Free agent scorecard

[gimmesix]

Dallas has spent this free agency period essentially replacing players the team has lost, released or has chosen not to re-sign. Here's a rundown:

OFFENSE
Fullback
Jamize Olawale for Keith Smith (tie)
Running back
????? for Alfred Morris
Wide receiver
Allen Hurns for ???? (incomplete)
Deonte Thompson for Brice Butler (slight upgrade)
Offensive line
Cameron Fleming for Byron Bell (major upgrade)
Marcus Martin for Jonathan Cooper (downgrade)

DEFENSE
Defensive end
Kony Ealy for Benson Mayowa (slight upgrade)
Linebacker
Joe Thomas for Kyle Wilber (slight upgrade)
????? for Anthony Hitchens (incomplete)
Secondary
????? for Orlando Scandrick (incomplete)

So the only position we didn't upgrade in free agency IMO (or at least come out even) was the guard spot, but Fleming likely either starts there or at right tackle, which would move La'el Collins back to guard.

It remains to be seen what we do to replace Morris, Hitchens and Scandrick. (Since we're moving Byron Jones to corner, he technically replaces Scandrick and we instead need to replace Jones at safety.)

 

[glimmerman]

Still wondering if Morris won’t be back.

Hurns will be a upgrade over butler.

No real replacement for Scandy, I think we may miss him despite what some think.

Hitchens will be missed. We better score big in the draft. Even if Jaylon is even better than last year we are still missing a above average LB. and it’s not often Lee goes all year uninjured.

I see us at LB and maybe a few of them and safety and DT and OG.. need to hit big on this draft.

 

[jazzcat22]

Scandrick's replacement was already on the team.

Still need to look a S, especially if Jones is moved to CB.

LB's, we need 3 more LB's that can contribute right away. And that is not from just losing Hitchens.
Wilber needed to go, and we need someone that can actually play when Lee goes down again.

We need to draft 2 LB's in the 1st 5 picks. A run stuffing DT, S, OL.
Trade up if needed, as 10 draft picks are not going to make team. We need to trade up, get quality, not quantity. Draft no more than 7 players.

 

[jazzcat22]

Still wondering if Morris won’t be back.

Hurns will be a upgrade over butler.

No real replacement for Scandy, I think we may miss him despite what some think.

Hitchens will be missed. We better score big in the draft. Even if Jaylon is even better than last year we are still missing a above average LB. and it’s not often Lee goes all year uninjured.

I see us at LB and maybe a few of them and safety and DT and OG.. need to hit big on this draft.

Yeah, I have a feeling even if they draft a RB in the mid to late rounds, Morris will be brought back in after the OTA's.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Scandrick's replacement was already on the team.

Still need to look a S, especially if Jones is moved to CB.

LB's, we need 3 more LB's that can contribute right away. And that is not from just losing Hitchens.
Wilber needed to go, and we need someone that can actually play when Lee goes down again.

We need to draft 2 LB's in the 1st 5 picks. A run stuffing DT, S, OL.
Trade up if needed, as 10 draft picks are not going to make team. We need to trade up, get quality, not quantity. Draft no more than 7 players.

That's my wish list as well... that and a big step forward by Dak would make them competitive with Philthy again.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Some of thoes positions were meant to be replaced from within. Scandrick's replacement was already on the roster. Rod Smith will replace Morris. Linebacker will more than likely be somebody in the draft.

 

[AmishCowboy]

Scandrick's replacement was already on the team.

Still need to look a S, especially if Jones is moved to CB.

LB's, we need 3 more LB's that can contribute right away. And that is not from just losing Hitchens.
Wilber needed to go, and we need someone that can actually play when Lee goes down again.

We need to draft 2 LB's in the 1st 5 picks. A run stuffing DT, S, OL.
Trade up if needed, as 10 draft picks are not going to make team. We need to trade up, get quality, not quantity. Draft no more than 7 players.

