Let's cut Dez

[Sydla]

It seems to be a suggestion/plan that keeps gaining steam with some around here. I don't get it but let's explore it.

For starters, let's look at the cap implications. If you cut him in the 2018 league year, you take an $8MM dead cap hit but save $8.5MM. If you make him a June 1 designee, that's $4MM in dead money and $12.5MM in cap savings. More than likely, they would want the cap savings immediately because they will have holes to fill in FA.

Now let's look at roster implications.

Bryant is gone. Who is your #1 WR? The answer seems to be "Oh, just draft your new #1". This logic is folly on a few levels. For one, few WRs come in and immediately plant their flag as a legit #1 WR. Second, this isn't a strong draft in terms of WRs to begin with. There is no Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, AJ Green, Dez Bryant type in this draft.

Oh, maybe we can just sign a FA WR. OK...... here are the Top 3 WRs in free agency - Pryor, Wallace and Watkins. Any of those three strike you as legit #1s? Maybe Pryor with his upside but he's going to cost you and eat up whatever cap savings you had with cutting Bryant. And are you really better off with Pryor over Bryant? This might work IF you could get Pryor on a one year deal like Washington has. Little risk in that if he doesn't improve you have no long term implications but I am not sure he makes you better than if you had Bryant.

So I am fascinated by this cut Dez talk. I truly would love to see the plan some of you have come up with that involves cutting Dez and yet still improving the WR corps.

 

[EST_1986]

Lets cut you and the other Dez obsessed complainer @Verdict

 

[Sydla]

Lets cut you and the other Dez obsessed complainer @Verdict

Wait, do you think I am advocating for cutting Dez?

I suspect you didn't read my post then.

 

[IheartRomo]

Lets cut you and the other Dez obsessed complainer @Verdict

TL;DR?

 

[silver]

Lets cut you and the other Dez obsessed complainer @Verdict

I guess you only read the title.

 

[Vanilla2]

I’d be flabbergasted if Dez was cut this off season.

 

[CyberB0b]

So your argument is that you won't have a #1 receiver? We don't have one now.

 

[Jake]

It seems to be a suggestion/plan that keeps gaining steam with some around here. I don't get it but let's explore it.

For starters, let's look at the cap implications. If you cut him in the 2018 league year, you take an $8MM dead cap hit but save $8.5MM. If you make him a June 1 designee, that's $4MM in dead money and $12.5MM in cap savings. More than likely, they would want the cap savings immediately because they will have holes to fill in FA.

Now let's look at roster implications.

Bryant is gone. Who is your #1 WR? The answer seems to be "Oh, just draft your new #1". This logic is folly on a few levels. For one, few WRs come in and immediately plant their flag as a legit #1 WR. Second, this isn't a strong draft in terms of WRs to begin with. There is no Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, AJ Green, Dez Bryant type in this draft.

Let's see, the Cowboys are 25th in passing offense with Dez making big money as their "#1 receiver" so at most we drop 7 places in passing offense without him. Now let's look at some of the top ten teams:

New England, Pittsburgh, Chargers, Detroit, Chiefs, Rams, Seahawks, Vikings - where are all of those "#1 receivers"? Pittsburgh's best is a little guy taken in the 6th round. Adam Thielen? Chris Hogan? Tyreek Hill? Golden tate?

You're operating from a flawed premise, leading to a flawed conclusion. Spending a boatload on a big, physical receiver isn't necessary in 2017, unless your coaching staff is intent on running a 1990s offense.

 

[erod]

The guy hasn't had a 100-yard game in 20 consecutive games.

How much of that is his regression? How much of it is the inability of the rest of the WRs? How much of it is his lack of chemistry with Dak? How much of it is Linehan, or the unwillingness for the QB to go downfield?

It's a mixture of all that, I think.

You don't cut Dez. But he's wildly overpaid, and that money could better be spent. Problem is, cutting him brings it all due.

Perhaps an extension at a lower rate. More security in exchange for a more palatable dollar amount.

 

[EST_1986]

Wait, do you think I am advocating for cutting Dez?

I suspect you didn't read my post then.

Indeed I did not, figured it was another whiny *****y Dez thread; my apologies. Still I am advocating for cutting @Verdict

 

[T-RO]

We wouldn't need a great receiver to replace Dez's production per attempt. He's not even played like a top-20 receiver. The team's offense was outstanding in his absence last season.

Maybe there isn't a top-5 receiver in the draft, FA or via trade. That's fine. Don't over-draft one.

