I'll tell you this right now, re-sign Doug Free

[CCBoy]

On the flip side of that argument, if you lose a player that you're convinced can play because you tried to wait it out in the draft then that's not good either.

The Cowboys have done well when the drafted players that they really focused on prior to the draft and have had problems when they drafted players that they didn't really focus on prior to the draft.

Callahan personally worked out Fred prior to the draft and according to Fred spent a significant amount of time with him.

Dooley and several of the Cowboys staff spent significant time scouting T. Williams prior to the draft.

The Cowboys spent a lot of time scouting and researching Dez prior to drafting him.

The Cowboys didn't not meet with Claiborne at all prior to the draft. It appears they didn't really do in depth research on him because they didn't expect to be trading up where they knew he would be drafted. The Rams called Jerry and made the deal to trade up for what was a relatively cheap price to move up that much.

The Cowboys missed a player that was their top target in the 2009 draft (Max Unger). They could have traded all of their other 11 picks in that draft to move into the 1st round and "reach" for Unger and they would have been much more successful.

What people also leave out of the Hitchens discussion is that you can't prove that players that were called a reach were really a reach, but you can prove that draft media was wrong on players that they had rated higher than where they were picked. Many of the draft media had a guy like Jeffcoat as about a 3rd round pick. Some of them had him as a 2nd rounder at one point. He ended up as a UDFA. That's proof that the draft media was wrong on that player. It's highly likely that they were wrong in the other direction, but it's impossible to prove it. A beat writer for the Seahawks did say on twitter that the Seahawks were planning to take Hitchens with their next pick and were disappointed that the Cowboys got him ahead of them.

Talking about T Williams, he has been disappearing of late.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

Doug Free is s must re - sign .

must is a little strong.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'd like to see them resign Free.

I'm not anxious to spend another early draft pick on the offensive line when there are so many other needs (DE, QB (time for a legit developmental QB), RB (maybe), LB (potentially), CB and maybe even safety).

 

[JoeyBoy718]

It all depends how much Free is looking for? He may like being a part of this team, like where he lives, and be willing to re-sign at a reasonable rate.

Martin gives you flexibility there too. If the team believes he can play RT and a Guard is easier & cheaper to sign, then you can go that way.

I disagree. There's a difference between being capable of playing RT and being an All Pro at RG. Martin is playing at an All Pro level as a rookie and has transformed this O-line from above average to elite. He's the only change from last year and look how much has changed. Free and Parnell are capable of playing RT, but they're not All Pros. If you moved Martin to RT, you'd have another guy who's capable of playing RT and still no All Pros. I think moving Martin to RT would be about as foolish as moving Romo to slot receiver.

 

[xwalker]

I don't think it's smart to rely on a rookie O-lineman period. Even the top 3 picks usually don't pan out right away, or at best they have to spend a year at RT (that's what happened with Tyron Smith). Heck, Smith was a bit of a liability his first few years. But our O-line was so bad that he was one of the least of our problems. If you stick a rookie Smith on an elite line like ours right now, he struggles big time and probably gets benched. Leary didn't pan out right away. Even Frederick struggled a bit his rookie year. Martin, on the other hand, was one of those rare "can't miss" talents. There were other guys with higher ceilings but nobody was denying that Martin would be a great player. We got a little lucky on this O-line and we made some wise picks. I still don't trust that we draft a 3rd round RT and he immediately comes in and plays better than Free or Parnell. I'd rather we drafted a 3rd rounder, resigned Free for cheap for a few years, and gave the 3rd rounder a few years to develop.

Parnell played better than most rookie OTs including the ones that were really high draft picks.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I'd like to see them resign Free.

I'm not anxious to spend another early draft pick on the offensive line when there are so many other needs (DE, QB (time for a legit developmental QB), RB (maybe), LB (potentially), CB and maybe even safety).

