News: Cowboys: Would A Reunion With Justin Durant Make Sense?

[Manwiththeplan]

DeMarcus Ware? DeMarco Murray? Now Justin Durant? What is it with fans wanting to bring back players we got rid of?

party like is 2014!

all jokes aside, I'd bring back Durant (as well as Ware if he's released). I think it's a given that Sean Lee will miss games, and I'd rather Hitchens focus on being the back up MLB and WLB. Let Durant play SLB and hopefully Damien Wilson is ready to contribute more.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Why? Lol. Do you p,an on npbeing in the Top 5 again next year lol? Or two years down the road when Romo call it quits lol?



Really? Maybe you didn't notice that when Romo went down we had NOTHING capable of playing?

Maybe you don't know that we currently have a Top 5 pick and are in prime position to draft one?

And perhaps you're unaware that obtaining a starting quarterback is the biggest challenge in sports?



Oh yeah, just like when the team did nothing up until Aikman was suddenly done and we were scrambling through guys like Carter, Leaf, Hutchinson, and Henson. Good times, good times...

[/quote][/quote]

The Cowboys CHOSE to scramble through those guys. They had plenty of chances to draft quarterbacks and didn't. It had nothing to do with where they drafted.

My stance is what happens if you don't draft a QB this year? Either Romo stays healthy and we get into the playoffs or he gets hurt again and we suck just like we did last year and we are a top 5 drafting team again. I'm not saying you have to avoid quarterback. There will be quarterbacks all throughout the draft you can get your hands on.

But time and time again we see teams contend with inferior quarterbacks and quarterback play. But their defenses are far from inferior. I understand the quarterback position is important but playmakers are juts as important and this defense NEEDS them.

 

[CCBoy]

The writing hand once having written, moves on...~ Kismet

 

[Stash]

The Cowboys CHOSE to scramble through those guys. They had plenty of chances to draft quarterbacks and didn't. It had nothing to do with where they drafted.

And now they also have a chance to draft a quarterback, but you feel they should pass?

My stance is what happens if you don't draft a QB this year? Either Romo stays healthy and we get into the playoffs or he gets hurt again and we suck just like we did last year and we are a top 5 drafting team again.

I think you're dealing only with extremes here. What if Romo plays enough to get us to 8-8? And what if we do get into the playoffs? What about the quarterback of the future?

I'm not saying you have to avoid quarterback. There will be quarterbacks all throughout the draft you can get your hands on.

And teams never hit on them. For as hit and miss first rounders can be, the results for quarterbacks taken after that is atrocious.

But time and time again we see teams contend with inferior quarterbacks and quarterback play. But their defenses are far from inferior. I understand the quarterback position is important but playmakers are juts as important and this defense NEEDS them.

I would respectfully, but completely disagree. Look at this year's playoffs, championship games, and Super Bowl.

Almost every one of those quarterbacks were first round draft choices, Brady the notable exception. In the championship games, three of the four were #1 overall selections, and both of the starters in the Super Bowl were #1's overall.

Just look at the salaries for quarterbacks, even decent ones are getting $100 million contracts, and the scarcity of finding one available. I can find quality at every other position in free agency that I want to - except for quarterback.

If you're in position to get one, get one.

 

[Everson24]

If it would mean not using the #4 overall pick on a linebacker? Yeah, sign me up.

Would you really want to pass on the next Luke Kuechly or Derrick Brooks for a 30 year old journeyman LB? Not me.

 

[Stash]

Would you really want to pass on the next Luke Kuechly or Derrick Brooks for a 30 year old journeyman LB? Not me.

It's the quarterback I wouldn't want to pass on.

And, do me a favor and compare Jack's actual numbers to Kuechly and Brooks' before you put his name in tge same sentence. You'll be shocked.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...myles-jack-is-more-projection-than-sure-thing

http://www.windycitygridiron.com/20...6-linebacker-prospect-myles-jack-luke-kuechly

 

[jobberone]

Durant is superior physically but doesn't have the instincts or cover ability.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

And now they also have a chance to draft a quarterback, but you feel they should pass?



