FA might be slim pickings at DL on top players.

[ccb04]

From Rotoworld regarding Sheard:

ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi expects the Browns to let OLB Jabaal Sheard walk as a free agent.
Sheard posted a career-low two sacks as a 3-4 outside linebacker under first-year coach Mike Pettine this past season and is best-suited for a 4-3 defense with his hand in the dirt. Despite the poor pass-rushing numbers, Sheard was PFF's No. 2-ranked 3-4 outside 'backer in run defense. Just 26 (in May), Sheard should have a healthy market after posting 15.5 sacks his first two seasons. Feb 11 - 8:38 AM

Sheard is solid vs. the run. And while not a quick-twitch speed rusher...he is athletic & can get to the QB from his usual LDE spot. Be interesting to see if Marinelli could coax more consistent production out of him as a rusher...and further build on what he did in his first two seasons. He may be one of the few decent DE options on the market that is somewhere in the Cowboys price range. Think he'd be a pretty good fit if the price were right.

 

[Ashwynn]

Hardy and JPP scare me, as in signing a dud. Suh scares me cause hes a knucklehead. I dont think I really want any of these.

 

[gimmesix]

Hardy and JPP scare me, as in signing a dud. Suh scares me cause hes a knucklehead. I dont think I really want any of these.

I don't know. Hardy might be our Haley ... although their issues are not the same. If he provides the final piece of the pass rush to push us to the next level, I'm OK with Dallas dealing with his issues.

 

[Doc50]

Yep. I believe Jerry basically said what you mentioned in a PC.

I think they'll look at guys like Jared Odrick, Jabaal Sheard, Stephen Paea, etc. Guys like Suh, JPP, etc. will be too expensive IF they hit the market. As someone already mentioned, McPhee will likely be sought after, and thus potentially be overpaid, perhaps at this point, due more to his versatility rather than his production and consistency. Like many others...his best year came in a contract year. But he can be a disruptive player when healthy/right. But he was also replaced as a starter at one point.

Perhaps Hughes would be a possibility IF he hits the market. He'll get paid, but certainly personnel men around the league recognize that while he brings something to the table, he was surrounded by fantastic talent. The Bills will be returning to the 3-4 under Ryan...and it's the exact same scheme Ryan protégé Mike Pettine ran in Buffalo...with Hughes being a part-time player in that scheme (he started only 1 game in 2013). Hughes is also a Texas kid and might not mind returning home to Texas & playing for the Boys. But while I think he has somewhat come into his own, I wouldn't overpay based solely on his production the past 2 seasons.

Also, the Cowboys will certainly give Lawrence every opportunity to continue to develop. They gave up #47 & #78 to move up to #34 to get him & Marinelli likes him quite a bit. He missed over half of he season setting him back...but began to show his potential in the playoffs.

Quite a bit of focus has been on the RDE spot, but I think Lawrence settles in there with Mincey providing quality rotational depth. The team obviously needs more than they got last season from the LDE position...the 1-tech spot...and will need a solid rotational player at 3-tech to team with Crawford.

If Marinelli sees something, Hughes could actually be the target.

 

[Galian Beast]

If Marinelli sees something, Hughes could actually be the target.

I'm worried about how much Hughes is helped by playing on such a great defensive line.

He wasn't great in Indianapolis, though he hadn't been established yet.

This is another example of how I don't want to pay a player thinking I'm getting the rest of his teammates with him.

You sign DeMarco Murray you get Murray, you don't get the Cowboys offensive line.

 

[Doc50]

I'm worried about how much Hughes is helped by playing on such a great defensive line.

He wasn't great in Indianapolis, though he hadn't been established yet.

This is another example of how I don't want to pay a player thinking I'm getting the rest of his teammates with him.

You sign DeMarco Murray you get Murray, you don't get the Cowboys offensive line.

Good point. We certainly see that a lot in draftees, who played on a big-time lines in college, but who fail to produce outside of that talent mix.

But this is another Melton/Whaley. He played RB and returned kicks in high school, and Patterson saw his potential as a rushman.

Just depends on what Marinelli sees.