My FA essentials

[gimmesix]

Essentials:
1. Hardy or sheard
2. McCourty, FS
3. AP

I can't see a free safety being an essential. I think we can always upgrade the position, but I don't think we'll be investing FA money into the position.

 

[Echo9]

I don't think there are many things Dallas needs to do in free agency this year, just primarily take care of some of their own unrestricted FAs and add maybe one or two outside FAs.

Resign:
Dez Bryant (taken care of through franchise tag, but long-term deal would be better)
Doug Free or Jermey Parnell (would prefer Parnell because of wear and tear, but it probably will be Free)
DeMarco Murray, or acquire an equivalent FA (we need a quality back to continue what we're doing)
Rolando McClain/Justin Durant/Bruce Carter (some combination of two of the three, with McClain preferable because of what he brings to this defense)

Sign:
A stud left DE

For the right price (near vet minimum), bring back:
Dwayne Harris (don't really have a return replacement)
Anthony Spencer (good for the rotation)
George Selvie (also good for the rotation, but lesser than Spencer)
Henry Melton (who I don't think will return for the right price while we have a bevy of backup candidates)
Tyler Clutts (upgradeable, but OK on the cheap)
C.J. Spillman (good special teammer)
James Anderson (just possible depth)
Nick Hayden (only as a depth possibility, with hopes he would be beaten out by what we've got)

If we resign the essential players and sign a stud left DE, we won't be hampered by a necessity in the draft and can just concentrate on upgrading positions, even if we don't bring back any of the right price players.

We already have some potential replacements for some of them: DEs Ben Gardner, Jack Crawford and Lavar Edwards; DTs Chris Whaley, Davon Coleman, Ken Bishop, Amobi Okoye; OT Darrion Weems. (We don't really have a replacement for Clutts, though, but could possibly find a cheap option in FA if he leaves, and we don't really have a returner replacement for Harris unless anybody believes a combination of Lance Dunbar and Cole Beasley could do the trick.)

I pretty much agree with you on all of this, with very slight and unimportant exceptions. I think the Rivers signing sends James Anderson on his way and I have sense that if we do get a stud DE (Hardy), and keep Spencer, then there's little chance of there being room for Selvie. He underperformed this past year and we should have better...even at backup. As far as Hayden I concerned, I like him as long as he's deep depth in case of injury.

But overall, if the offseason played out exactly as you outlined, I'd be thrilled.

 

[visionary]

I can't see a free safety being an essential. I think we can always upgrade the position, but I don't think we'll be investing FA money into the position.

After DL, FS is the biggest need on this defense followed by LB

 

[gimmesix]

I pretty much agree with you on all of this, with very slight and unimportant exceptions. I think the Rivers signing sends James Anderson on his way and I have sense that if we do get a stud DE (Hardy), and keep Spencer, then there's little chance of there being room for Selvie. He underperformed this past year and we should have better...even at backup. As far as Hayden I concerned, I like him as long as he's deep depth in case of injury.

But overall, if the offseason played out exactly as you outlined, I'd be thrilled.

I don't know on Anderson. I could see Dallas take him to camp at least.

I do agree on Spencer/Selvie, I think if we get a bona fide end, it's likely only one comes back. I'm not sure if Spencer won't want more than a backup/rotation player should get, though.

I can easily see Hayden coming back on the cheap. I don't mind having him compete with the others for a spot. If the others can't beat him out, then we don't need them.

 

[gimmesix]

After DL, FS is the biggest need on this defense followed by LB

Currently, I can't agree.

We have Lee, Rivers and Hitchens as our starting linebackers at this time, so the need is more pressing there.

I also believe we have two decent starters at the safety positions. Neither is great, but they are starting-caliber players. Free agency should be used to replace non-starting-caliber players, or starting-caliber players who leave.

I do think we need to add a safety at some point in the draft, though, if for no other reason than depth.

 

[xwalker]

Must admit that I'm holding out hope that we find a way to acquire Peterson if we lose Murray. I think we can get Peterson for less than we would have to pay Murray, but I also think Peterson is a shorter-term option.

Barring that, I think we'll let the market sort itself out, pick up a proven vet on the cheap and then draft an RB after the first round.

