Jerry facing his most daunting offseason since Jimmy left

[erod]

After this amazing season and whatever lies ahead these next 35 days, Jerry Jones faces perhaps his tightest off-season since Jimmy Johnson left.

Decisions/contracts/ restructures have to be made on:

Will McClay
Jason Garrett
Scott Linehan
Rod Marinelli
Bill Callahan

Dez Bryant
Demarco Murray
Doug Free
Ron Leary
Jermey Parnell
Cole Beasley
Dwayne Harris
Lance Dunbar

Rolando McClain
Bruce Carter
Sean Lee
Sterling Moore
Henry Melton
Anthony Spencer
George Selvie
Nick Hayden
Brandon Carr
Justin Durant
Morris Claiborne

Chris Jones

And others who are less critical decisions.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Regardless of what happens to the people on this list. This upcoming draft must produce at least 2 or 3 immediate starters on defense.

 

[jgboys1]

Will McClay
Jason Garrett
Scott Linehan
Rod Marinelli


Dez Bryant
Demarco Murray

Rolando McClain

Sean Lee

That would be my list of must stays. I hope JJ can get it done.

 

[erod]

Regardless of what happens to the people on this list. This upcoming draft must produce at least 2 or 3 immediate starters on defense.

Going to be tougher without a top 25 pick.

 

[Tabascocat]

Lee is not going anywhere, just whether to re-structure or not, he has that new contract.

I would say let Harris go but he is too valuable on ST's but we might need to find a new returner.

 

[MissouriCowboy]

I think some guys like Melton will be easy to l et go.

 

[erod]

Will McClay
Jason Garrett
Scott Linehan
Rod Marinelli


Dez Bryant
Demarco Murray

Rolando McClain

Sean Lee

That would be my list of must stays. I hope JJ can get it done.

So you are ok with gutting the offensive and defensive lines, Beasley, and key defensive players?

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Regardless of what happens to the people on this list. This upcoming draft must produce at least 2 or 3 immediate starters on defense.

Odds are we will need to supplement the draft with new FAs in order to make that happen. It's going to be an expensive offseason for the team,,,,

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Regardless of what happens to the people on this list. This upcoming draft must produce at least 2 or 3 immediate starters on defense.

Expecting draft picks to immediately start, especially where the Cowboys are slated to pick, is a recipe for disaster. The Cowboys have been very fortunate the past several drafts. Tough job trying to repeat that year after year is setting the bar way too high. I don't think many teams hit paydirt with defensive starters from the past draft outside of the early picks in Barr, Mack, Donald, and Fuller. We got one in Hitchens. SF seems to have one in LB Borland. Not sure what other defensive picks turned into starters but I think the percentage might be low.

 

[jgboys1]

So you are ok with gutting the offensive and defensive lines, Beasley, and key defensive players?

I would like to keep everyone, but with cap restraints, you just can't. Murray and Dez are going to take a good chunk of our cap. If you can find a way of keeping everyone, then you should be a GM in the NFL.

 

[Dale]

Is Beasley unrestricted?

 

[Risen Star]

Is Beasley unrestricted?

I don't believe so. You need 4 years in the league to reach unrestricted status and Beasley only has 3.

 

[morasp]

I think first and foremost they need to focus on the coaches and McClay. Without McClay we probably don't have a lot players that have made a difference. With different coaches these same players could easily be playing a lot worse.

 

[dupree89]

This isn't just based on reading here, I also just read the JG story on Pro Football Talk.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/30/will-a-one-and-out-lead-to-jason-garretts-ouster/

You can go back through my posts, I am not one of the strong Garrett supporters. But I do like to give credit where it is due. (Like how he handled things immediately after the Josh Brent incident). Now to my point, I am surprised that there is even a question hanging over Jason Garrett's head. I pretty much thought that 12-4 and the division title automatically guarantees Garrett a new contract. This isn't the case? I just don't know how anyone, anyplace, can point the finger at JG when they are 8-8, and then when they get to 12-4 give credit to everyone except him.

 

[ringmaster]

Is Beasley unrestricted?

No he's restricted which means the team will have to match offers other teams that may want his services and given his skilliset there will be plenty of teams that will want him. I think that Dallas is not going to let him go without a fight he's too valuable to this team now and beyond.

 

[DBOY3141]

Expecting draft picks to immediately start, especially where the Cowboys are slated to pick, is a recipe for disaster. The Cowboys have been very fortunate the past several drafts. Tough job trying to repeat that year after year is setting the bar way too high. I don't think many teams hit paydirt with defensive starters from the past draft outside of the early picks in Barr, Mack, Donald, and Fuller. We got one in Hitchens. SF seems to have one in LB Borland. Not sure what other defensive picks turned into starters but I think the percentage might be low.

Agree. Hitchens is only starting because of injuries. If Lee and Durant don't get hurt, he never see's the field. When was the last time the Cowboys had 3 day one starters from the draft? The 1st rounder normally starts, but after that unless an injury happens, draft picks are back-ups.

 

[Cowboy06]

Regardless of what happens to the people on this list. This upcoming draft must produce at least 2 or 3 immediate starters on defense.

Is it still Christmas??? we need four or five...LOL...but I agree in all seriousness. I want to see more help on the DL and a playmaker in secondary...

 

[DFWJC]

Regardless of what happens to the people on this list. This upcoming draft must produce at least 2 or 3 immediate starters on defense.

I guess it could happen, but it's very, very highly unlikely.
If it produces that many eventual starters, it would be a massive success.

 

[Idgit]

Not worried about the coaching staff. They'll have a framework for the HC deal, and the rest of the pins will tumble down from there. Jerry will pay market rate where he can, and the cap won't affect us there.

It'll be interesting to see what we do with the personnel. Dez will get done. Free's injury makes me think extending and promoting Parnell and backfilling a tackle spot might be the smarter move now. I'd love to see Murray back on a reasonable deal, but don't see how that happens. The RFAs will all get reasonable tenders.

We've got lots of opportunity to upgrade the defense, so we'll probably target a few guys like McClain, Durant, and at least one of the CBs (maybe both, if there are reasonable deals to be had. Rather not have to find a CB, too, this offseason). We'll let the other guys test the market and see where we can improve ourselves via VFA. Then spend the rest of the draft on that side of the ball.

Also would like to see an upgrade at QB2, if there's one available. This job suddenly looks like a good place to rebuild a reputation if you can just beat out Brandon Weeden.

 

[ringmaster]

I would like to keep everyone, but with cap restraints, you just can't. Murray and Dez are going to take a good chunk of our cap. If you can find a way of keeping everyone, then you should be a GM in the NFL.

Dez will be priority number one as for Murray, he is a very good RB so if he wants a bigger contract than the team is willing to give him then they will regretfully have to let him walk.
As for everyone else the ones I think won't be here next sesson are: Brandon Carr, Bill Callahan, Dwayne Harris, Doug Free, Henry Melton, Justin Durant, and possibly another assistant coach.