DuncanIso
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Unlike Dak Prescott whose contract expires next March, the Cowboys have a 5th year option on Zeke, and Jaylon Smith will be a Restricted Free agent in 2020. There is no good business reason for the Cowboys to rush to extend the contracts of Zeke or Jaylon Smith in 2019.
The following players have contracts that expire, but will be Restricted Free Agents that the Cowboys can retain with tender offers:
The Cowboys shouldn't even be considering negotiating long term deals with any players who they are not in danger of losing a year from now, including all restricted free agent candidates, and Zeke Elliott, whose contract doesn't expire until March of 2021.
- The TE Rico Gathers - RFA
- TE Blake Jarwin - RFA
- PK Brett Maher - ERFA
- OC Adam Redmond - RFA
- DT Daniel Ross - RFA
- QB Cooper Rush - RFA
- FS Jamiell Showers - ERFA
- LB Jaylon Smith
- DT Antwaun Woods - ERFA
Here are the contracts that ARE expiring next year without the Cowboys ability to keep them from becoming free agents unless they use a franchise tag (in alphabetical order):
The top priorities for getting contract extensions completed are QB Dak Prescott and WR Amari Cooper. It really doesn't matter which order they do them in, as long as both get done this summer. After that, the Cowboys have decisions to make on 4 key players highlighted in blue. If I were to prioritize the 6 key players the Cowboys should be negotiating with, it would be in this order:
- WR Tavon Austin
- CB Anthony Brown
- WR Randall Cobb
- OT La'el Collins
- DT Maliek Collins
- WR Amari Cooper
- DT Christian Covington
- SS Kavon Frazier
- CB C.J. Goodwin
- FS Jeff Heath
- WR Allen Hurns
- DE Kerry Hyder
- SS George Iloka
- CB Byron Jones
- LS L.P. Ladouceur
- LB Sean Lee
- OC Joe Looney
- LB Justin March-Lillard
- QB Dak Prescott
- DE Robert Quinn
- FS Darian Thompson
After Prescott and Cooper, I would try to sign Anthony Brown to an extenstion next - mainly because he's a valuable slot corner, and I think I would be more likely to have success signing him to an extension during this year. For Byron Jones, I'd let his contract ride, and decide to either franchise him next year and negotiate a new deal like they did with Lawrence this season, or let him walk. I think both Maliek Collins and La'el Collins are going to be allowed to test free agency.
- QB Dak Prescott
- WR Amari Cooper
- CB Anthony Brown
- CB Byron Jones
- DT Maliek Collins
- OT La'el Collins
There are a few veterans signed to one-year deals who you might try to resign next year to inexpensive new deals. But the time to make those decisions is next February.
Bottom line, the Cowboys only really have 4 players they should be seriously considering for new deals now: Prescott, Cooper, Brown and Jones. Everyone else can wait for next year.
Glad you are NOT the GM.
Pay Zeke.