Keeping Zeke in 23 vs Releasing him

[jazzcat22]

Designating Zeke a post-June 1st release will split the dead money between 2023 and 2024, or $5.9M each season, which will result in almost $11M in savings for 2023.
Regarding Dak, his contract will be restructured so his 2023 cap hit will be dramatically reduced at the expense of adding later years to the deal.

Therefore, just between those 2 moves Dallas can expect to easily free up a minimum of $30M for 2023 with the prospect of releasing DLaw in 2024 ($9M in dead money split as a post-June 1st release so $11.5M in 2023 savings) as Lamb, Diggs, and Parsons deals will be hitting then.

This is the best explanation I have seen for this.
I think they renegotiate though, however it may also depend on further post season success. We know how loyal Jerry is.

Being a Zeke fan I would hate to see him go, but if it happens, it happens. Whatever they think is best for the team.

In an extension, as they will with Dak, as long as both are more than a few years, but written so they can still get out of the contract with minimal cap hit in 2 years, on both.

Just remember what they save on Zeke, will go to Pollard, so cap wise, they still may be in the same situation. With renegotiations, that money may still go to Pollad. Zeke taking an actual pay cut would be best.

 

[tm1119]

A lot of talk about Zeke’s contract (it’s 100% bad)…I’m surprised there’s no talk of DLaw too. He’s due a $23M next year, which will make him (as of now) a top 10 paid defensive player in football. Not sure there’s any incentive for him to renegotiate either. While it’s a little different because Lawrence is at least productive still, but if you want to talk about potential cap issues next year Lawrence definitely belongs high on the list of the conversation.

 

[RonnieT24]

All they care about and know about football is stats and cap cost. For them football is getting the most bang for the buck per player. That's it. For them the game is all about the cap, not about the actual game on the field. I wish I had the time and energy to go through all of the posts, people would have literally traded away any player who had value for draft picks. Let's trade Parson's for a 1st and 2nd. Let's trade Dak for a 3rd and 4th, let's trade CD for a 1st while he is worth something, Let's trade Zeke for a ham sammich so we can eat today. You can go back and look at any player we have and has been good and I promise you there is a long thread about trading them for draft picks because "the team isn't going anywhere anyways".

It's mind boggling. These are the kinda guys who get caught ogling the hot bridesmaid at their own wedding. Already planning on their NEXT ex-wife. Some people apparently are incapable of living in the moment.. I don't get it.. and frankly I don't want to. I'm not going to allow any of them to suck the joy out of my team's playoff run!!

 

[thunderpimp91]

Dak's contract is built to convert most of it to bonus to free up more money.

What does doing that mean for the cap though? Honest question as I am far from a cap guru, but typically whenever that gets done it pushes the cap hit into future years. With Daks contract almost up I'm just not sure where else they can hide that hit? Also if he signs a new extension can that do away with the money put towards the voided years? If not it almost feels like Dallas just needs to bite the bullet to avoid more pain in 2024/2025.

 

[Crown Royal]

I love Zeke, have defended him for years and believe he is the heart of the offense in many ways. Cutting him June 1 is a no-brainer and will be the first call they make in the offseason.

 

[thunderpimp91]

A lot of talk about Zeke’s contract (it’s 100% bad)…I’m surprised there’s no talk of DLaw too. He’s due a $23M next year, which will make him (as of now) a top 10 paid defensive player in football. Not sure there’s any incentive for him to renegotiate either. While it’s a little different because Lawrence is at least productive still, but if you want to talk about potential cap issues next year Lawrence definitely belongs high on the list of the conversation.

Why talk about that one if there really isn't anything you can do about it though. DLaw seems completely safe until next offseason. I would imagine the only conversation around DLaw is do you pay him next year then cut him or restructure him but that probably locks you into two more years of keeping him.

 

[quickccc]

Dak's contract is built to convert most of it to bonus to free up more money.

i'd only do that kind of cap manuever for an ascending core player.

Unfortunately Zeke is no longer a core player anymore.
He's really a backup now. He's a specialist role goal line player now.
A mere grinding bell cow now.

 

[John813]

So what's the issue with cutting him after June 1st

Nothing, just don't get the cap saving till June 1st. Can be used towards the rookie pool I guess.
Basically riding with his cap hit till June 1st.

 

[Hoofbite]

We're in the middle of a potentially magical playoff run and you people can't stop yourselves from worrying about next year's cap? What is wrong wit yall?

Lol. I'm a cap worrier at times but this is the correct answer. Enjoy what you might have right now

 

[jblaze2004]

There is no way we keep him at that big cap amount for a very pedestrian like numbers. We could draft a 2nd or 3rd round back to do what he is doing or get a vet min guy. Zeke looks done.

 

[Adiba1977]

He sucks. Every starting rb and back up probably better. Why would u want keep him?

 

[catiii]

Zeke's lost it. Ditch him, Anyone in the draft could perform as well. Keep Pollard at all costs. Jerry is a buffoon paying out big money (EGO) to a RB which then screws the team in later years.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Nothing, just don't get the cap saving till June 1st. Can be used towards the rookie pool I guess.
Basically riding with his cap hit till June 1st.