Xavier Woods might be the S we are looking for, if not DeShaun Elliott is visiting today

 

[SoupcanSam]

Still wondering if Morris won’t be back.

Hurns will be a upgrade over butler.

No real replacement for Scandy, I think we may miss him despite what some think.

Hitchens will be missed. We better score big in the draft. Even if Jaylon is even better than last year we are still missing a above average LB. and it’s not often Lee goes all year uninjured.

I see us at LB and maybe a few of them and safety and DT and OG.. need to hit big on this draft.

If the cowboys end up missing scandrick in any way shape or form then they have definitey done something really really wrong.

Scandy Was ok but I mean c'mon.

 

[SoupcanSam]

Xavier Woods might be the S we are looking for, if not DeShaun Elliott is visiting today

Besides being a little undersized I really like woods. I just don't know how he will hold up going pad vs pad against the bigger skill players.

 

[jterrell]

Scandrick's replacement is Jourdan Lewis.
They had to play them together while Awuzie was hurt but OScan didn't have a starting spot here even in nickel anymore.
Thus his Insta post saying goodbye week 17.
Believe team also likes Marq White last year's 6th? rounder.
He's been with the other young DBs working out according to social media.

RB: Alfred Morris was rather replaced by Rod Smith last year. Issue is we have no 3rd RB and ideally that guy would be more a 3rd down back with speed.

WR: We have Hurns for Butler. Thompson is more a special teams weapon really that can also provide WR depth. Going +1 this year at WR may mean less guys are asked to play injured.

FB: I think that's an upgrade. More speed and versatility as opposed to the 12 snaps a game purely lead blocker. Get ST duties same as Smith.

All in all the team has mostly treaded water with the exception of no answer for Hitchens loss. So you expect any big boosts to come from the draft... and definitely to land a LB first 4 rounds.

 

[Pants]

I think free agency helped most position groups with LB being the exception. I would lose my pant if we were able to draft Ro Smith - love that player. Realistically, I see Smith going earlier and Dallas taking Vander Esch. I could live with that or Vea (if he lasts).

 

[lukin2006]

We have 3 backs on this team? Correct? How many back-ups does Elliot need? Let him be the 3 down back, relieve him only when needed, not because our dim witted coaching staff this this is pop Warner football and everyone should play...if need be draft in he 5th round...no sooner.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Offense could potentially be very good if Dak has a good year. We've added more receiving options, Zeke will be available, and our OL will likely be improved whether or not we draft a OG early.

Defense has talent on the edges but still has a major weakness down the middle (1DT, MLB, SS). Those are the 3 biggest weaknesses on the team and could potentially derail our entire season.

 

[gimmesix]

Scandrick's replacement is Jourdan Lewis.
They had to play them together while Awuzie was hurt but OScan didn't have a starting spot here even in nickel anymore.
Thus his Insta post saying goodbye week 17.
Believe team also likes Marq White last year's 6th? rounder.
He's been with the other young DBs working out according to social media.

Although Lewis may play Scandrick's nickel spot, Jones moving to corner in place of his roster spot creates a roster opening at safety. (Just saw that I forgot about Bene Benwikere as a lost FA.)

What we've got returning at corner is Awuzie, Brown and Lewis, with Brown moving over. If we go with five, Duke Thomas or Marquez White might have a shot.

What we've got at safety is Frazier, Heath and Woods. I expected us to add a veteran safety in free agency to get that number up to four before the draft.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

I think posters are:

Underestimating the Joe Thomas signing

Overestimating the Thompson signing

 

[gimmesix]

I think posters are:

Underestimating the Joe Thomas signing

Overestimating the Thompson signing

It's possible.

However, Thompson caught 38 passes for 555 yards in 16 games (10 starts) last season, which is better than anything Butler ever did year. It's questionable what role he'll be given here. It's certain that Dallas doesn't see him as a starter, but where is he in the pecking order (fourth? fifth?). Obviously, Hurns is expected to have a much bigger role on offense.

