Looking Ahead to the Offseason (Contracts, Cuts, Restructure)

[Apollo Creed]

http://www.cowboyszone.com/comments/2mfkms/keeping_dezmurrayfreemelton_and_mcclain_next_year/
Got this post from Reddit. A lot of leg work went into the figures so I wanted to pass it along.
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So there has been a lot of talk in /r/cowboys and /r/nfl about whether or not the Cowboys can keep both Dez and Murray on the team next year so since it's the bye week I thought I would take a shot. I'm not saying we should do the following just showing how it is possible to keep all these players on what I believe are pretty realistic contracts.

I'm using OTC to get money amounts and to input my contracts in to figure out how our cap looks next year and the future.

Cuts and Restructures

Brandon Carr
Designate Brandon Carr as a June 1st cut. This will save us 8 million off on the 2105 cap and split the dead money to 4.7 million in 2015 and 7.4 in 2016. That's a lot however I don't feel Carr has been living up to his contract.

Henry Melton
Restructure 6 million of Melton's 9.5 million contract. I still think the Cowboys will cut him and go with Crawford at 3tech but if they decide to keep him we can restructure him to free up some cash. This will save 4 million on the cap in 2015 and spread 2 million over to 2016 and 2017.

Tyron Smith
Restructure Tyron Smith contract to full amount available which is around 10 million. This will save us around 8 million on the 2015 cap and add 2 million a year to 2016,2017,2018,2019.

Doug Free
Redo Doug Free's contract. Free is entering the voidable part of his contract, he has 2 years left at 8 million a year. Much like we reworked his contract before I would offer him a 5 year 25 million contract with 13.5 guaranteed (10 signing 2 first years guaranteed). 5 Million a year makes him the 8th highest RT(7 million is the most) with the 2nd most guaranteed money (15.5 million is the highest). This will save the Cowboys 5 million off the 2015 cap.

Year Base Prorated Dead Cap
2015 1 5 17.5 6
2016 2.5 3 11.5 5.4
2017 3 2 6 5
2018 3.5 2 4 5.5
2019 5 2 2 7
New Contracts

Dez Bryant
Sign Dez to a 7 year 94 million with 30 million guaranteed. This would make him the 3rd highest WR and second highest guaranteed money. 20 million signing bonus and first 2 years guaranteed.

Year Base Prorated Dead Cap
2015 4 4 30 8
2016 6 4 22 10
2017 8 4 12 12
2018 18 4 8 22
2019 8 4 4 12
2020 14 0 0 14
2021 16 0 0 16
2018 is so high because it would be a restructure year.

Demarco Murray
Sign Murray to a 5 year 35 million dollar deal with 16 million guaranteed (10 million signing bonus first 2 years guaranteed). This makes Murray the 7th highest paid RB with the 5th highest guaranteed.

Year Base Prorated Dead Cap
2015 2.5 2 16 4.5
2016 3.5 2 11.5 5.5
2017 5.5 2 6 7.5
2018 6 2 4 8
2019 7.5 2 2 9.5

Ron Leary
Sign Leary to a 5 year 20 million dollar deal with 6.5 guaranteed(5 million signing bonus 1st year guaranteed). This would make Leary the 11th highest paid LG and 8th highest guaranteed.

Year Base Prorated Dead Cap
2015 1.5 1 6.5 2.5
2016 2.5 1 4 3.5
2017 3 1 3 4
2018 4 1 2 5
2019 4 1 1 5

Rolando McClain
Sign McClain to a 5 year 20 million dollar deal with 10 million guaranteed ( 8 million signing bonus first year guaranteed)

Year Base Prorated Dead Cap
2015 2 1.6 10 3.6
2016 2 1.6 6.4 3.6
2017 2 1.6 4.8 3.6
2018 3 1.6 3.2 4.6
2019 3 1.6 1.6 4.6

Sterling Moore
Sign Sterling Moore to a 3 year 10 million dollar deal with 5.5 guaranteed(4 million signing bonus first year guaranteed).

Year Base Prorated Dead Cap
2015 1.5 1.33 5.5 2.8
2016 2 1.33 2.66 3.3
2017 2.5 1.33 1.33 3.8
How this effects our cap
Assuming the NFL was correct in their estimates last year that the cap should increase by 10 million a year over the next several year, and that we carry over our current 4 million into 2015 this is what we would look like.

Year Liabilities Projected Cap Cap Room Signed Players
2015 133.6 143 13 46
2016 123.8 153 29.1 33
2017 115.3 163 47.6 19
2018 97 173 75.9 10
2019 27.4 183 102.9 9

So we would have 13 million left to sign 7 rookies, and FA's(Possibly resign some other players like Spencer, Selvie, Carter or Durant). This also would not touch Romo's contract so we would still be able to restructure up to around 16 million if needed.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

There is no way I am giving Moore, Melton or Free that kind of money.

 

[Apollo Creed]

There is no way I am giving Moore, Melton or Free that kind of money.

Those were ridiculous to me. I liked the Dez, Murray and McClain contracts though.

 

[thunderpimp91]

It'll be an interesting offseason for sure. This team could go several different ways. I could easily see Jerry falling back into old habits. If we win 10 games and get knocked out the first round this year I see him going all in. Kicking a bunch of dead money into future years and selling the future for the short term.

