Jerry facing his most daunting offseason since Jimmy left

[Verdict]

Very good observation and while Witten is getting up there in age I don't really see him declining as you do but as for his cap number that is another story.

I think the fact that Witten wasn't restructured last year is evidence that the Cowboys organization is keeping its options open on Witten going forward, which is a prudent way of approaching the matter. I think Witten will probably hang around for another year ..... and I would love to see him get a rign with Romo, as he has earned it .... but his cap number is just way too high for his current level of production.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Wow didnt realize there was so many fa's. Going to be a real tough offseason. They need to sign dez for 10mil or under a year and restructure a ton of contracts.

 

[aikemirv]

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.

Most of those guys are easily signable deals I think UNLESS we win the Superbowl and these guys get some SB bonus on their deal. These guys are just role players for the most part. Hayden, Selvie, Melton, Spencer, Free or Parnell (just make sure you keep one of them)

I would love to keep Carter based on the last few weeks but he may not be able to fit in - He may get a healthy offer.

Claiborne - no brainer - let him walk or come back on the cheap - he is not getting any good offers out there. Sterling Moore is a higher priority

You cant break the bank for Demarco - love the guy, but you cant tie up a ton of money in him

 

[ringmaster]

I think the fact that Witten wasn't restructured last year is evidence that the Cowboys organization is keeping its options open on Witten going forward, which is a prudent way of approaching the matter. I think Witten will probably hang around for another year ..... and I would love to see him get a rign with Romo, as he has earned it .... but his cap number is just way too high for his current level of production.

I see where you're coming from with that and that is one of the reasons Gavin Escobar was drafted and he has shown signs this season that he can be a the replacement once Witten is gone or retired and if the Cowboys want Witten to restructure his deal then I think Jason would probably do it being that he's a team guy.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Actually, I think you probably should be able to get three starters out of next year's draft class on defense, if necessary. That side of the ball is currently the weak link. Hitchens could have started on defense this year (and he actually has), and he was a 4th round pick. Depending on who defects this year it would be possible to get a defensive end, 1 tech, a corner, and maybe a safety as an upgrade that could start for us next year.

Probably should be able to get three starters?

In the 1st round of the 2014 draft, 19 defensive players were drafted. Seven (7) of them started at least half their team's games.
In the 2nd through 7th rounds of the 2014 draft, 111 defensive players were drafted. Ten (10) of them started at least half their team's games.
That's 17 out of 130 guys who started half their team's games. And you only get one chance at the first-rounders.
The other 113 guys managed a total of 89 starts between them.

Three teams managed to get 2 of the starters (OAK, STL, WAS). Nobody got 3.

Yeah, I get that we have a low bar for starting at a lot of defensive positions. But we'll still be very very lucky to get 2 guys from the draft who start a lot of games. It would be pretty miraculous to get 3.

 

[TrailBlazer]

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.

Must keep:
Dez
Free
Leary
Beasley
Dunbar if he's cheap enough

Ro
Lee
Moore
Spencer
Durant
Claiborne is still under contract?
Probably restructure Carr and Melton too

 

[TwoDeep3]

Restructure - -

Carr
Romo
Smith

Sign - -

Dez
Free
RoMc
Beasley
Leary

Draft - -
DE
DT
OT
CB

Free Agent - -

DE

Franchise - -

Murray

Now this is my projection. Dallas is about a minute away from the big table. I think this is more like 1991 than anything else. It needs that pass rush to disrupt the timing of the passing game, and to move the QB off his comfort spot. My feeli9ng is Dallas beats Detroit and falls to GB. But the gap is closing.

Fix the defensive front, and with the linebackers this team will field next year, the defense will be top ten, and maybe top five. With the production of this offense, they will win it all if health stays with them. Especially since Dallas plays the NFC South next season.

2015 will be number Six, I think. Although I am still holding out hope for this year.

 

[Bluefin]

Is Beasley unrestricted?

Cole Beasley will be a restricted free agent.

The team will need use a 2nd round tender (est $2.405M) to keep other clubs from signing him away.

