Jerry Jones Doesn't Expect Cowboys To Be Big Spenders In Free Agency

[kramskoi]

We need more than a stop gap at defensive end though. We need a difference maker. Dwight Freeney hasn't been that I'm 3 years.

The biggest problem of the Garrett/Marinelli era has been defensive passer rating, which is annually around 95 - 105. This means that the Cowboys are getting few negative plays, sacks, INTs and forced fumbles. It also means that opposing QB are having more time to find holes on the back end. The Lawrence - Gregory experiment is in it's third year and so far Dallas has only 9 sacks (all by Lawrence) to show for it. Two top draft picks in as many years...and neither are a difference maker right now for the Cowboys...at least not to the level where DC's lose sleep over how to account for them on every play. The Cowboys basically need a Greg Hardy...without the drama and mental/personality problems. They also need a stud at 3 tech. Get those two guys into the line and this team is good enough on offense to contend for a world title over multiple years going forward. I just don't think the Cowboys have the luxury of waiting two or three more years for draftees to pan out...or not.

They will likely end up picking near the bottom of the first round...and the only way I would personally agree with trading up is if they can land the top DE, or possibly the runner up...otherwise it's too much to give up.

 

[vaturkey]

I think we tangle a 2nd round draft choice out there and we can find a young veteran DE somewhere that has high up side, but whose team doesn't have the cap space to resign. I agree that if we are picking late in the first round a true difference maker isn't going to be there.

 

[Risen Star]

 

[Doomsday]

We need more than a stop gap at defensive end though. We need a difference maker. Dwight Freeney hasn't been that I'm 3 years.

It is great to say we need more than a stop gap like Cameron Wake or some one like that, but I would love to know where you plan to get an elite pass rusher from? Probably not happening in FA or the bottom of the draft and even if you do hit on a pass rusher in the draft it usually takes a couple of seasons for them to develop.

What is the downside in bringing in some one to the young guys can learn from, who can also be an effective situational pass rusher?

 

[cowboy_ron]

The better drafting teams have less need for overpaying mediocre talent……....bottom tier teams like Cleveland and philly that are terrible at drafting rely heavily on free agency every year.

 

[Broges74]

Rather build through the draft but nothing wrong with adding an aging vet to a one year deal while our prized 1st rd pick develops. 2017 draft is heavy with pass rushers. We might need to move up to get one but we've built enough hits up in the draft to spend some picks to move up.

 

[conner01]

JPP was having a fantastic season, Conner

7 sacks is good but not elite. When he was trying to get a new deal before he wanted elite money was my point. He's a good pass rusher but he's not an elite pass rusher

 

[Trouty]

7 sacks is good but not elite. When he was trying to get a new deal before he wanted elite money was my point. He's a good pass rusher but he's not an elite pass rusher

He isn't elite, but he's in the upper echelon of 4-3 edge rushers. He would be a fantastic land for us if the money and term were right. But @MichaelWinicki has already stated that he doesn't want to leave NY, so I suppose it's moot.

He was having a Pro Bowl season before he went down. Beyond the sacks, I believe he was leading the league in QB pressures. He's also a fierce run stopper.

 

[Blackspider214]

The only position I would spend big on is an edge rusher. That's it. And I have no idea which ones will be free this offseason. Most teams do not let a premier position like that free unless they are on the decline. That position can change your whole defense.

Anything else we can find in the draft and keep doing what we are doing. And at that, we can find an edge rusher in the early rounds as well.

 

[Nightman]

The only position I would spend big on is an edge rusher. That's it. And I have no idea which ones will be free this offseason. Most teams do not let a premier position like that free unless they are on the decline. That position can change your whole defense.

Anything else we can find in the draft and keep doing what we are doing. And at that, we can find an edge rusher in the early rounds as well.

Right now it looks like Chandler Jones-ARI.........Melvin Ingram-SD.......JPP-NYG are the top guys

 

[conner01]

He isn't elite, but he's in the upper echelon of 4-3 edge rushers. He would be a fantastic land for us if the money and term were right. But @MichaelWinicki has already stated that he doesn't want to leave NY, so I suppose it's moot.

He was having a Pro Bowl season before he went down. Beyond the sacks, I believe he was leading the league in QB pressures. He's also a fierce run stopper.

He would be nice to have. Anyone with the potential for double digit sacks is good. I just don't think the market for him is going to be what he thinks it will

 

[Trouty]

He would be nice to have. Anyone with the potential for double digit sacks is good. I just don't think the market for him is going to be what he thinks it will

He's getting over 10m aav (and I wholeheartedly agree with your first two sentences, Conner).

 

[LocimusPrime]

He's getting over 10m aav (and I wholeheartedly agree with your first two sentences, Conner).

 

[MagicMan]

Don't think even Jerry can know what the Cowboys will do in FA. It all depends on who you can resign and how the draft goes. Injuries also a factor. Jerry should just learn when to keep his Johnny Walker blue hole shut. But I think putting pressure from outside will be a need and normally rookies don't come in and pull a Dak Prescott from the get go.

 

[LocimusPrime]

He isn't elite, but he's in the upper echelon of 4-3 edge rushers. He would be a fantastic land for us if the money and term were right. But @MichaelWinicki has already stated that he doesn't want to leave NY, so I suppose it's moot.

He was having a Pro Bowl season before he went down. Beyond the sacks, I believe he was leading the league in QB pressures. He's also a fierce run stopper.

 

[reddyuta]

for what its worth the salary cap will jump 10 million next year,if we sign somebody i hope its on the DL.

 

[Bluefin]

or what its worth the salary cap will jump 10 million next year,if we sign somebody i hope its on the DL.

