Dak contract-cap experts?

[Sydla]

Its accurate, but hes leaving out that a post june 1 cut in 2027 would also carry a $34M hit in 2028 in addition to the $25M in 2027.

I don't believe it's accurate.

Spotrac shows the dead money hit in 2027 as $60,833,332. That dead money is calculated as follows:

2027 Prorated bonus: $15,691,666
2028 Prorated bonus: $15,691,666
2027 Restructure: $10,150,000
2028 Restructure: $10,150,000
2029 Restructure: $9,150,000

And that makes sense because if you cut him in 2027 and make him a pre-June 1 cut, all those prorated monies have to advance against your cap in that season. But there's one problem.

The $45MM base salary. That 2027 base salary became guaranteed on the 5th league day of the 2026 season. And when you cut a player who has a guaranteed salary, you still have to account for that on the cap. So now with the $45MM guaranteed, if you cut him pre June 1 in 2027, you have to count that $45MM on your cap as well.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Ah so he'd have to retire then? I remember Romos money staying on the books.

Someone may correct me on this, but I believe retirements can be treated similarly to a post june 1st cut where you can split the cap hit over two years. Romo retired in 2017 and stayed on the books for 2017 and 2018. I think either way you'll have that two year window to absorb a cap hit from Dak leaving. The additional void years are really only useful if he signs an extension or sees his contract in full if I understand the rules correctly....which to be honest I'm hit and miss in this area.

 

[fivetwos]

Moot or not the point was that no, the Cowboys do not save $10MM against the cap if they cut him before the 2027 league year. If he's on the roster in 2026, his dead money hit changes significantly.

As acknowledged, yes I agree with that, and it is indeed the overall point and I get it.

What I wouldn’t know is if Sportrac already accounted for that within the numbers they offer up, but Im not overly interested….this is about as similar as calculating how much Jerry would get for the team….not happening.

I don’t see any possible scenario where they cut him in any given March to avoid the salary for the season starting 18 months later when he is already guaranteed a 40-45m salary for the upcoming season.

I don’t think that’s ever happened to any high end salary. A dead money cap hit is one thing, but cash salary game checks are something else, and yeah I can’t see how they would slide on that for cap purposes.

There’s looks to be some leeway going into the final year, and I’d call it very likely the Dak era ends in March 2028, but no sooner.

 

[America's Cowboy]

We're so screwed.

Royally.

 

[Sydla]

As acknowledged, yes I agree with that, and it is indeed the overall point and I get it.

What I wouldn’t know is if Sportrac already accounted for that within the numbers they offer up, but Im not overly interested….this is about as similar as calculating how much Jerry would get for the team….not happening.

I don’t see any possible scenario where they cut him in any given March to avoid the salary for the season starting 18 months later when he is already guaranteed a 40-45m salary for the upcoming season.

I don’t think that’s ever happened to any high end salary. A dead money cap hit is one thing, but cash salary game checks are something else, and yeah I can’t see how they would slide on that for cap purposes.

There’s looks to be some leeway going into the final year, and I’d call it very likely the Dak era ends in March 2028, but no sooner.

Spotrac does not. The dead money hit they show for 2027 is simply the total of the the prorated bonus money and the restructures. My guess is there accounting does not include the 2027 salary in dead money because technically it's not guaranteed right now.

 

[DCwarrior]

OP asked for experts. Lol

 

[Hawkeye0202]

That's what I think. I think they take receiver in the 1st. A trade back would benefit them. 2nd and 3rd round are probably running back and dtackle. They need a corner as well.

What about trading back into the 1st ( Dart ) .........5th year option

 

[thunderpimp91]

I don't believe it's accurate.

Spotrac shows the dead money hit in 2027 as $60,833,332. That dead money is calculated as follows:

2027 Prorated bonus: $15,691,666
2028 Prorated bonus: $15,691,666
2027 Restructure: $10,150,000
2028 Restructure: $10,150,000
2029 Restructure: $9,150,000

And that makes sense because if you cut him in 2027 and make him a pre-June 1 cut, all those prorated monies have to advance against your cap in that season. But there's one problem.

