CW: DJ Reader Projected to be Cowboys Target

[Pass2Run]

He is if he hasn't shown significant improvement. Same way taco got cut after 3rd year preseason. I don't get this rush to get reader like he's the only guy they could trade for.

Mazi won't be cut. He'd at least be worthy of a backup spot.

 

[slick325]

If hes available for a favorable deal sure but I'm willing to bet most fans would be willing to get bent over by detroit out of desperation when there's no need for it in May or even July

I would hope that isn’t the case.

 

[starfan1]

I’d be shocked and pleased if this happened but somehow after paying osa I’m skeptical

 

[stilltheguru]

I would hope that isn’t the case.

What would you give up for reader?

 

[slick325]

What would you give up for reader?

In August, I'd be willing to offer a 2026 6th or 7th round pick. However, if they scoff at that, I'd give up the Cowboys 2026 5th round pick (assuming that thanks to DLaw and Jourdan Lewis' contracts, Dallas will be awarded a comp 5th rounder for each of them).

Edit: To be clear, this is prior to him being released. If they want more then I just wait for his release and then pursue him as a free agent.

 

[Rayman70]

Reader would not be an expensive option for Dallas in 2025. He has a salary of about $6.6 million and per game bonuses which could total another $510,000. He also has some incentives but they don't amount to much. Basically ready could cost the Cowboys about $7 million and some change. But he is in the last year of his deal. But they like 1 year deal so Reader seems to be a fit in Dallas. This trade if finalized after June 1 would give Detroit an $11 million CAP save this year. But they don't really need it since they are already $39 million under the CAP.

Reader would be an upgrade for Dallas. The only question is, what would it cost to acquire him?

I am not a fan of paying full value for players with 1 year left on their contracts. Even if he cost Dallas a 5th next year, it still seems like a high price to pay for a guy who will only be hear 1 year. Then again, it would be a big boost for a defense that needs a big boost.

And if he looks great , we might opt to keep him here on a,new deal.

 

[Blackrain]

With each passing day I become more interested in Reader becoming a Dallas Cowboys player. Even if he is merely a rental.

Agreed an important piece of the defensive puzzle to make us competitive

 

[rambo2]

I’d be shocked and pleased if this happened but somehow after paying osa I’m skeptical

They have the money.

 

[gtb1943]

Again, you wait to see what they have first. Who said count on them? Yall have to stop being so emotional on this website smh.

you are straight out saying count on what we have which has failed; the only new blood is two seventh rd picks.
Try and use some logic

 

[stilltheguru]

you are straight out saying count on what we have which has failed; the only new blood is two seventh rd picks.
Try and use some logic

yea you're done. Timeout you go for being dumb

 

[gtb1943]

yea you're done. Timeout you go for being dumb

when someone wants to say count on a team that was near the last in the league against the run using the same people except for seventh rd picks, and then claiming one has to wait and see before trying to improve, that is football idiocy territory you are occupying.

 

[stilltheguru]

 

[DuncanIso]

Reader is a move that fits.

I think the cap hit is too much for Dallas.

12.9M for 2025

 

[Sydla]

You'd be on the hook for his base which is about $6.6MM.

Honestly, it's a no brainer depending on the cost. He helps your biggest weakness - run D up the middle.

 

[Sydla]

I think the cap hit is too much for Dallas.

12.9M for 2025

His cap hit would only $6.6MM for us plus the $300K or so in incentives.

We don't take on the prorated bonus cap charges or the roster bonus cap charges - they fall on the Lions. An easy trick to figure out how this works, the team that physically pays the cash is the team that has to take the cap charge. The only cash we would owe him is his base of $6.6MM and the incentives clause if he meets them. The rest of the cap charges are cash already paid - that falls on the Lions to have to account for that on their cap.

 

[Sydla]

Why do this before you even see if the in-house people have improved?

Because Reader is an immediate upgrade over what we have. I mean this isn't even all that debatable at this point.

Reader makes sense because 1) he'd clearly be our best run stopping DT 2) he's only under contract for 2025 so if you can get him in a cheap trade he gives you insurance for this year against Mazi not living up to the hype again and allows you to not have to count on 7th round rookies to make an impact and can take the year to develop.

It's not about being emotional. The problem is that some fans are too loyal to what we have. What we have at DT is bottom barrel in this league even with Osa signed.

 

[rambo2]

I think the cap hit is too much for Dallas.

12.9M for 2025

Signing Parsons offsets anything they spend on Reader.

 

[Sydla]

Signing Parsons offsets anything they spend on Reader.

He's wrong anyway on what the cap hit would be.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Mazi won't be cut. He'd at least be worthy of a backup spot.

He has two more years here. We are not going to pick up his 5thbyear option.

 

[Sydla]

Edit on contract details above. Our cap hit with Reader would be closer to $8MM. Those incentive/game bonuses are calculated differently.