 

[supercowboy8]

I would look at giving Free, Leary, and Moore alittle less. Also I would look at renegotiate with ccarr before just cutting him. He's still a good player just not worth the cap hit. He likes dallas and grew up a cowboys fan and calls it a dream come true. I say we renegotiate to market value for him and keep him.
He is a true Right side CB we just need to find a left side corner.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Moore, stunningly is only 24 years old (am I the only one who thought he was 27ish?). While no Patrick Peterson he isn't a bad nickel corner who has position flex. The contract is a little rich, it's not totally unreasonable.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I wouldnt sign Moore at all. I think Murray is gonna hit a decline very fast . HBs with the workload he is getting fall off the map quickly. I would let him walk and draft his replacement

I like the McClain and Leary deal. I would try to get Free at 3 year 5 million per if we dont want to go with Parnell. That way his contract is off the books once Fredrick is a FA

 

[Risen Star]

The team that signs Murray will end up regretting it.

 

[pacboyX]

Do we really need to sign Free to a new contract? We have to replace him shortly anyway, manswell draft his replacement and let him learn behind him. Or let a rookie battle it out w Parnell.

 

[Risen Star]

Do we really need to sign Free to a new contract? We have to replace him shortly anyway, manswell draft his replacement and let him learn behind him. Or let a rookie battle it out w Parnell.

If most fans had their way, we'd keep every veteran who can play a little and end up with an old declining team with no depth or cap room to do anything about it.

 

[waving monkey]

Rolando McClain
Sign McClain to a 5 year 20 million dollar deal with 10 million guaranteed ( 8 million signing bonus first year guaranteed)

Year Base Prorated Dead Cap
2015 2 1.6 10 3.6
2016 2 1.6 6.4 3.6
2017 2 1.6 4.8 3.6
2018 3 1.6 3.2 4.6

IMO,there is little chance a man of McClains skills would sign a contract like that
when the man he is replacing is making quit a bit more.

 

[anava]

The team that signs Murray will end up regretting it.

I agree I like what Murray is doing this year but think it is more the O line than him. He just lacks that break away speed and shiftiness to make that one man miss.

 

[Vinnie2u]

If most fans had their way, we'd keep every veteran who can play a little and end up with an old declining team with no depth or cap room to do anything about it.

This for example.. On Offense the Packers have lost in the last 2 years.. Jermichael Finley, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Donald Driver. Steelers Have Lost Mendenhall, Sanders, Wallace.. Guess what I'm trying to say is.. Draft well and don't overpay..

 

[perrykemp]

This for example.. On Offense the Packers have lost in the last 2 years.. Jermichael Finley, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Donald Driver. Steelers Have Lost Mendenhall, Sanders, Wallace.. Guess what I'm trying to say is.. Draft well and don't overpay..

Good drafting solves lots of problems.

 

[blindzebra]

For all those dumping Free...did you watch the offense when Free was out? We need to sign Free and Leary and draft a RT.

 

[John813]

IMO, McClain gets a short deal, heavily loaded with incentives. 2-3 years, that could hit 14-22 million in total.

On board with the Leary and Dez deals. Definitely want Carr off the team.

 

[Risen Star]

Good drafting solves lots of problems.

That is the key. Not only hitting on your early picks but consistently finding talent in the mid to late rounds. You can't keep all these guys and you shouldn't want to anyway.

 

[Frosty]

Rolando McClain
Sign McClain to a 5 year 20 million dollar deal with 10 million guaranteed ( 8 million signing bonus first year guaranteed)

Year Base Prorated Dead Cap
2015 2 1.6 10 3.6
2016 2 1.6 6.4 3.6
2017 2 1.6 4.8 3.6
2018 3 1.6 3.2 4.6

IMO,there is little chance a man of McClains skills would sign a contract like that
when the man he is replacing is making quit a bit more.

True, but no one knows RoMac mental state of mind....will he decided to retire again, will he stop playing to a high level once he gets paid......RoMac has been a diamond in the rough...but what is motivating this guy to play.....the love of the game...friends....coaches...broke and needs the money....I am not sure, but the Cowboys need to be careful they don't turn RoMac's contract into another Jay Ratliff type deal...

How much would another team pay for RoMac....and would they get the same results?

 

[TheCount]

The team that signs Murray will end up regretting it.

As opposed to all the other veteran FA's that all buyers are happy with for the length of their contracts, right?

 

[jterrell]

various notes:
1) Dez wouldn't take a contract that isn't 100 mil. So that is a non-starter. Expect to franchise him and hope you can negotiate off that.
Dez wants a hair under 15m a year in real money, not fluff.
I think Dez is back but it is getting to the scary point. Scary if you pay him and scary if you don't.

2) Free is playing as well as any RT in football. You probably gotta give him his money. It is at least short-term dollars now.

3) Melton is a tough call. Continued good play may price him out of our range.

4) Murray is a stud but he is a stud RB burning through his shelf life at a blistering pace. I'd like to see him get decent guaranteed money but nothing enormous. 5/25 with 18 of that guaranteed sounds good to me. Pro Bowl and player of the month bonuses could get it over 30m.
He's set for life and Dallas has every reason to then keep him around til the deal is done.
If he wants to get the most money we probably gotta let the market rule and take a crack at the other TOP FA RBs.

5) The best bet for Carr and the team is a restructured (DOWN) deal. He sees the CB market isn't what it once was and he is hardly having a contract year.
Carr is a tough guy and plays the game right so has value but it is at a much lower rate.

6) Moore is a solid CB but he isn't worth big money. He doesn't have elite skill or potential.
A lot of guys look pretty good when they are fresher and healthier than others and no one is targeting their weakenesses yet.
We can get by with Moore but we do not WANT to start him at CB.