How active will we be in FA?

[Hoofbite]

Worth noting that we roll that 17.7 million forward as a credit to next year's cap. We've also got several more veterans we can restructure, and I don't know how much cutting T-New saves us. Best I can recall, the savings was significant.

All in all, we can nail down two impact players and then sit back and wait for bargains like Risen Star mentioned already.

Don't quote me on it but I think I remember Adam saying Dallas could have 25M to spend with very little movement and possibly make more room if they wanted to.

 

[Bigtommyb]

I haven't heard anyone in the FO mention it...I'm talking "quality" FA's in positions of need...not quantity

What about Cortland Finnegan and Leron Landry. OR GRUBS and one of them.

 

[gmoney112]

Don't quote me on it but I think I remember Adam saying Dallas could have 25M to spend with very little movement and possibly make more room if they wanted to.

Yep. We could very easily be 30 mill under the cap next season and that's with very little restructuring. We have plenty of wiggle room.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Yep. We could very easily be 30 mill under the cap next season and that's with very little restructuring. We have plenty of wiggle room.

This is what everyone was saying last season too.

Realistically, expect us to spend around 15-18 million on new salaries this year, and my guess is that would give us about 2-3 quality players in FA.

 

[CCBoy]

A projection of 2-3 signed upgrades and a possible working capital of $25 makes me a giddy prom date....

 

[Hoofbite]

This is what everyone was saying last season too.

Realistically, expect us to spend around 15-18 million on new salaries this year, and my guess is that would give us about 2-3 quality players in FA.

Isn't that what happened?

Dallas had like 15+ at the start of the season didn't they?

 

[CCBoy]

Isn't that what happened?

Dallas had like 15+ at the start of the season didn't they?

Only thing is a ground force had to await a flood swollen Mississippi River before crossing, and a new CBA following a lockout.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Cortland Finnegan!!!!:starspin

I'm with you.....defense needs an attitude change....he and Laron Landry would be high on my list.

 

[CCBoy]

I'm with you.....defense needs an attitude change....he and Laron Landry would be high on my list.

Add one more quality corner to that picture, and I sign on as well.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Does it really matter? Jerry could go out and sign every FA available on the 1st day and some people won't be happy.

It's the same thing every year. In the first hour of free agency if Jerry hasn't signed anyone people will freak out because they think he's not doing anything.

TRACK HIS PLANE!!!!!! Even though it's been blocked for years

 

[CCBoy]

Does it really matter? Jerry could go out and sign every FA available on the 1st day and some people won't be happy.

It's the same thing every year. In the first hour of free agency if Jerry hasn't signed anyone people will freak out because they think he's not doing anything.

TRACK HIS PLANE!!!!!! Even though it's been blocked for years

Not so fast, yeager, there is always someone who has a friend baggage handler at every airport. And inbetween larceny of items from and baggage, closely monitor all incoming Jerry's plane movements.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Not so fast, yeager, there is always someone who has a friend baggage handler at every airport. And inbetween larceny of items from and baggage, closely monitor all incoming Jerry's plane movements.

At least one or two people ask about it every year even thought it's been blocked since Parcells was hired. :laugh1:

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Stephen Jones said on a radio show , a couple of weeks ago , that he didn't think the Cowboys would be very active in free agency . Take it for what it is worth .

One thing you definately can't do is listen to them when it comes to free agency plans. They've been pretty good about keeping their intentions pretty quiet in that area.

 

[hutch1254]

Whoever we pickup in FA on the D side of the ball, if we do, has to be a fit for what we do and who we play against in the division. We need to make decisions where the players obtained create matchup issues for our divisional opponents first. Philly is a horrible matchup for us...we can't continue to ignore that. Just because Griffin did nothing against Brady doesn't mean he won't be able to make significant plays against Vick, Eli and QB to be named for the Deadskins. I know you can't base your entire thought process on finding a player to disrupt what your divisional opponents do but it has be up near the top of the list.

 

[Sandyf]

Believe Jerry and Stephen will be active in free agency but also continue with the youth movement. Should be worth nothing where the upgrades really need to come and who is available.

My Take:
DE - really need a true 5-tech guy here and the only one appears to be Calais Campbell who is 25 but probably going to get a 7 yr 84 mil type contract. Could be worth it or possibly someone like D. Still Penn St in the draft. Arvil out of Detroit might be a guy but Campbell is the prize and sure Arizona knows that also.

OLB - Spencer never lived up to a 1st round pick but he is a good player. Other than Mario Williams who will not be franchised by Houston much to many beliefs (because his franchise number would be $16 mil for one year), Spencer probably is the next best in a 3-4 D. Will we resign him, probably only after we see what the market is for him but if some team offers the farm, forget him.