I think you're dealing only with extremes here. What if Romo plays enough to get us to 8-8? And what if we do get into the playoffs? What about the quarterback of the future?



And teams never hit on them. For as hit and miss first rounders can be, the results for quarterbacks taken after that is atrocious.



I would respectfully, but completely disagree. Look at this year's playoffs, championship games, and Super Bowl.

Almost every one of those quarterbacks were first round draft choices, Brady the notable exception. In the championship games, three of the four were #1 overall selections, and both of the starters in the Super Bowl were #1's overall.

Just look at the salaries for quarterbacks, even decent ones are getting $100 million contracts, and the scarcity of finding one available. I can find quality at every other position in free agency that I want to - except for quarterback.

If you're in position to get one, get one.

Peyton Manning was terrible ALL YEAR....and he's a Super Bowl champion. While most teams who made the post season had quarterbacks with the exception of a few.......all of them had solid defenses that made plays. The Texans, Chiefs and Vikings don't have great quarterback play at ALL. Neither did the Bengals.

If Romo plays well enough for us to go 8-8 then that must mean we once again don't have enough playmakers on this team.

I'm not against quarterback. I'm just not drafting a quarterback for the sake of drafting one and I have a problem with taking Wentz at #4 with he competition he faced at North Dakota.

 

[Stash]

Peyton Manning was terrible ALL YEAR....and he's a Super Bowl champion. While most teams who made the post season had quarterbacks with the exception of a few.......all of them had solid defenses that made plays. The Texans, Chiefs and Vikings don't have great quarterback play at ALL. Neither did the Bengals.

I don't think we need to debate the importance of having a good defense. I wouldn't behind to argue that

If Romo plays well enough for us to go 8-8 then that must mean we once again don't have enough playmakers on this team.

Or the coaching isn't good enough?

I'm not against quarterback. I'm just not drafting a quarterback for the sake of drafting one and I have a problem with taking Wentz at #4 with he competition he faced at North Dakota.

I can understand that. And conversely, I'm not taking a run and chase weakside linebacker whose actual productivity doesn't come close to matching his hype, or the players people are trying to compare him to.

I'll take the risk on hitting on a potential franchise quarterback for the next 10-plus years because of the potential dividends it can pay. I have eight draft picks plus free agency to fill my other needs. I can't find a franchise quarterback there.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I don't think we need to debate the importance of having a good defense. I wouldn't behind to argue that



Or the coaching isn't good enough?



I can understand that. And conversely, I'm not taking a run and chase weakside linebacker whose actual productivity doesn't come close to matching his hype, or the players people are trying to compare him to.

I'll take the risk on hitting on a potential franchise quarterback for the next 10-plus years because of the potential dividends it can pay. I have eight draft picks plus free agency to fill my other needs. I can't find a franchise quarterback there.

So hypothetically speaking....Goff and Lynch are gone...you settle for Wentz at #4?

 

[the_h0wey]

Cowboys: Would A Reunion With Justin Durant Make Sense?
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...would-a-reunion-with-justin-durant-make-sense





...When a team cuts someone on the first day of the offseason, it's usually a bad sign. Instead of waiting until the new NFL season officially begins on March 9th, the Atlanta Falcons decided to not even wait until then to release Justin Durant. Despite coming off his best season, Durant is a guy that didn't fit in Dan Quinn's long-term defensive plans. Durant hits the market at an interesting time, the same time where the Cowboys could potentially have a ton of questions at the linebacker position.

Rolando McClain's deal is officially up. And while many draft experts have predicted that UCLA's Myles Jack could be the team's first pick, the reality is that if McClain is brought back and the Cowboys have enough confidence in Anthony Hitchens and last year's fourth-round pick Damien Wilson, Dallas likely won't go the linebacker direction in the draft. Bringing back McClain is going to be a storyline to follow as free agency nears.

