Extend Butler now?

[perrykemp]

Nah. He's just another Laurent Robinson.

So you are saying we can count on roughly 11 TDs receiving for Butler this season?

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

So far, Butler has been sort of a fringe player, with very little production. We can see from the preseason why the Cowboys thought enough of him to trade a late round pick for him last year. The potential is there, and now we have also seen production from him in the preseason, making this a potential breakout year.

I see him in sort of the same situation we had with Murray before his breakout campaign in 2014. We could have extended Murray cheaply in 2013, and still had him on the roster in 2015.

I would approach Butler about a relatively cheap extension, which would benefit the Cowboys greatly, and give Butler some security which he doesn't currently have. Terrance Williams is also in a contract year, so we may not be wiling to give him what he wants to stay, especially if the Cowboys have a very good offensive year.

If we lose both Butler and Williams the next offseason it would force our hand next year. We will probably not want to spend a first or second round pick on a receiver next year, or the salary that high of a draft pick will get as a number two receiver, or go through rookie growing pains normally associated with a rookie receiver.

If the Cowboys project him to have a break out year like I do ....... then now is the time to do the cheap extension.

He is lucky to be on the squad. Let us not lionize average players!
Have we fallen this far?

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

What is the going price for a number 4-5 receiver? Maybe a million? So 4 year deal at 6m including 2m signing bonus? If you were Butler would you sign that?

 

[gmoney112]

It all depends what you pay for them. Right now, we've got two guys we can play against each other. If you can get one of them to blink for a reasonable veteran contract, you don't need to fill two WR positions with newbies next offseason. If you have to overpay either guy, obviously, forget it.

Of the two, Williams is the one you'd like to get done on an affordable deal. If he's at all worried about losing snaps to Butler, he might give you a discount you won't get next offseason. Getting the money early, and locking in the playing time might be worth it to both him and us.

I don't even ask TW to sign an extension. He's decent, but imo he's just simply not good enough to be a reliable #2 in this league. In this case, the FO has shown they don't like to pursue positions that they have any youth/money tied up in, and I don't see them trying to upgrade the position if TW is extended, which they should be looking to do next season.

I wouldn't mind if he was #3 on the depth chart, but he does benefit from the Romo/Dez effect greatly. This offense, in particular, could hedge a ton of risk and really keep this offense at the top of the league by investing an early pick in a talented route runner with some athleticism that can marginally fill Dez' shoes if he misses time. TW just can't really do that, and I don't see them adding that guy if they invest money in TW.

Butler is an interesting case. I think if he steps up the first few weeks, they'll look to extend him a year or two for cheap. I probably would too, just so I'm not replacing two guys next year. He's also developed quite a rapport with Dak. If he can do that with Romo, it'll be optimal a deal gets done within a certain price range obviously (cheap).

As of right now, I'm eyeing Butler, and I'm planning on taking a WR early in the draft with defense. I'd also be looking at pending FAs for next off-season since you can usually snag a vet FA, but I think it's less likely.

 

[Dale]

I really like Butler's potential, and love the fact he has been flashing in the preseason. I agree his value will be higher upon season's end, but would be shocked if either side were thinking extension right now. I think the Cowboys would wait for a larger sample size, and Butler would rather take the chance that his level of play this season ensures more money.

 

[waldoputty]

I'd offer deals to Williams and Butler, and see if one of them bites. Implicitly, the guy under the long term contract will probably end up getting the reps in what would otherwise be an audition season for NFL FA.

Neither guys is likely to take it, though. Tony's going to make them both more money than we're going to want to pay next season and beyond.

At the end of preseason if Butler continues with good production, I would offer a 3-4 year deal with a so-so guaranteed - say $1M/yr with average of $3M/yr.

 

[Nightman]

Only 9 WRs signed deals worth over a 2m per last year.......I'll take my chances with Mr 42 career catches

 

[Verdict]

What kind of "security" would Butler really get in such a deal? The guaranteed money would be nominal. If I'm in Butler's shoes, I'm betting on myself.

Making the team and having money in his pocket. There are no guarantees in the NFL. A guy like him who hasn't really had a pay day yet would be more likely to sign for a reasonable sum to have future security.

 

[Verdict]

At the end of preseason if Butler continues with good production, I would offer a 3-4 year deal with a so-so guaranteed - say $1M/yr with average of $3M/yr.