CB - Willing to say that we will get at least one in free agency and draft one or two. Newman is gone, period. Really only see Scandrick and Jenkins staying at this point. Grimes is 27 and an excellent corner, Carr is 26 and very good, Finnegan is 27 and very good, Thomas despite his knee injury might be worth a short contract, Aaron Ross is better than most of what we have. So I expect us to sign at least one of the top tier guys here. In the draft, probably Claibourne and Kirkpatrick gone when we draft, no sold on Dennard but if we could get Minnefield or Gilmore in the second round I would be good with that and then possibly a Fletcher or Johnson in the third or fourth would be nice.

S - Well we are keeping Sensabaugh but need to get much younger at SS, Tyvon Branch out of Oakland is 25 and a very smart player, good tackler and fair cover guy.

NT - think it is time to move Ratliff to DE and get a big body at NT. Garay at San Diego is a free agent and is Paul Soliai at Miami. Soliai is 355 and 28 yrs old and probably come at less $

OG - Holland played well in relief of Nagy and if Nagy back then it might not be a problem at LG. Arkin seems to be high on the coaches staff at RG for next year but if we could get Nicks who is 27 at LG, you have to go there especially moving Smith to LT next year. In the draft DeCastro could definitely be there at 14 and we would have to consider him. He can also play OC.

OC - Costa and Kowalski are great backups, we really need to get better at OC. Maybe DeCastro could be the guy or Peter Konz from Wisconsin, be nice to get both but that really isn't possible.

Those seem to be the biggest areas of concern and free agency has to play a major part to finish higher than 3rd next year, heck if Washington sign Matt Flynn at QB as a FA they will be much stronger.

Realistically, Jerry has to improve the D through FA this year with two to four guys and fix the OL through the draft.

 

[visionary]

Believe Jerry and Stephen will be active in free agency but also continue with the youth movement. Should be worth nothing where the upgrades really need to come and who is available.

My Take:
DE - really need a true 5-tech guy here and the only one appears to be Calais Campbell who is 25 but probably going to get a 7 yr 84 mil type contract. Could be worth it or possibly someone like D. Still Penn St in the draft. Arvil out of Detroit might be a guy but Campbell is the prize and sure Arizona knows that also.

OLB - Spencer never lived up to a 1st round pick but he is a good player. Other than Mario Williams who will not be franchised by Houston much to many beliefs (because his franchise number would be $16 mil for one year), Spencer probably is the next best in a 3-4 D. Will we resign him, probably only after we see what the market is for him but if some team offers the farm, forget him.

CB - Willing to say that we will get at least one in free agency and draft one or two. Newman is gone, period. Really only see Scandrick and Jenkins staying at this point. Grimes is 27 and an excellent corner, Carr is 26 and very good, Finnegan is 27 and very good, Thomas despite his knee injury might be worth a short contract, Aaron Ross is better than most of what we have. So I expect us to sign at least one of the top tier guys here. In the draft, probably Claibourne and Kirkpatrick gone when we draft, no sold on Dennard but if we could get Minnefield or Gilmore in the second round I would be good with that and then possibly a Fletcher or Johnson in the third or fourth would be nice.

S - Well we are keeping Sensabaugh but need to get much younger at SS, Tyvon Branch out of Oakland is 25 and a very smart player, good tackler and fair cover guy.

NT - think it is time to move Ratliff to DE and get a big body at NT. Garay at San Diego is a free agent and is Paul Soliai at Miami. Soliai is 355 and 28 yrs old and probably come at less $

OG - Holland played well in relief of Nagy and if Nagy back then it might not be a problem at LG. Arkin seems to be high on the coaches staff at RG for next year but if we could get Nicks who is 27 at LG, you have to go there especially moving Smith to LT next year. In the draft DeCastro could definitely be there at 14 and we would have to consider him. He can also play OC.

OC - Costa and Kowalski are great backups, we really need to get better at OC. Maybe DeCastro could be the guy or Peter Konz from Wisconsin, be nice to get both but that really isn't possible.

Those seem to be the biggest areas of concern and free agency has to play a major part to finish higher than 3rd next year, heck if Washington sign Matt Flynn at QB as a FA they will be much stronger.

Realistically, Jerry has to improve the D through FA this year with two to four guys and fix the OL through the draft.

this is a great post wth exactly the right ideas
can you send this to JJ?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

If I had to guess, I think we'll pounce on a target or two early in FA and then sit back and see if we can get a bargain later.

That is my guess...or should I say Hope.

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't see much in FA that gets me excited. I hope we can get some guys who can fill roles, I'm more interested in building through the draft not over paying for what looks to be avg FA players

 

[visionary]

If I had to guess, I think we'll pounce on a target or two early in FA and then sit back and see if we can get a bargain later.

how about these 2

1)nicks or grubbs
2)soliai or campbell

 

[DBOY3141]

Jerry will say we are fine with what we have and do nothing but resign Spencer and Ball after no one else offers them anything.

For folks that want to build through the draft, that's great, problem is we only hit on 1 or 2 guys in the draft each year, you can't compete with that percentage.

We have to be "prime players" in FA this year or we can expect another 3rd place finish. We have too many holes for the draft to fix.