talented player. Probably looking at 7-9 million per year.

Low End Total - 26 million
High End Total - 34.5 million


Defensive Tackle
Tony McDaniel - McDaniel would be an instant upgrade over Hayden, period point blank. After the defensive upheaval in Tampa, I doubt he would re-sign there. 1.5 million dollars

Low End Total - 27.5 million
High End Total - 36 million

Middle linebacker
Rolando McClain - I would resign him one more time, and try to see if he can give us a full year. 3 million dollars.

Low End Total - 30.5 million
High End Total - 39 million

You can probably get there by restructuring Dez Bryant and Tyron Smith. I'd like to see Romo and Witten do team friendly pay cuts as well as the high end figure here might be difficult to pull off without their help and honestly, I'd love to see us add in Mario Williams as well, and that might be doable given that those numbers are based on average salaries, not what their 2016 salaries would be.

my opinion, that kaepernick either stays with SF or goes to Cleveland. manziel will eventually be released although Cleveland will try to trade him. he has too many red flags and hasn't shown squat on the field. It wouldn't surprise me to see RG3 here. he may take a 2-4 mill contract for him to be back up.

lamar miller is an option, just depends on the cost.

we often have one big FA signing and I think its alshon Jeffries. witten is getting long in the tooth Williams showed he is nothing but a 3rd WR. pairing dez and Jeffries is too attractive to Jones...... we will not go after josh Gordon.

we will make a try for Berry at safety, but KC is going to keep him. great safties are a must these days. Byron Jones will move to safety.

if we don't get goff, look for dallas to draft a CB or MLB.... wouldn't surprise me totake a flyer on the LB from ND in the second round.

 

[therock1982]

300lb de inb 3-4,liikebt mclain was

Sounds right. He is a DE, though.

 

[Alexander]

I 100% agree that we should stay put and draft Treadwell. Can you imagine this offense with him and Dez on the outside?? Would we ever see a safety in the box again?

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d...ss-wr-laquon-treadwell-early-favorite-cowboys

 

[Risen Star]

what's the guys name from Philly ,plays opposite fletcher cox,always impresses when we play them,be a good move,at 27 still plenty of playing time left n automatically weakens a division rival

That's my target too. What's his face from Philly.

 

[Risen Star]

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d...ss-wr-laquon-treadwell-early-favorite-cowboys

I can only imagine all those future Manziel to Treadwell touchdowns.

Build the foundation before you worry about the windows, gentlemen.

 

[Risen Star]

You know who else never got an opportunity to grow as a QB in one system?

Every QB deemed not good enough by a coaching staff that sees him every day.

 

[Stash]

Gipson will likely be highly sought after being so young, players like him usually end of getting huge deals. Berry isn't going anywhere.

I prefer a veteran safety, as we need someone who can communicate in that backfield and keep everyone on the same page. These mental breakdowns are painful to watch happen year after year after year. I know people are scared Weddle is at the end of the line, but even 75% of what he has been is much better than anything we have got since Woodson. Rashad Johnson is a little unheralded and could be modestly priced.

Corner is the real FA area I would look at. I know Trumaine Johnson is everyone's choice at the moment but there are others I would like to see considered. Casey Heyward is someone that I would like to have, but he might be extremely pricey. Brandon Boykin was barely used in Pittsburgh and could shake loose. Coty Sensabaugh would be another. I think coming out of FA with another veteran body out there will make it less pressing to have to spend one or more choices on a rookie corner that will need to develop.

Tight end is another place to look if we let Hanna go. Rhett Ellison would be my choice there. Seems ready to break out.

And one key thing I think that many folks are missing is the fact that this will be a year where most of the league will be flush with cap space. That leads to much higher than anticipated price tags and plenty of teams willing to overpay.

 

[Alexander]

You know who else never got an opportunity to grow as a QB in one system?

Every QB deemed not good enough by a coaching staff that sees him every day.

I just find it funny that Griffin gets the label that he never got an opportunity. Are you serious? He cost Shanahan his job and then can't beat out Cousins this preseason? Once that happened they had no choice but to bury him because his contract made it impossible to trade him and suicidal to have him anywhere near the field due to injury risk.

It is not like Dan Snyder and Co. seriously wanted him to fail. Griffin was not some victim. He quite simply did not or could not do the things necessary to succeed.

 

[Risen Star]

I just find it funny that Griffin gets the label that he never got an opportunity. Are you serious? He cost Shanahan his job and then can't beat out Cousins this preseason? Once that happened they had no choice but to bury him because his contract made it impossible to trade him and suicidal to have him anywhere near the field due to injury risk.

It is not like Dan Snyder and Co. seriously wanted him to fail. Griffin was not some victim. He quite simply did not or could not do the things necessary to succeed.

They had every reason to attempt to salvage Griffin considering what they gave up for him. Yet they saw enough the 2nd year to cut bait.

Now I'm not saying the Commanders are flawless decision makers but it's misleading to say they didn't give him an opportunity to grow in their system. They decided he wasn't worth the opportunity to grow in their system. That's a big difference.

I will pretty much lose my mind if we bring in one of these two rejects and don't go QB at 4. They may find me Belushi style overdosed on Jerry hate.

 

[Alexander]

I will pretty much lose my mind if we bring in one of these two rejects and don't go QB at 4. They may find me Belushi style overdosed on Jerry hate.

I suggest you try to avoid any type of access to a speedball then.

 

[slick325]

You obviously missed his mediocre 2014 with a 4 TD-6 INT ratio in seven games when he passed over 270 yards just once. And of course the fact he was not even a remote consideration even being the backup for the Commanders after losing the starting job in preseason. This is especially after Cousins struggled in his first six starts this year.

In all fairness the only reason Griffin wasn't active had more to do with the option the Skins picked up which guaranteed the QB $16mil if injured. No way they wanted to expose him to another injury and have to pay $16mil on the cap and in actual dollars.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I don't care if Johnny Football and Josh Gordon have all the talent in the world.

If they are too boneheaded with their off the field issues (or demons) they will not help on the field.

No thanks to either because of their issues.

 

[8FOR!3]

QB: Sign Manziel and get QB in the 2nd or 3rd round. Carson Wentz/Dak Prescott.
RB: If QB isn't selected in the 1st or 3rd then it'd be great to take Derrick Henry in the 2nd. Not sure if free agency is the way to go this year with running back. Even if it means we take one with one of our 4th round picks.
WR: Laquon Treadwell is who I'd use my 1st pick on if he's available at #4. If that doesn't workout I'd target Alshon Jeffery and worst case scenario Josh Gordon.

 

[Alexander]

In all fairness the only reason Griffin wasn't active had more to do with the option the Skins picked up which guaranteed the QB $16mil if injured. No way they wanted to expose him to another injury and have to pay $16mil on the cap and in actual dollars.

If they thought he was a salvageable QB for this year or the future, they would have played him.

They sat him because the risk was simply too great to bother and they had made up their minds they were done with him.

 

[Alexander]

QB: Sign Manziel and get QB in the 2nd or 3rd round. Carson Wentz/Dak Prescott.

Prescott in the 2nd or 3rd? How about no?