Extend Butler now?

[Verdict]

Also, I look for Williams, Beasley and Butler to have similar years in terms of productivity. Beasley may have more first downs than either of the others, but he really hasn't shown he is capable of being an outside receiver, which limits him. Butler may have the highest YPC and the highest touchdown totals of the three this year if the preseason is any indication.

 

[xwalker]

And we would have had half the player at half the price.

It would be twice the player at half the price.

 

[CowboyRoy]

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.

Why because he caught one bomb? He will ONLY be playing in 4 and 5 WR sets unless someone gets hurt. That is probably about 5-10 snaps a game.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Also, I look for Williams, Beasley and Butler to have similar years in terms of productivity. Beasley may have more first downs than either of the others, but he really hasn't shown he is capable of being an outside receiver, which limits him. Butler may have the highest YPC and the highest touchdown totals of the three this year if the preseason is any indication.

Butler is hardly going to even play this year unless there is an injury to the top 3 WR's.

Butler plays on the 2nd string. that is the ONLY reason there is your indication.

 

[erod]

Different type of player, but I can see Butler having a Larent Robinson type impact for us this season. He's gonna make some big plays if he stays healthy and Romo stays healthy too lol.

I don't see that at all.

This is now a power running football team, and it has Dez, Witten, Beasley, and Williams in the passing game.

There's one football. Butler will be lucky to see the ball twice a game. He's option # 8.

 

[Verdict]

Why because he caught one bomb? He will ONLY be playing in 4 and 5 WR sets unless someone gets hurt. That is probably about 5-10 snaps a game.

We will see. I think you will start to see him emerge this year.

 

[Verdict]

I don't see that at all.

This is now a power running football team, and it has Dez, Witten, Beasley, and Williams in the passing game.

There's one football. Butler will be lucky to see the ball twice a game. He's option # 8.

If we don't spend the money to resign Williams, it is very possible that Butler becomes the #2 receiver next year, with Beasley staying in the slot. His value and contract number would go up at that time. Hindsight will be 20/2 on this issue. I just like the low risk/high reward of signing him to a cheap contract.

 

[CowboyRoy]

We will see. I think you will start to see him emerge this year.

Only if someone gets hurt. I would think, however that he would be a guy that could definitely replace Williams.

 

[Verdict]

Only if someone gets hurt. I would think, however that he would be a guy that could definitely replace Williams.

Agreed. I am not saying at this point that he is the next Dez, but it would appear that he has the potential to replace Williams at a fraction of the cost, with potentially little to no drop off in production. He has the physical skills, and it seems as though the light may be coming on or whatever for him.

 

[kiheikiwi]

Without reading thru the whole thread - No, No and No.

 

[xwalker]

Why because he caught one bomb? He will ONLY be playing in 4 and 5 WR sets unless someone gets hurt. That is probably about 5-10 snaps a game.

The Cowboys have given the backup WRs a few snaps in 2 and 3 WR sets the past few years. Dwayne Harris played several snaps per game in 2 and 3 WR sets even with Beasley on the team. Lucky played some of those last year.

At a minimum, Butler is good for running deep clear out routes and played while Dez and/or Williams take a break. We all know that Dez will get dehydrated at various points in time.

 

[Future]

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.

Is there a single wide receiver who has been #4 on a depth chart, had a big year and subsequently turned that into a big contract?

Murray got a premium on the open market because he had a huge season. Unless there are serious injuries in the WR corps, Butler is going to get 2-3 targets a game, tops.

 

[Verdict]

Is there a single wide receiver who has been #4 on a depth chart, had a big year and subsequently turned that into a big contract?

Murray got a premium on the open market because he had a huge season. Unless there are serious injuries in the WR corps, Butler is going to get 2-3 targets a game, tops.

Miles Austin says hello. We waited too long to extend Austin and overpaid for past production.

 

[Vanilla2]

What for?

 

[Verdict]

What for?

Can't you see the adults are talking?

 

[Nightman]

Miles Austin says hello. We waited too long to extend Austin and overpaid for past production.

Austin had 18 catches in 3 years before he broke out in 2009

We signed him as a cheap RFA in 2009, then extended him in 2010 and then immediately extended him again to get cute with the uncapped year

When should they have gave him millions???

 

[Vanilla2]

Can't you see the adults are talking?

Ok then mrs adult.

What is the point of extending a guy who has done absolutely nothing?

Or Is this only a thing because he is not #83 ?

I think so.

 

[dallasdave]

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.

We will need one of them !!!

 

[Verdict]

Ok then mrs adult.

What is the point of extending a guy who has done absolutely nothing?

Or Is this only a thing because he is not #83 ?

I think so.

Not #83? What does that have to do with anything? I am suggesting Butler has shown signs of breaking out. Why not lock him up cheaply with little downside, even if he doesn't pan out?

What exactly about extending him for a team friendly contract do you not get? Who said anything about giving Butler million upon millions of dollars?

 

[Verdict]

We will need one of them !!!

It is really stupid to force yourself to have to replace multiple players at the same position in the same year unless it is by choice because they all suck. I think Butler is pretty close to Williams in talent. If you can replace Williams for Butler at half the cost after this year, then what is wrong with that?

I know .....you would rather them "prove it" and then pay out the *** for them. I would prefer we be proactive, if the opportunity arises.