The $45MM base salary. That 2027 base salary became guaranteed on the 5th league day of the 2026 season. And when you cut a player who has a guaranteed salary, you still have to account for that on the cap. So now with the $45MM guaranteed, if you cut him pre June 1 in 2027, you have to count that $45MM on your cap as well.

Possible you're right, it just seems very odd to me that Spotrac would list the guarantee clauses in the contract but not account for those in their calculations. Kinda crappy for what is supposed to be a premium service.

 

[thunderpimp91]

What about trading back into the 1st ( Dart ) .........5th year option

I don't think its crazy at all. Having a 5th year option on a QB allows a QB to sit behind Dak for a couple years and then gives you 3 years before an extension would kick in. Is it worth going straight QB at 12? Probably not, but with a trade back and picking up an extra pick or two to offset taking a non starter in round 1 should be very intriguing to the Cowboys IMO.

 

[Jarntt]

As part of this analysis remember that we really haven't spent the portion of Dak's salary that we restructured (plus Micah will give us about $10M more in cap space this year once he signs) so we will carry that huge cap savings forward into next year and all players that are re-signed next year (maybe Tyler?) won't have a big cap hit until the following season. So we will have a huge carryover to put towards any dead money for Dak or anyone else. IMO Jerry has tied his reputation to Dak and thus won't cut him because that would be admitting a mistake. But, because of the way Dak's base salaries (or a portion there of) guarantees the year before, you will be taking a big hit the year you cut him no matter what. So anyone that wants to cut Dak should want to save the cap space and not use it on free agents this year. You can't have it both ways. It's why I was against restructuring him (well against signing him in the first place)

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Why do it this year in a weak qb class. What's the point of using a high pick of it just gets you at best a Davis Mills or Justin Fields level player. Especially when we have so many needs and this is deep for DT, RB, etc.

Try next year, sure. You do need to see a qb for a couple of years before you commit

 

[rambo2]

What about trading back into the 1st ( Dart ) .........5th year option

Heck no, they need more picks not less. They need receiver, dtackle, running back, and corner. Get as many as possible.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Why do it this year in a weak qb class. What's the point of using a high pick of it just gets you at best a Davis Mills or Justin Fields level player. Especially when we have so many needs and this is deep for DT, RB, etc.

Try next year, sure. You do need to see a qb for a couple of years before you commit

Just depends on how you view each individual. Yeah I think this is a weak class overall, but that doesnt mean there isnt a gem or two in there somewhere. If you like a Dart, Milroe, Ewers, etc as a developmental project why not? You only have so much more time before the QB you take becomes a day 1 starter and wont have the opportunity to bring a guy along slowly in the Aaron Rogers or Jordan Love model.

 

[fivetwos]

Why do it this year in a weak qb class. What's the point of using a high pick of it just gets you at best a Davis Mills or Justin Fields level player. Especially when we have so many needs and this is deep for DT, RB, etc.

Try next year, sure. You do need to see a qb for a couple of years before you commit

Agreed and they won’t.

People just want Prescott gone asap without realizing his record contract is just beginning. They may take a flier on a developmental guy late, but it’s not urgent so that may or may not even happen this year.

Gonna be real interesting to see how they approach his replacement.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Heck no, they need more picks not less. They need receiver, dtackle, running back, and corner. Get as many as possible.

They would trade their 2026 1st to get back into round one for a QB ( Dart/Sanders )

 

[rambo2]

They would trade their 2026 1st to get back into round one for a QB ( Dart/Sanders )

No

 

[Sydla]

Possible you're right, it just seems very odd to me that Spotrac would list the guarantee clauses in the contract but not account for those in their calculations. Kinda crappy for what is supposed to be a premium service.

I think it's because of how their system calculates dead money. If they showed on their chart that the 2027 base is guaranteed right now to accurately show the 2027 dead money it messes up the 2026 dead money calculation. Because if they cut him before the 5th day of the league year in 2026, that 2027 does not become guaranteed.