On one hand, the Cowboys got a ton out of McClain over the past two years. Dallas basically gave McClain a "prove-it" type of deal. He flashed his first-round potential at times, but he also looked extremely lost in some games as well. But because the Cowboys gave McClain a chance when no one else really would, I would imagine the 26-year-old would give the Cowboys the upper-hand in terms of his free agency suitors this offseason. But what happens exactly if the Cowboys do not bring back McClain and they do not have confidence in Hitchens or Wilson taking on bigger roles? Well the answer to that question could be bringing back a familiar face in Durant.

With the Falcons for just one season, Durant registered 82 tackles. At 30 years old, Durant is a guy who has been productive in the games he's played in. Because of his age, he won't command that much money in free agency, a bonus for Dallas, especially if they'd like to sign a blue-chip cornerback in free agency.

The problem with Durant is, and has always been, his health. In two seasons with the Cowboys, Durant played in just 16 games. Last year with the Falcons, he managed to play in 13 games. But in Dallas, Durant's role wouldn't be a starting one. Instead, it would be one where he would play in some sub-packages, mainly in packages that focus on shutting down the opposition in the running game. Durant is also a seasoned guy who would be able to help the progression of both Hitchens and Wilson.

Dallas continually finds good, cheap gets in free agency. If the Cowboys want some insurance at the linebacker positions and they don't want to use their high draft pick on a linebacker, bringing back Durant wouldn't be that bad of an idea. Durant wouldn't cost all that much and he could potentially be a guy who's a stopgap solution until the Cowboys can fully groom a guy like Wilson or even another linebacker prospect that they take at some point in the draft.

Good veteran depth that won't be expensive. Sign him up

 

[Stash]

So hypothetically speaking....Goff and Lynch are gone...you settle for Wentz at #4?

I prefer Wentz to Lynch actually. I think Lynch needs too much work to have success with this staff.

But yes, I would be happy to take my chances with either Goff or Wentz becoming my next franchise quarterback. I don't see where either one of them have any more question marks surrounding them than any of the other top players outside of Tunsil.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I prefer Wentz to Lynch actually. I think Lynch needs too much work to have success with this staff.

But yes, I would be happy to take my chances with either Goff or Wentz becoming my next franchise quarterback. I don't see where either one of them have any more question marks surrounding them than any of the other top players outside of Tunsil.

Ehhh....I guess it also comes down to me having ZERO faith in us developing any quarterbacks or any of them having success with this playbook.

 

[Stash]

Ehhh....I guess it also comes down to me having ZERO faith in us developing any quarterbacks or any of them having success with this playbook.

On THAT point, I can't blame you. I don't have much more than you.

 

[ak47kaehu]

Nope....gotta stop living in the past and develop younger talent.

 

[gmoney112]

Nope....gotta stop living in the past and develop younger talent.

If only we had 15 picks in the draft every year to fill every hole on the team. Why even have free agency?

Every team in the Conference championships had contributing vets. Smart signings in FA, including cheap "old guys", is the sign of a well run organization, not a poor one.

Durant will probably be cheap, and he plays well in this scheme. He cost less than 2 million this year. I didn't really pay attention to the Falcons defense this year, so I don't know his situation, but if he can play up to the level he played at in Dallas then a contract for 1.5 would be a good signing.

 

[CCBoy]

If only we had 15 picks in the draft every year to fill every hole on the team. Why even have free agency?

Every team in the Conference championships had contributing vets. Smart signings in FA, including cheap "old guys", is the sign of a well run organization, not a poor one.

Durant will probably be cheap, and he plays well in this scheme. He cost less than 2 million this year. I didn't really pay attention to the Falcons defense this year, so I don't know his situation, but if he can play up to the level he played at in Dallas then a contract for 1.5 would be a good signing.

Durant just didn't fit what Atlanta was trying to do defensively. Durant is very fluid and has good positional speed. That is a requirment for a Marinelli run defense. He's not top end, but pretty functional in what the Cowboys are trying to run. His market price will probably be where the Cowboys wanted, when his value went too high for a Dallas retention. He's still workable goods and would add to the linebacker group, positively.