Linebacker remains position in flex

[Galian Beast]

A year ago, I wanted the Cowboys to keep McClain, Durant, and Carter. Thought Durant and Carter were really good players for us. Both of them got paid ridiculous money to leave. Durant has already been cut, and Carter has to be on his way and speculative reports suggest just that.

If we re-sign McClain our linebacker depth chart looks like this

Lee - McClain - Hitchens
Wilson - Gachkar - Wilber
- - Nzeocha

You can save 1.3 million cutting Gachkar and I would hope Nzeocha would be healthy enough to replace him on special teams. You save about 660k cutting Wilber.

I'd like to see us cut these guys and bring back either Carter or Durant for about 1.5 to 2 million dollars.

I know a lot of people want us to draft Myles Jack, but that knee injury with how long linebackers are lasting in this league, is way too much of a red flag for me. I think their desire to re-sign McClain shows us that they aren't that interested in Jack (I could be wrong, you can never have enough linebackers).

But I think this would be a pretty good LB Corps. Wilson will be in year 2 and Hitchens in year 3. That's a lot more experience in this system. Both Durant and Carter have experience here as well of course, and help hedge on any injuries to Lee or McClain.

This is a position group in flex, and whether or not we can get McClain back is really the cornerstone of that. We really shouldn't rock the boat here right now.

 

[Teague31]

Said it before in another thread and saying it again here, the German will be starting at SLB by midseason

 

[Rogerthat12]

Do you mean this is a position in a state of flux?

I do not think you can trust Ro, one more violation is a 10 game suspension.

Then the Lee injury situation, so adding linebacker talent would be helpful at some point in the draft.

They would not have to draft Myles Jack if that is your concern, there are other linebackers they can draft that could help, Darron Lee looks great for example.

 

[gmoney112]

Yep. Cut Gachkar and Wilber. Use that money to bring in Durant, who will undoubtedly get injured at some point, but you're going to get a lot of quality snaps and by that time hopefully we'll have a younger guy ready to play. I think Wilson be better this year and there's that other guy who can fly.

I still want Deion Jones in the third. Use him in nickel to begin the season, transition him to WLB and Sean Lee to MLB once he gets up to speed. He's a Buchanan and Telvin Smith clone. 13.5 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks, 2 ints.

I don't care what he ran at the combine, that dude flies around the field.

Lee/Jones/McClain/Hitchens/Wilson/Durant/German guy.

 

[Verdict]

Said it before in another thread and saying it again here, the German will be starting at SLB by midseason

I know they were high on him when he was drafted. Us drafting him with the injury says what we thought of him.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

Said it before in another thread and saying it again here, the German will be starting at SLB by midseason

Based off what? Wasn't he like a 7th round or UFA? And he was hurt all of last season.

 

[Verdict]

Based off what? Wasn't he like a 7th round or UFA? And he was hurt all of last season.

That is sort of the point. The Cowboys liked him enough to spend a pick on him last year pretty much knowing he would he out for the year when they drafted him. They must have really liked him to do that. Nothing else makes sense.

Does anyone know what grade the Cowboys had on him, if he was healthy?

 

[KingintheNorth]

I thought Wilber was a free agent??

 

[Verdict]

I thought Wilber was a free agent??

I think he is. I also think his utility for us died when we went from the 3-4 to the 4-3.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

That is sort of the point. The Cowboys liked him enough to spend a pick on him last year pretty much knowing he would he out for the year when they drafted him. They must have really liked him to do that. Nothing else makes sense.

Does anyone know what grade the Cowboys had on him, if he was healthy?

Don't get me wrong I hope he becomes the next thing. I just don't think it's realistic. If there's an underdog I believe in on this team it's David Irving

 

[DeaconMoss]

A year ago, I wanted the Cowboys to keep McClain, Durant, and Carter. Thought Durant and Carter were really good players for us. Both of them got paid ridiculous money to leave. Durant has already been cut, and Carter has to be on his way and speculative reports suggest just that.

If we re-sign McClain our linebacker depth chart looks like this

Lee - McClain - Hitchens
Wilson - Gachkar - Wilber
- - Nzeocha

You can save 1.3 million cutting Gachkar and I would hope Nzeocha would be healthy enough to replace him on special teams. You save about 660k cutting Wilber.

I'd like to see us cut these guys and bring back either Carter or Durant for about 1.5 to 2 million dollars.

I know a lot of people want us to draft Myles Jack, but that knee injury with how long linebackers are lasting in this league, is way too much of a red flag for me. I think their desire to re-sign McClain shows us that they aren't that interested in Jack (I could be wrong, you can never have enough linebackers).

But I think this would be a pretty good LB Corps. Wilson will be in year 2 and Hitchens in year 3. That's a lot more experience in this system. Both Durant and Carter have experience here as well of course, and help hedge on any injuries to Lee or McClain.

This is a position group in flex, and whether or not we can get McClain back is really the cornerstone of that. We really shouldn't rock the boat here right now.

We missed both of these guys last year

 

[Teague31]

Based off what? Wasn't he like a 7th round or UFA? And he was hurt all of last season.

Just a hunch. I know his athletic scores were off the charts. That and there isn't a lot of competition at the SAM

 

[Kaiser]

I do not think you can trust Ro, one more violation is a 10 game suspension.

I agree, but I like our depth better than most posters here.

McClain is a wildcard but he will be cheap and have upside. I think Hitchens is a solid backup Mike and Gachkar is good as 3rd string.

Wilson will be much better next year and will likely be a good backup Will, Hitchens can play there as well.

Wilbur is better than he is given credit for here and only plays two downs until the Nickel and Dime packages come on the field.

I'd love to draft Myles Jack, I think that would take this group to another level. But even if they don't, I think our LB groups is OK if we don't spend a lot more in FA dollars or draft picks to add to the current group.

 

[ccb04]

I thought Wilber was a free agent??

Wilber is indeed an unrestricted free agent.

 

[Bullflop]

Nzeocha was exactly who I had in mind when stating we should give one of our youngsters a shot. The draft will offer some worthy LBs also.

Nzeocha was drafted because of his huge upside, despite a year-long injury to rehab from. Darren Lee is well worth taking in the draft as well.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Nzeocha was exactly who I had in mind when stating we should give one of our youngsters a shot. The draft will offer some worthy LBs also.

Nzeocha was drafted because of his huge upside, despite a year-long injury to rehab from. Darren Lee is well worth taking in the draft as well.

How about we draft guys that can play right now, instead of the ones who are hurt for a change.

 

[Bullflop]

How about we draft guys that can play right now, instead of the ones who are hurt for a change.

He was only a seventh round pick. It'll look great if he manages to earn anything resembling a prominent role in due time.

If not, it's not really like the investment for him was overly extravagant. His talent level for the investment is off the charts.