I gotcha now hey, use it for players during the year

 

[quickccc]

After June 1st. 10.9mil available after June 1st but a dead cap hit of 6million in 2023.
So, long term it's a wash.


I think they will go to him to talk about a paycut first. He's due 10.9mil in salary next year. Maybe cut that by 40-50% without the use of restructuring.

Dallas will use the restructing method as needed to create cap space. Then you got guys like Tyron Smith whose future isn't locked in stone here.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/ezekiel-elliott-18952/

https://overthecap.com/player/ezekiel-elliott/4717

Cowboys have a potential Opt out in 2023 for Zeke's contract.

- They can (and will) toy and play with Tyron another year with LT and Tyler to LG, ..and ride that until Tyron physically cannot return to football any longer.
I believe In Cowboys minds, if Tyron can still physically hold his own, they will gamble it out, squeeze that contract juice out, until he cannot hold his own anymore.

- Tyler's ability to play both OT and OG, will give them that flexibility. He'll eventually be entrenched at one position- to where he can master that position.
But until the Tyron Smith saga is over ...

 

[CWR]

Someone help me out here if I am wrong but looking at his cap hit next year which is 16.7 million. If we out right release him the dead money hit would be 11.9 million resulting is a savings of nearly 5 million.

Considering we only have 5 million in projected cap right now with 43 players signed and some young players that will be looking for big contracts over the next couple of years (Diggs, CeeDee, Parsons) Maybe it's the right time to move on from Zeke. He's not a bad compliment RB but he's certainly not a featured back anymore and most would agree Pollard is better.

Also interestingly enough, Dak's 2022 cap hit was 19.7 million, 2023 is 49.1 million, nearly 25% of the available cap.

They will move some of Daks money towards his two void years.

 

[CWR]

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/ezekiel-elliott-18952/

https://overthecap.com/player/ezekiel-elliott/4717

Cowboys have a potential Opt out in 2023 for Zeke's contract.

- They can (and will) toy and play with Tyron another year with LT and Tyler to LG, ..and ride that until Tyron physically cannot return to football any longer.
I believe In Cowboys minds, if Tyron can still physically hold his own, they will gamble it out, squeeze that contract juice out, until he cannot hold his own anymore.

- Tyler's ability to play both OT and OG, will give them that flexibility. He'll eventually be entrenched at one position- to where he can master that position.
But until the Tyron Smith saga is over ...

If you have the depth to ride out his injuries you hang on as long as you can, because he really is that good. Now that we can swing Tyler out there I wouldn't consider parting ways with Tyron.

 

[quickccc]

We're in the middle of a potentially magical playoff run and you people can't stop yourselves from worrying about next year's cap? What is wrong wit yall?

lol ..... So does this mean we should be forbidden to even discuss a possible Zeke departure ?

I know you have an outrageous pro- bias for Zeke, so any Zeke departure talk must be killing you, but I hardly think a Zeke contract & future discussion on a forum board.
is gonna affect what happens on the field Sunday vs Niners.

 

[MyFairLady]

Football teams always get better when the move on from from washed up older players and get younger and cheaper. That is the only proper course of action here. Unfortunately our front office is run by a drunken buffoon who loves him some Zeke.

 

[RonnieT24]

lol ..... So does this mean we should be forbidden to even discuss a possible Zeke departure ?

I know you have an outrageous pro- bias for Zeke, so any Zeke departure talk must be killing you, but I hardly think a Zeke contract & future discussion on a forum board.
is gonna affect what happens on the field Sunday vs Niners.

It's a free country so people can talk about whatever suits their fancy and nothing said here is going to affect what happens on the field.. like.. ever. My point is that people too miserable to enjoy what we're being presented with on the field are not the kind of people I want to be associated with in any way. We have 9 months to figure out next season... But first we have maybe as little as 4 days left to enjoy what THIS team is doing right now. I'm not interested in letting the worry about next year suck the joy out of these next few days. Fine if others want to do it.. I just won't be joining them. This is playoff season.. I have no energy for offseason until it's offseason. YMMV.

 

[quickccc]

It's a free country so people can talk about whatever suits their fancy and nothing said here is going to affect what happens on the field.. like.. ever. My point is that people too miserable to enjoy what we're being presented with on the field are not the kind of people I want to be associated with in any way. We have 9 months to figure out next season... But first we have maybe as little as 4 days left to enjoy what THIS team is doing right now. I'm not interested in letting the worry about next year suck the joy out of these next few days. Fine if others want to do it.. I just won't be joining them. This is playoff season.. I have no energy for offseason until it's offseason. YMMV.

9 Months ?
Nope i would not think so. Once playoffs decides to continue on or go home to re-plan 2023. Those 2023 plans has to get going the moment the 2022 playoff season is over.
That's coaching,- departures, promotions, re-signings or outside new hirings ..its free agency period ... cap roster plans ..contracts negotiations or cap casualties .. NFL draft plans....
.there's too much more of that cannot wait until training camp time.

i think maybe the talk of the Cowboys possibly moving on without Zeke may have you paranoid in some sorts, otherwise this would be your typical, average
good ole Cowboys Fan Zone football thread.