I'd say at least $10M.

The initial projection that was released today for 2017 is always a low ball estimate.

The actual number will not come out until the owners' meeting in March and the cap could easily go up by $12-$15M.

And that number is unadjusted. Each team has its own adjusted salary cap number which includes carryover, unused cap space from the prior season, and dead money, cap space deducted for bonus money given to players no longer on the roster.

Looking at just the top 7 cap hits next year, Dallas can open up $42M or more with a few strokes of the pen (most restructures are built in large contracts and don't require talking to players' agents).

1. Tony Romo - $24.7M - Trade/release nets $4.635M ($5.1M savings - $0.465K minimum salary taking his spot). While it seems unlikely now, maybe Romo would agree to taking a pay cut ($14M base salary) if going to another team doesn't happen.

2. Dez Bryant - $17M - Base salary ($13M) is already fully guaranteed, restructure over remaining 3 season creates $8M, adding two seasons would push it to $9.6M.

3. Tyron Smith - $15.8M - Restructure creates $7.2M.

4. Travis Frederick - $14.871M - Base salary (14.221M) is already fully guaranteed, restructure creates $10.4M.

5. Sean Lee - $12.45M - Number reflects $2M salary escalator about to be reached, restructure over remaining 3 seasons creates $3.34M, adding two seasons would push it to $4.4M.

6. Jason Witten - $12.262M - Last year of contract, a two year extension could create $4M.

7. Tyrone Crawford - $10.35M - Base salary ($7.25M) becomes fully guaranteed third day on 2017 league year. Crawford could be designated as a June cut ($6.785M net savings) but I don't expect that. A restructure over the remaining four years would create $4.5M.

The Cowboys do not have to do all of the above, these are just the most likely contracts to address.

Just Romo, Frederick, Witten and Smith can open up over $26M.

 

[Nightman]

I'd say at least $10M.

The initial projection that was released today for 2017 is always a low ball estimate.

The actual number will not come out until the owners' meeting in March and the cap could easily go up by $12-$15M.

And that number is unadjusted. Each team has its own adjusted salary cap number which includes carryover, unused cap space from the prior season, and dead money, cap space deducted for bonus money given to players no longer on the roster.

Looking at just the top 7 cap hits next year, Dallas can open up $42M or more with a few strokes of the pen (most restructures are built in large contracts and don't require talking to players' agents).

1. Tony Romo - $24.7M - Trade/release nets $4.635M ($5.1M savings - $0.465K minimum salary taking his spot). While it seems unlikely now, maybe Romo would agree to taking a pay cut ($14M base salary) if going to another team doesn't happen.

2. Dez Bryant - $17M - Base salary ($13M) is already fully guaranteed, restructure over remaining 3 season creates $8M, adding two seasons would push it to $9.6M.

3. Tyron Smith - $15.8M - Restructure creates $7.2M.

4. Travis Frederick - $14.871M - Base salary (14.221M) is already fully guaranteed, restructure creates $10.4M.

5. Sean Lee - $12.45M - Number reflects $2M salary escalator about to be reached, restructure over remaining 3 seasons creates $3.34M, adding two seasons would push it to $4.4M.

6. Jason Witten - $12.262M - Last year of contract, a two year extension could create $4M.

7. Tyrone Crawford - $10.35M - Base salary ($7.25M) becomes fully guaranteed third day on 2017 league year. Crawford could be designated as a June cut ($6.785M net savings) but I don't expect that. A restructure over the remaining four years would create $4.5M.

The Cowboys do not have to do all of the above, these are just the most likely contracts to address.

Just Romo, Frederick, Witten and Smith can open up over $26M.

Great stuff......plus they can save 5m with a cut to Free, 1.5m with Hanna, 1.25m with Wilber....I expect they will carry-over 6-8m.....the cap is not a problem at all.......there is up to 60m in space available

 

[Bluefin]

Great stuff......plus they can save 5m with a cut to Free, 1.5m with Hanna, 1.25m with Wilber....I expect they will carry-over 6-8m.....the cap is not a problem at all.......there is up to 60m in space available

I've gone back and forth with Doug Free.

He'd probably be in a lot more trouble if Chaz Green could stay healthy. The team may ask Free to take a pay cut this off-season and compete for his starting job next year. Free's reduced base salary could be fully guaranteed, and incentives would allow him to make back the lost salary if he remained the starter.

We need another young OT, but Free's roster spot looks safe. It isn't even out of the question that he may get extended for 1-2 years.

I agree that James Hanna and Kyle Wilber are likely out the door. Even if Hanna recovers, Geoff Swaim offers more as a receiver. Wilber is only a special teams player going forward. That's important, but he wasn't drafted to play in the 4-3 and will likely get churned.

 

[Nightman]

I've gone back and forth with Doug Free.

He'd probably be in a lot more trouble if Chaz Green could stay healthy. The team may ask Free to take a pay cut this off-season and compete for his starting job next year. Free's reduced base salary could be fully guaranteed, and incentives would allow him to make back the lost salary if he remained the starter.

We need another young OT, but Free's roster spot looks safe. It isn't even out of the question that he may get extended for 1-2 years.

I agree that James Hanna and Kyle Wilber are likely out the door. Even if Hanna recovers, Geoff Swaim offers more as a receiver. Wilber is only a special teams player going forward. That's important, but he wasn't drafted to play in the 4-3 and will likely get churned.

Either way Free isn't a 5m a year player......I expect a huge pay cut and demotion to swing OT.......I know Green isn't healthy but Free isn't good.....Collins and Leary are hurt all the time as well but nobody busts their chops