The Peterson situation is odd. He would likely get paid the most if he just said he definitely wants to be with the Vikings. I'm sure he is one of those big ego guys that assumes many other teams will pay him the same amount, but I just don't see it.

On the other hand I guess there is a chance that he could see an opportunity to really blow up his career stats playing behind the Cowboys OLine and might take less for that opportunity.

 

[Echo9]

Currently, I can't agree.

We have Lee, Rivers and Hitchens as our starting linebackers at this time, so the need is more pressing there.

I also believe we have two decent starters at the safety positions. Neither is great, but they are starting-caliber players. Free agency should be used to replace non-starting-caliber players, or starting-caliber players who leave.

I do think we need to add a safety at some point in the draft, though, if for no other reason than depth.

And with Carr possibly being cut, Claiborne being Claiborne, and Sterling Moore a FA that leaves only Scandrick and Patmon on the team. If we follow the plan in the OP, we're gonna NEED to hit CB in the draft. I think CB is bigger need than Safety

 

[gimmesix]

The Peterson situation is odd. He would likely get paid the most if he just said he definitely wants to be with the Vikings. I'm sure he is one of those big ego guys that assumes many other teams will pay him the same amount, but I just don't see it.

On the other hand I guess there is a chance that he could see an opportunity to really blow up his career stats playing behind the Cowboys OLine and might take less for that opportunity.

I think it could go one of two ways. He'll either see himself for what he is, an aging back who only has a couple of years left and take less to go someplace where he stands a chance of winning, or he'll see himself as a top-tier player with a chance to get one last big-money contract.

Considering what Minnesota is set to pay him, I don't believe he's just interested in the money at this point. I don't think he's going to play for a bag of chips, but I also don't think he's going to be looking for Murray is looking for, which is his one chance to make big bucks.

 

[wileedog]

I also believe we have two decent starters at the safety positions. Neither is great, but they are starting-caliber players. .

IMO both are replacement level players at SS. Neither in my mind is a natural FS, and Wilcox's lack of instincts for the position really show.

If we are going to continue to play a version of the Tampa-2, I agree with visionary that FS is a real need, and has been for a very long time around here.

 

[gimmesix]

And with Carr possibly being cut, Claiborne being Claiborne, and Sterling Moore a FA that leaves only Scandrick and Patmon on the team. If we follow the plan in the OP, we're gonna NEED to hit CB in the draft. I think CB is bigger need than Safety

That's possible depending on how it all plays out. I really think unless we cut Carr, we're not going to have a real need there.

 

[gimmesix]

IMO both are replacement level players at SS. Neither in my mind is a natural FS, and Wilcox's lack of instincts for the position really show.

If we are going to continue to play a version of the Tampa-2, I agree with visionary that FS is a real need, and has been for a very long time around here.

I just did not see safety as a big issue last year. Maybe I missed it, but their play seemed to be adequate for the positions. I think if we have safety in our crosshairs right now, we're picking nits.

However, again, I do not mind upgrading any position, and the safety spots are definitely upgradeable, I think when we're looking where to allocate our resources, though, it's low on the list.

 

[Echo9]

I just did not see safety as a big issue last year. Maybe I missed it, but their play seemed to be adequate for the positions. I think if we have safety in our crosshairs right now, we're picking nits.

However, again, I do not mind upgrading any position, and the safety spots are definitely upgradeable, I think when we're looking where to allocate our resources, though, it's low on the list.

I think that we still have hope that Wilcox will improve. He's done a pretty decent job with virtually no experience (only one year playing the position before being drafted). If he can continue to get better, we could have a very good player.

 

[wileedog]

I think that we still have hope that Wilcox will improve. He's done a pretty decent job with virtually no experience (only one year playing the position before being drafted). If he can continue to get better, we could have a very good player.

Or we could just draft/sign someone who already knows how to play the position.

Crazy idea, I know.

 

[visionary]

Currently, I can't agree.

We have Lee, Rivers and Hitchens as our starting linebackers at this time, so the need is more pressing there.

I also believe we have two decent starters at the safety positions. Neither is great, but they are starting-caliber players. Free agency should be used to replace non-starting-caliber players, or starting-caliber players who leave.