Joe Thomas started one game last year after starting seven in 2016, so it's clear that Green Bay didn't see him as a starter. He did have 70 tackles the year he started, 5 passes defensed and 1 interception. However, he finished with 14 tackles in 12 games last year, and I'm not sure how many of those were on special teams.

 

[Rockport]

Dallas has spent this free agency period essentially replacing players the team has lost, released or has chosen not to re-sign. Here's a rundown:

OFFENSE
Fullback
Jamize Olawale for Keith Smith (tie)
Running back
????? for Alfred Morris
Wide receiver
Allen Hurns for ???? (incomplete)
Deonte Thompson for Brice Butler (slight upgrade)
Offensive line
Cameron Fleming for Byron Bell (major upgrade)
Marcus Martin for Jonathan Cooper (downgrade)

DEFENSE
Defensive end
Kony Ealy for Benson Mayowa (slight upgrade)
Linebacker
Joe Thomas for Kyle Wilber (slight upgrade)
????? for Anthony Hitchens (incomplete)
Secondary
????? for Orlando Scandrick (incomplete)

So the only position we didn't upgrade in free agency IMO (or at least come out even) was the guard spot, but Fleming likely either starts there or at right tackle, which would move La'el Collins back to guard.

It remains to be seen what we do to replace Morris, Hitchens and Scandrick. (Since we're moving Byron Jones to corner, he technically replaces Scandrick and we instead need to replace Jones at safety.)

RB, WR will be addressed in the draft. I think we sign another FA veteran safety. i think they also draft a guard and LB. RB can be found later in the draft. Need to be solid in the 1st 2 rounds for WR or LB or both.

 

[glimmerman]

Although Lewis may play Scandrick's nickel spot, Jones moving to corner in place of his roster spot creates a roster opening at safety. (Just saw that I forgot about Bene Benwikere as a lost FA.)

What we've got returning at corner is Awuzie, Brown and Lewis, with Brown moving over. If we go with five, Duke Thomas or Marquez White might have a shot.

What we've got at safety is Frazier, Heath and Woods. I expected us to add a veteran safety in free agency to get that number up to four before the draft.

Ya know we may not be as bad off as some think at safety. Frazier and Woods weren’t bad towards the end of year and Heath hits hard and has a knack for being around the ball. We need either depth or drafting a gem. I wouldn’t go safety in the first 2 round unless it’s a 1st first rounder that slipped somehow.

 

[cern]

much too early to tell. losing hitch will be biggest loss to overcome. depth is needed at every position on the team. our best player on defense, sean lee, typically misses 4-6 games a year. tyron smith is beginning to miss multiple games yearly. we need to see what cooper rush has just in case dak is more the guy we saw last year or the the guy we saw the year before.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

It's possible.

However, Thompson caught 38 passes for 555 yards in 16 games (10 starts) last season, which is better than anything Butler ever did year. It's questionable what role he'll be given here. It's certain that Dallas doesn't see him as a starter, but where is he in the pecking order (fourth? fifth?). Obviously, Hurns is expected to have a much bigger role on offense.

Joe Thomas started one game last year after starting seven in 2016, so it's clear that Green Bay didn't see him as a starter. He did have 70 tackles the year he started, 5 passes defensed and 1 interception. However, he finished with 14 tackles in 12 games last year, and I'm not sure how many of those were on special teams.

Yeah, I'm referring to the players in total, not just their last years stats.

Butler played 261 snaps and Thompson played 474. Almost double.

Butler saw 23 targets, Thompson saw 69(nice) exactly 3 times more.

Butler obviously outplayed Thompson last year while on the field.

I have knowledgable football friends who are unfortunately also Packers fans. They said that before Blake Martinez started going off that Joe Thomas was their best LB. I now have high hopes for Thomas, considering they know what they're talking about. I have nothing else to go off of regarding Thomas.