I'm ok with another OL. I don't care which position we draft, just get pro-bowlers like Martin and Fredbeard at any position. And if Free, Leary, and Parnell all leave via FA, then we can definitely use another OL. We just need to hit on our draft picks and get starters or, at min, good quality depth players.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Parnell played better than most rookie OTs including the ones that were really high draft picks.

Yeah, I don't really care if it's Free or Parnell. I just think at least one of them should be here next year because I don't trust a rookie to come in and start. I also don't think Free or Parnell have All Pro potential. Sure, Parnell is younger and has more upside, but I see his ceiling being a little better than Free is right now. I'd rather try to get another stud at RT. But I think our best option for next year is Free or Parnell.

 

[xwalker]

I'm ok with another OL. I don't care which position we draft, just get pro-bowlers like Martin and Fredbeard at any position. And if Free, Leary, and Parnell all leave via FA, then we can definitely use another OL. We just need to hit on our draft picks and get starters or, at min, good quality depth players.

Leary is a restricted Free Agent. He will be back next year.

I'll be shocked if neither Free or Parnell are re-signed.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Leary is a restricted Free Agent. He will be back next year.

I'll be shocked if neither Free or Parnell are re-signed.

Thanks. That's good we get at least another year with Leary. I'd also like Free and Parnell back. I still think Parnell's best position is guard.

 

[bark]

Hitchens was definitely an UDFA projection from everywhere I looked prior to the draft.

Those "paper scouts", many with connections within the league, forgot more about football than you'll ever know. They're the same ones claiming the Cowboys have been drafting poorly for the better part of 20 years. They may know something.

I'm not interested in a free pass from the team's cheering section. I'm just stating my opinion on the player and why I think that way. The same process leaves me praising other picks. You simply lack the maturity to handle it when it's negative. The good news is, around here, that makes you normal. Pull up a chair and a drool cup.

Because if I know, as much as you can know in the draft, that I can get that player in the 4th round I'd be getting less value and talent taking him in the 1st. Because I could take a more consensus 1st round projection at that spot and the sleeper player I like later. Instead of taking that sleeper in the 1st and a lesser prospect than the 1st rounder I would have otherwise taken.

You want to draft the player where he's about to go off the board. Not a round or two earlier.

Sure glad we didn't take this approach with Travis Fredrick

 

[waving monkey]

Hitchens was definitely an UDFA projection from everywhere I looked prior to the draft.

Those "paper scouts", many with connections within the league, forgot more about football than you'll ever know. They're the same ones claiming the Cowboys have been drafting poorly for the better part of 20 years. They may know something.

I'm not interested in a free pass from the team's cheering section. I'm just stating my opinion on the player and why I think that way. The same process leaves me praising other picks. You simply lack the maturity to handle it when it's negative. The good news is, around here, that makes you normal. Pull up a chair and a drool cup.

I am certain your paper scouts know more then myself, please give your scouts a little credit.
From my drool cup I watch a rookie get on the field and preform at three different position and knowing
those positions in an admirable manner and producing the stats his producing .That player is playing
well above your paper scouts evaluation. "seeing" at this level [NFL} in real game time is the marker.
Not understanding this may require some fan coaching. There are several qualified senior fans here
at Cowboyzone that may be willing to coach you up but you'd have to pay more then you do those paper scouts.

 

[waving monkey]

On the flip side of that argument, if you lose a player that you're convinced can play because you tried to wait it out in the draft then that's not good either.

The Cowboys have done well when the drafted players that they really focused on prior to the draft and have had problems when they drafted players that they didn't really focus on prior to the draft.

Callahan personally worked out Fred prior to the draft and according to Fred spent a significant amount of time with him.

Dooley and several of the Cowboys staff spent significant time scouting T. Williams prior to the draft.

The Cowboys spent a lot of time scouting and researching Dez prior to drafting him.

The Cowboys didn't not meet with Claiborne at all prior to the draft. It appears they didn't really do in depth research on him because they didn't expect to be trading up where they knew he would be drafted. The Rams called Jerry and made the deal to trade up for what was a relatively cheap price to move up that much.