I do think we need to add a safety at some point in the draft, though, if for no other reason than depth.

Church is an average SS
Wilcox is a way below average SS

We have above average LB starting all 3 positions

FS is a real need on this defense
JMO of course

 

[gimmesix]

Church is an average SS
Wilcox is a way below average SS

We have above average LB starting all 3 positions

FS is a real need on this defense
JMO of course

OK. I don't agree with you on Wilcox, but I do think he's upgradeable.

We might be above average at all 3 starting LB spots if we re-sign either Durant, Carter or McClain, but right now we have an above-average starter in Lee, a possibly above-average starter in Hitchens and then a below-average starter in Rivers.

 

[visionary]

OK. I don't agree with you on Wilcox, but I do think he's upgradeable.

We might be above average at all 3 starting LB spots if we re-sign either Durant, Carter or McClain, but right now we have an above-average starter in Lee, a possibly above-average starter in Hitchens and then a below-average starter in Rivers.

We will sign 2 of McClain / durant /carter
Add in lee and Hitchens
There will be starting caliber LBs available in the draft in rds 3-4
LB is a problem we can solve and have very very good options at

McCourty is the only available FS and there is not a single FS we can draft who will start this year

Hence my point that after DL, the biggest need has FS and McCourty is the only option and a VERY good option at that

 

[Biggems]

We had great success in the 90s with DL like Haley, Lett, Maryland, Hennings, Casillas, Jeffcoat, and Tolbert.......

Do we have anybody on this roster that compares to any of those players? IMO, what we desperately need is the current day Haley and Lett.

 

[gimmesix]

We had great success in the 90s with DL like Haley, Lett, Maryland, Hennings, Casillas, Jeffcoat, and Tolbert.......

Do we have anybody on this roster that compares to any of those players? IMO, what we desperately need is the current day Haley and Lett.

There's some promise. I think Crawford showed ability most consistently, while also showing as the season progressed that he could improve. A sack in each of our postseason games gives a glimmer of hope with Lawrence. Beyond that, we've got a bunch of contributors, some with potential, but there's not much to go on that they'll ever be elite or close to it.

That's why you look to add more of the type of guys you've mentioned to the line while churning others as their added. Right now, the biggest spot in need of a stud presence is LDE because we've got to give Lawrence and Crawford some time to show us if they are our studs at their positions and we can get by without a stud at NT.

I'd love to just flood the line with stud talent, but it isn't realistic. We need to identify the area we need to fix the most now and get by with what we can unless we can luck into those type of players in the draft.

 

[gimmesix]

We will sign 2 of McClain / durant /carter
Add in lee and Hitchens
There will be starting caliber LBs available in the draft in rds 3-4
LB is a problem we can solve and have very very good options at

McCourty is the only available FS and there is not a single FS we can draft who will start this year

Hence my point that after DL, the biggest need has FS and McCourty is the only option and a VERY good option at that

If he's the only option and a very good option, then he's going to get overpaid.

I'd rather give Wilcox a little more time to develop, because I apparently think he's a better player than you do, and add some competition in the draft for that position, while focusing FA on those linebackers we "will" sign, the biggest need for an outside FA (DE), making sure we keep our O-line intact instead of creating a weak spot and getting a bona fide RB (whether it's Murray or someone a little cheaper).

If we go through and start picking areas where we could use a better starter, then the list can get quite long.

 

[Biggems]

There's some promise. I think Crawford showed ability most consistently, while also showing as the season progressed that he could improve. A sack in each of our postseason games gives a glimmer of hope with Lawrence. Beyond that, we've got a bunch of contributors, some with potential, but there's not much to go on that they'll ever be elite or close to it.

That's why you look to add more of the type of guys you've mentioned to the line while churning others as their added. Right now, the biggest spot in need of a stud presence is LDE because we've got to give Lawrence and Crawford some time to show us if they are our studs at their positions and we can get by without a stud at NT.

I'd love to just flood the line with stud talent, but it isn't realistic. We need to identify the area we need to fix the most now and get by with what we can unless we can luck into those type of players in the draft.

via FA, who can we add to give us they Haley and Lett type production? Who in the draft could offer the same