Dallas will sometimes try to get RFAs to sign two to three year contracts instead of the one year tender. The deals include as much or more guaranteed money than the one year tender, so the player isn't losing money.

RFAs can only sign one offer sheet from another team, if that happens, the Cowboys get a week to decide to match it and keep the player or let him go and take immediate draft pick compensation (when applicable).

Undrafted players like Beasley only bring immediate compensation if they are tendered at 1st or 2nd round level, original entry tenders bring nothing.

But they would still count as a net free agent loss, which helps get compensatory picks the following year.

Does anyone know what our compensatory picks might look like?

Found a site that guesses we'll be receiving a compensatory 4th.

 

[Nation]

Restricted Free Agents: Chris Jones, Lance Dunbar, Cole Beasley
Exclusive Rights Free Agents: Ron Leary

 

[Bluefin]

Restricted Free Agents: Chris Jones, Lance Dunbar, Cole Beasley
Exclusive Rights Free Agents: Ron Leary

Going by my research, Sterling Moore will also be a RFA and Darrion Weems will be an EFA.

 

[Nation]

Going by my research, Sterling Moore will also be a RFA and Darrion Weems will be an EFA.

Doesn't Moore have 4 years in the league? Or am I missing something due to his bouncing around from practice squad to main roster.

 

[Bluefin]

Doesn't Moore have 4 years in the league? Or am I missing something due to his bouncing around from practice squad to main roster.

Years in the league don't matter.

Salaries are determined by credited seasons, 3 games on the roster (bye weeks count).

Free agency status is determined by accrued seasons, which is 6 games on the roster at full pay.

Sterling Moore was only on the roster for the final five games in 2013, so he didn't accrue a season towards becoming a free agent.

 

[waving monkey]

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.

I let Murray walk and keep more players like Leary ,Beasley ect.

 

[manster4ever]

I let Murray walk and keep more players like Leary ,Beasley ect.

Might be right... Let him walk and draft a Rb in an insanely deep draft for that position and franchise Dez

 

[Bluefin]

I let Murray walk and keep more players like Leary ,Beasley ect.

Agreed.

No hard feelings towards DeMarco Murray, this is just a business decision I would make.

I want Murray to hit the open market and take the biggest deal that's offered.

He deserves it and it will also help Dallas in regards to getting 2016 compensatory draft picks.

The same goes for Bruce Carter, Henry Melton and either Doug Free or Jermey Parnell (one should be kept).

If Rolando McClain doesn't re-sign (he should) and gets a juicy deal from another team, I hope it's huge.

If Anthony Spencer, Justin Durant, Dwayne Harris, George Selvie or any of the other free agents leave for more than minimum deals, it will help get compensatory picks so long as we don't sign more free agents than we lose (which seems like a given).

 

[dfan32]

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.

I hate the though of letting Murray walk but according to cap articles I have read, keeping both would be nearly impossible and would leave you severely limited in regards to any other FA's. Murray ids a great back but he is easier to replace that Bryant is. Sometimes you have to make tough decisions.

 

[Cowboy06]

Cole Beasley will be a restricted free agent.

The team will need use a 2nd round tender (est $2.405M) to keep other clubs from signing him away.

Dallas will sometimes try to get RFAs to sign two to three year contracts instead of the one year tender. The deals include as much or more guaranteed money than the one year tender, so the player isn't losing money.

RFAs can only sign one offer sheet from another team, if that happens, the Cowboys get a week to decide to match it and keep the player or let him go and take immediate draft pick compensation (when applicable).

Undrafted players like Beasley only bring immediate compensation if they are tendered at 1st or 2nd round level, original entry tenders bring nothing.

But they would still count as a net free agent loss, which helps get compensatory picks the following year.



Found a site that guesses we'll be receiving a compensatory 4th.

Thanks for posting that. I was being lazy and should have done my homework. Who is this for? Hatcher?

 

[Bluefin]

Thanks for posting that.

No problem.

I was being lazy and should have done my homework. Who is this for? Hatcher?

Pretty much.

Receiving compensatory draft picks only occurs when there is a net loss or tie in unrestricted free agents (releases like DeMarcus Ware don't count) but Hatcher's the guy who got a big contract.