Elephant in the room: Henry Melton

[CyberB0b]

From what I understand about his contract, we will have to pay him 9 million dollars if we decide to keep him next year. I know he's hurt, but he has only produced 3 tackles and a fumble recovery in 3 games.

He sat out the entire pre-season, and we were assured he's ready to go. It looks like he is going to miss this week's game, so with a quarter of a season gone, he has basically done nothing. I thought in order for us to success, he had to be as good as advertised, and he hasn't even been close.

Let's say he turns it on at the end of the year and somehow produces 7 sacks, 2 FF and 30 tackles. Do you seem him staying on the team next year?

 

[Jenky]

Nope, lets cut him.

Cowboys DT Henry Melton (hamstring) is expected to miss Week 4 against the Saints.
Melton has started each of the Cowboys' past two games next to DT Nick Hayden. He's graded out as a top-three pass-rushing defensive tackle at Pro Football Focus. The Cowboys' top run stuffer up front, DT Terrell McClain (concussion), is also expected to sit. Khiry Robinson has a juicy matchup. Sep 26 - 9:19 AM
Source: Bryan Broaddus on Twitter



If Earl Thomas came to Dallas, he would be cut too.

 

[John813]

Cut and then start drafting, in the first 3 rounds, defensive linemen.

Offensive line is just about finished. Now it's time to move to the other line.

 

[Doomsday101]

From what I understand about his contract, we will have to pay him 9 million dollars if we decide to keep him next year. I know he's hurt, but he has only produced 3 tackles and a fumble recovery in 3 games.

He sat out the entire pre-season, and we were assured he's ready to go. It looks like he is going to miss this week's game, so with a quarter of a season gone, he has basically done nothing. I thought in order for us to success, he had to be as good as advertised, and he hasn't even been close.

Let's say he turns it on at the end of the year and somehow produces 7 sacks, 2 FF and 30 tackles. Do you seem him staying on the team next year?

I think if he ends up showing to be a very productive player producing sacks and big plays then Dallas will likely work an extension of the current contract to lower the 9 mill due next year.

 

[BigStar]

I thought it moved to 5 million but am probably wrong. I would let him prove it first (1st round DL's bust alot) with sacks, pressures, etc. He isn't getting abused by any means either though. The pass rush element should come when he has a little help (Crawford seems to be the only player providing a push). Spencer and Law cleaning up could change the outlook of the pass rush; the push isn't being met by the edge rushers.

 

[jday]

It's a good question. First, that a big "if." But if it is going to cost the Cowboys 9 million in cap space, I'm not sure with the impending contract negotiations of Murray and Dez. Furthermore, the Cowboys seem to like both Davon Coleman and Ken Bishop and Josh Brent is slotted to return and let's not forget about Okoye possibly figuring into the rotation at some point this year if not next. And Crawford may turn out to be a better 3-tech DT than DE. So, DT is already becoming somewhat crowded.
So, to answer your question - no, I don't see us retaining his services at the cap hit.

 

[Gaede]

We need an edge rusher to help him out

 

[erod]

He's getting good push. Defensive tackles don't typically rack up numbers. They create numbers for others.

 

[Jenky]

We need an edge rusher to help him out

Shh, don't say that.

 

[CyberB0b]

Nope, lets cut him.

Cowboys DT Henry Melton (hamstring) is expected to miss Week 4 against the Saints.
Melton has started each of the Cowboys' past two games next to DT Nick Hayden. He's graded out as a top-three pass-rushing defensive tackle at Pro Football Focus. The Cowboys' top run stuffer up front, DT Terrell McClain (concussion), is also expected to sit. Khiry Robinson has a juicy matchup. Sep 26 - 9:19 AM
Source: Bryan Broaddus on Twitter



If Earl Thomas came to Dallas, he would be cut too.

Broaddus is basically echoing what I am asking. Is he on the team next year? Do you feel good paying him 9 million for his production thusfar?

 

[Stash]

At this point?

See ya!

I mean he's essentially in a 'contract year' and this is what you're getting.

Do you want to get into a deal with him and be further on the hook?

I don't.

 

[Idgit]

Nope. I renegotiate if he really does turn it on. Otherwise, I let him walk.

On the flip side, I like what we've seen of Coleman at that position, a lot. Either way, we do need to add more talent to this DL both in VFA and high in the draft next season.

 

[CyberB0b]

He's getting good push. Defensive tackles don't typically rack up numbers. They create numbers for others.

Is this the mantra now? This defense is designed to get the 3T to the QB. Hatcher was a sack machine, with worse guys playing next to him. This defense made Warren Sapp a hall of famer, who racked up a ton of sacks.

 

[Jenky]

Broaddus is basically echoing what I am asking. Is he on the team next year? Do you feel good paying him 9 million for his production thusfar?

So you want me to evaluate him with no help on the d-line?

OK, if he got the numbers you suggest, then yes, he's staying.

 

[Doomsday101]

Broaddus is basically echoing what I am asking. Is he on the team next year? Do you feel good paying him 9 million for his production thusfar?

Even if he is playing great I would not want to pay out 9 mill next year, I would be interested in reworking the contract extending it from a 4 to 6 year deal with signing bonus. However right now this is all a guessing game we have played 3 out of 16 games with a lot more ball to play. I'm sure the Cowboys will cross that bridge when they get to it.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Way too soon to tell... A whole lot of season left to judge

 

[noshame]

Fortunately it's a question we don't have to answer right now, but I'd like to build the DL through the draft. First round on a QB the take at least 2 DL after that.

 

[Jenky]

Is this the mantra now? This defense is designed to get the 3T to the QB. Hatcher was a sack machine, with worse guys playing next to him. This defense made Warren Sapp a hall of famer, who racked up a ton of sacks.

Except he had a HOF DE/LB next to him.

It doesn't get any worse than this.

 

[erod]

Is this the mantra now? This defense is designed to get the 3T to the QB. Hatcher was a sack machine, with worse guys playing next to him. This defense made Warren Sapp a hall of famer, who racked up a ton of sacks.

Hatcher was a sack machine for half a season against bad teams. The rest of his career.....bupkus.

Sure, there are Sapps and Watts that come along, but usually, good defensive tackles are like Russell Maryland. They create problems that chase plays to sacks for other players.

 

[CyberB0b]

Except he had a HOF DE/LB next to him.

It doesn't get any worse than this.

Hatcher had worse next to him and was a sack machine in the same defense.

Hatcher was a sack machine for half a season against bad teams. The rest of his career.....bupkus.

Sure, there are Sapps and Watts that come along, but usually, good defensive tackles are like Russell Maryland. They create problems that chase plays to sacks for other players.

Right, but this defense, specifically, which Melton produced sacks in, is designed to get that guy to the QB.