He could be extended for less than half of that right now. He would not make $3 million per year right now. But after this season, he might make more than that.

 

[Verdict]

5 years 90 million with 50 million guaranteed sound about right?

Sounds like you are either being sarcastic or need to put down the crack pipe. No one said sign him to a mega deal. I'm talking about a very cheap reasonable extension for a player ready to break out.

 

[Verdict]

Good points. Terrance would probably be easier to get done. He's younger, has more invested with the team, and went to school at Baylor. He is probably in love with the area.

Terrance will be much more expensive to resign right now. Probably several times more expensive. You might be able to get Butler for a third to a quarter of what a Williams will reign for as the #2 receiver.

 

[MRV52]

What has he done to deserve getting "extended"?

Caught the ball with his hands

 

[Typhus]

The Cowboys signed Miles Austin to an extension thinking we needed to tie him up early to save money.

It ended badly. And Butler has done even less than Austin did when he signed.

Bingo,,,
This team can make WR2,3, and 4s... no need to jump to an extension. If Butler or any of the young WRs look like the next Julio Jones, or Antonio Brown, than ya, now Im wanting some ink, but Im not seeing that being an issue.

 

[CCBoy]

Nah. He's just another Laurent Robinson.

 

[perrykemp]

Terrance will be much more expensive to resign right now. Probably several times more expensive. You might be able to get Butler for a third to a quarter of what a Williams will reign for as the #2 receiver.

Yes, but there is no real evidence that Butler can be a starter in this league.

He's in his 4th season now, will be 27 years old by the end of the season, and averages 213 yards per season.

The idea that Butler can be a legit #2 or #3 in the league is still unproven. It <can> happen, however, Butler is going to need to prove it during the regular season.

 

[jazzcat22]

This would be addressed later in the year for several reasons. See which one should be offered a new deal, if one or both do, or maybe neither. Offer a deal and see who is willing to take it. Depends on how the season is going too. Are they winning or losing. The team may decide to wait even to see what the market is set at for WR's. Go FA, or draft. It's way too early to be conserned over at this point.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Only 9 WRs signed deals worth over a 2m per last year.......I'll take my chances with Mr 42 career catches

Look at the contracts that Sanu and Benjamin signed. If Butler has a 45 catch, 6 TD season he will be in line for similar contracts. Williams will be in line for more.

 

[Verdict]

Yes, but there is no real evidence that Butler can be a starter in this league.

He's in his 4th season now, will be 27 years old by the end of the season, and averages 213 yards per season.

The idea that Butler can be a legit #2 or #3 in the league is still unproven. It <can> happen, however, Butler is going to need to prove it during the regular season.

Well, the problem with that thinking is after he proves it, he is going to cost you at least double, if not triple what you could sign him for now. If you think he can be the number two next year, you extend him now at a very favorable deal. If he doesn't set the world on fire he can still serve as areasonably priced receiver for you. All of the above is of course contingent on what the team thinks they have in him.

This line of thinking is what cost us Murray in 1015, and most recently, Parnell.

 

[Future]

How much can you possibly breakout when you are - at best - the 5th option in the passing game?

A good year for Butler is about 20 catches.

 

[Verdict]

How much can you possibly breakout when you are - at best - the 5th option in the passing game?

A good year for Butler is about 20 catches.

I expect Butler to have more than 20 catches this year, pushing Williams in productivity. Williams is the number two receiver, and will want to be paid like a number two receiver after this year, which will eat up cap that could be used to resign the offensive linemen going forward. Paying one guy comes at the expense of another. Williams will not be on a rookie contract after this year so his cap number will most likely increase significantly.

If Butler turns out to have a breakout year this year, you will have to pay Williams his money, pay Butler his inflated number, or lose them both and count on a rookie (or pay someone else) next year. I personally would like for our QBs to have some continuity and chemistry with their receivers, and not go through rookie growing pains at receiver, which typically has a longer than normal learning curve. Even Dez had significant growing pains.

If we have a great year on offense (which most of us expect to happen) our players will command a premium on the open market the same way that Murray did. That is why I started this thread in the first place ..... if we see a guy that is about to have a breakout year, let's be ahead of the curve and save half or more of his cap number while really not giving up much in terms of team risk.