The Cowboys missed a player that was their top target in the 2009 draft (Max Unger). They could have traded all of their other 11 picks in that draft to move into the 1st round and "reach" for Unger and they would have been much more successful.

What people also leave out of the Hitchens discussion is that you can't prove that players that were called a reach were really a reach, but you can prove that draft media was wrong on players that they had rated higher than where they were picked. Many of the draft media had a guy like Jeffcoat as about a 3rd round pick. Some of them had him as a 2nd rounder at one point. He ended up as a UDFA. That's proof that the draft media was wrong on that player. It's highly likely that they were wrong in the other direction, but it's impossible to prove it. A beat writer for the Seahawks did say on twitter that the Seahawks were planning to take Hitchens with their next pick and were disappointed that the Cowboys got him ahead of them.

thank you

 

[bark]

I am certain your paper scouts know more then myself, please give your scouts a little credit.
From my drool cup I watch a rookie get on the field and preform at three different position and knowing
those positions in an admirable manner and producing the stats his producing .That player is playing
well above your paper scouts evaluation. "seeing" at this level [NFL} in real game time is the marker.
Not understanding this may require some fan coaching. There are several qualified senior fans here
at Cowboyzone that may be willing to coach you up but you'd have to pay more then you do those paper scouts.

Sadly I can only give you one like for this

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Leary is a restricted Free Agent. He will be back next year.

I'll be shocked if neither Free or Parnell are re-signed.

Agreed. One of them will be back next season.

 

[Risen Star]

It all depends how much Free is looking for? He may like being a part of this team, like where he lives, and be willing to re-sign at a reasonable rate.

Martin gives you flexibility there too. If the team believes he can play RT and a Guard is easier & cheaper to sign, then you can go that way.

We have to be selective on where we use the cap resources. You know you want to keep Smith, Frederick and Martin long term. You don't want to pay a 4th veteran contract along the OL, IMO. If it's a short term deal that doesn't overlap those future deals, great. If not, see ya later. We can easily do better than Free.

 

[xwalker]

It all depends how much Free is looking for? He may like being a part of this team, like where he lives, and be willing to re-sign at a reasonable rate.

Martin gives you flexibility there too. If the team believes he can play RT and a Guard is easier & cheaper to sign, then you can go that way.

They should just re-sign Parnell now and they won't have to worry about Free.

 

[Zman5]

Whats the hurry? Where's he gonna go?

I can see him going to KC before signing here for a vet minimum. Reid has always like him. Even though many fans think he is scrub, he has been playing descent enough lately to do better than a vet minimum contract.

 

[yimyammer]

I can see him going to KC before signing here for a vet minimum. Reid has always like him. Even though many fans think he is scrub, he has been playing descent enough lately to do better than a vet minimum contract.

Don't you think he'd prefer o stay in Dallas if given the choice?

Unless he gets a crazy offer, I suspect they can resign him if they want to. If not, next man up imo

 

[Zman5]

Don't you think he'd prefer o stay in Dallas if given the choice?

Unless he gets a crazy offer, I suspect they can resign him if they want to. If not, next man up imo

Similar money, probably. But if he can get more, and it doesn't have to be crazy more, why would he want to stay?

Vet minimum for him would be $720,000 next year. I can see him getting $1 million plus per year somewhere.

 

[yimyammer]

Similar money, probably. But if he can get more, and it doesn't have to be crazy more, why would he want to stay?

Vet minimum for him would be $720,000 next year. I can see him getting $1 million plus per year somewhere.

Family, perhaps he likes playing for Dallas, likes his team mates, coach, direction of the team, living in Dallas. I'm not sure a few hundred thousand would be enough to lose him if he's that highly thought of by the coaches. A million dollar contract vs $720,000 doesn't seem like a big enough difference for him and mgt not to be able to work something out