Add a couple of viable threats...get a top tight end, a receiver or two later in the draft

 

[zrinkill]

Indeed I did not, figured it was another whiny *****y Dez thread; my apologies. Still I am advocating for cutting @Verdict

Verdict and Xwalker

 

[erod]

Let's see, the Cowboys are 25th in passing offense with Dez making big money as their "#1 receiver" so at most we drop 7 places in passing offense without him. Now let's look at some of the top ten teams:

New England, Pittsburgh, Chargers, Detroit, Chiefs, Rams, Seahawks, Vikings - where are all of those "#1 receivers"? Pittsburgh's best is a little guy taken in the 6th round. Adam Thielen? Chris Hogan? Tyreek Hill? Golden tate?

You're operating from a flawed premise, leading to a flawed conclusion. Spending a boatload on a big, physical receiver isn't necessary in 2017, unless your coaching staff is intent on running a 1990s offense.

So in other words, it was really stupid to give Dez that big contract.

 

[EST_1986]

Verdict and Xwalker

erod is joining the troll ranks with those two as well

 

[jazzcat22]

Lets cut you and the other Dez obsessed complainer @Verdict

I didn't see where he said cut Dez, seems like he is saying it makes no sense to cut him.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

if making Dez a June 1 cut in fact translates to $12.5M in cap savings and only $4M in dead cap, I'm sorry (ban or ignore me) but he has to go or his contract MUST be renegotiated.

 

[jazzcat22]

So your argument is that you won't have a #1 receiver? We don't have one now.

Seems that #1 WR we don't have came up big in NY and refunded after those 2 drops, if they were true drops.

 

[Sydla]

Let's see, the Cowboys are 25th in passing offense with Dez making big money as their "#1 receiver" so at most we drop 7 places in passing offense without him. Now let's look at some of the top ten teams:

New England, Pittsburgh, Chargers, Detroit, Chiefs, Rams, Seahawks, Vikings - where are all of those "#1 receivers"? Pittsburgh's best is a little guy taken in the 6th round. Adam Thielen? Chris Hogan? Tyreek Hill? Golden tate?

You're operating from a flawed premise, leading to a flawed conclusion. Spending a boatload on a big, physical receiver isn't necessary in 2017, unless your coaching staff is intent on running a 1990s offense.

Well in fairness, NE has the greatest QB who ever played and a coaching staff that seems to know what they are doing. I suspect if Tom Brady had Dez Bryant, we wouldn't be commenting on how washed up Bryant is.

The Rams have a dynamic playcaller. Now, if you are telling me we are going to bring in a Sean McVay type as OC for 2018, yeah, I might buy into cutting him. You know I am all about a coaching change here.

 

[jazzcat22]

The guy hasn't had a 100-yard game in 20 consecutive games.

How much of that is his regression? How much of it is the inability of the rest of the WRs? How much of it is his lack of chemistry with Dak? How much of it is Linehan, or the unwillingness for the QB to go downfield?

It's a mixture of all that, I think.

You don't cut Dez. But he's wildly overpaid, and that money could better be spent. Problem is, cutting him brings it all due.

Perhaps an extension at a lower rate. More security in exchange for a more palatable dollar amount.

How much of that is not having Tony at QB? Nothing against Dak, as it is more the coaches.
How much of that is this team and it's stupid offense of not having WR's go any longer downfield that 15 yards routes?

Hard to get 100 yards on dink and dunk 10 yard passes. Unless they can break free such as Dez and the 50 yarder, need a few of those a game.

 

[jwooten15]

So your argument is that you won't have a #1 receiver? We don't have one now.

Exactly my thought. Pay Prior or Watkins half of what you were going to pay Dez, and we would get the same production - plus, also be able to sign another player or two with that cap space.

My problem isn't Dez, the man. My problem is Dez, the contract.

Dak's game is changed because you can see that he makes a concerted effort to throw it to Dez. And even with catchable targets, you never know if he is going to even catch them. I have no idea how someone's ability to catch a football can go from great to horrible, like it has for Dez.

Dez supporters would argue that Dak couldn't gain chemistry in just one off-season if we were to cut Dez and sign a FA. Well, Dak doesn't have chemistry with Dez either!

Now, if Dez were willing to cut his salary in half ... by all means, let's keep him around.

But Dez lives in the past. He thinks he's still one of the best WR in the game, and I seriously doubt he's take a pay cut.