The salary cap is in great shape.
The roster is super young.
If the Pro-Dak group (which I'm in) is correct about him, then the Cowboys are in great shape going forward.
Current roster vs 2016 13-3 team:
The current Defense has more talent.
The #1 WR and #1 TE spots are a question mark. The remainder of the offense is the same or better.
The offense lost Dez and Witten; however, the end of their prime was basically 2014 for both players. Hurns has similar stats to Dez over the past 3 seasons;
however, that was with far
less targets. Hurns has been better on a per target basis. The current TEs are unknown so there could be a dip there. The plus is that they won't be tied to playing a TE on all snaps which could make them a little less predictible. There is potential with more speed now.
My recommendations to the team:
1: Avoid big drama. If a situation like Zeke's last season happens again, they should put all focus on limiting the drama and NOT on fighting the suspension.
2: Don't over-do it with running Dak. He is big and strong but running around in the middle of an NFL defense is a bit like running through traffic on the highway. If you do it often enough trouble will follow.
3: Error on the side of caution in regards to big contracts ( David Irving, etc.).
4: Stay with the more balanced concept at #1/#2 WR that they seem to be planning.
2014 receiving targets
- Cowboys
- #1 WR position 136
- #2 WR position 66
- #1 TE 90
- Patriots (A Super Bowl winning season)
- #1 WR position 134
- #2 WR position 130
- #1 TE 131
5: Even if they have a winning season in 2018 and 2019, if they have not won a Super Bowl then Garrett should be replaced. His contract will be up. I know people want him replaced after 2018 but if they have a winning season that won't happen with another year remaining on his contract.
6: Stay patient in regards to the roster. The concept of big trades or over spending on big free agents due to a "window" closing just causes teams to make big mistakes. The Patriots and some other really good Pro Sports teams rarely force the issue. As a GM it is better statistically to give yourself a chance every year via steady roster management than going for broke for a year or two and then having either an old roster or cap problems or both.
7: Give Tavon Austin many opportunities in the preseason to return punts. If he has any fumbles then cross him off the list as a returner.
8: Find some way to do something clever about TWill. Options:
Have him start the season on PUP.
Trade a 6th for another team's 7th if they will take him.
Trade him for a player another team is going to cut AND offer to pay part of his salary based on conditions.
Cowboys pay X amount:
Zero: Over 30 catches
2M: Less than 20 catches
3M: Less than 10 catches
9: Go all-in to make the correct decision at backup LT.
Hopefully Fleming solves the problem; however, if they need to do something radical like making Connor Williams the backup at LT then do it. If that means CW starts out as a backup and somebody else plays LG, that's OK.
10: Just sign Zack Martin. If it's 14M per then just do it. Normally I'm not a fan of paying big money to an OG but he is one of the safest players to sign AND I just don't want that question mark continuing to hover over the team. The media will keep bugging about it.
11: Be very careful if Seattle drops their price on Earl Thomas or even if they cut him. Why are they eager to trade him?
He is 29. It's great that he never missed a game in his first 6 years; however, he did miss games in 2016 and 2017. He is not a big Safety at 5-10, 202 and the years of wear and tear could be catching up with him. He appears to be very focused on money and will likely want a mega-contract that will take him to about age 34.
12: Invite me to one of the Party Bus parties...
