Off-Season Pass Rush Targets

[BlindFaith]

How about a guy like Jason Worilds? I know he's played OLB for Pit, but he's up to 262 now. He had 7.5 sacks this year and his arrow is pointing up. He might be a bit pricey though, 8 mil a year. Move Lawerence to the strong side after a full year of off season.

 

[visionary]

Give me Greg Hardy
Draft DT in rd 1

 

[superonyx]

Not sure. If I am getting Graham for $4MM per over say 2 years, that might be more attractive to me than paying JPP $8MM or more per year over 4 or 5 years if I have concerns that JPP can really turn back into the terror he was a few years ago.

And are we even sure JPP would come at $8MM per? He might get in excess of $10MM per. He's already on record saying he thinks he's worth elite NFL money.

I see your point. The unfortunate part is that pass rushers are highly valued positions yet it seems that very few players have really been able to dominate the position. It seems that these days most guys who get large sack numbers are LB's who are rushing from a blitz position where you just don't know how that will translate to the scheme you are running. To your point about a guy like Graham only signing for 2 years....I am not sure a player playing for his second contract would be willing to sign such a short term deal unless the money was really high or he had to prove himself due to injury or behavior concerns. A 26 year old player will be 28 when those 2 years are up and then teams wont want to give him a 4-5 year deal because they will think he is too close to 30.

The point is that all of these guys come with some risk. It would be great if we could find guys that are about to explode and get them cheap.

Hey I am happy that for the first time in a few years we can have the conversation about free agents to help our team.
It will be interesting to see what these guys actually get salary wise.

Free agency seems to be a gamble that ranks pretty closely with the draft.

 

[Sydla]

I see your point. The unfortunate part is that pass rushers are highly valued positions yet it seems that very few players have really been able to dominate the position. It seems that these days most guys who get large sack numbers are LB's who are rushing from a blitz position where you just don't know how that will translate to the scheme you are running. To your point about a guy like Graham only signing for 2 years....I am not sure a player playing for his second contract would be willing to sign such a short term deal unless the money was really high or he had to prove himself due to injury or behavior concerns. A 26 year old player will be 28 when those 2 years are up and then teams wont want to give him a 4-5 year deal because they will think he is too close to 30.

The point is that all of these guys come with some risk. It would be great if we could find guys that are about to explode and get them cheap.

Hey I am happy that for the first time in a few years we can have the conversation about free agents to help our team.
It will be interesting to see what these guys actually get salary wise.

Free agency seems to be a gamble that ranks pretty closely with the draft.

And as said, the injury history with JPP makes it even a bit scarier.

I just want to be smart this offseason and not panic into bad signings because we think we are so close.

 

[Plankton]

I agree, minus the JPP. He just scares me because he will cost a lot and it is a coin flip if he regains his form or not. Of course I could be wrong on that but I don't like high cost gambles.

I understand, but his age (26) and upside is huge. He also had 12.5 sacks this year, which was more than all Cowboy DEs combined.

 

[Sydla]

I understand, but his age (26) and upside is huge. He also had 12.5 sacks this year, which was more than all Cowboy DEs combined.

Yes but that "upside" might come at a ridiculous cost. So you have to weigh the "upside" against the downside, which is that he might not have the impact you would expect or want from an elitely compensated DE. And given his track record to date, that's a very valid concern.

 

[BAT]

JPP, Marinelli would light a fire under his arse.

And the diff is that Marinelli would NOT need to light a fire under Suh, quite the opposite actually.

 

[starfrombirth]

Yes, IMO both Mincey and DLaw can play either side. Mincey did play a lot of 3-tech in the past, but he came to the Cowboys weighing 290 and got down to 267 by the end of the season.

Greg Hardy 6-4, 275
JPP 6-5, 278
Jerry Hughes 6-2, 254
Pernell McPhee 6-3, 280
Brandon Graham 6-2, 265
Jabaal Sheard 6-3, 264

Donkey Kong Suh 6-4, 305
Nick Fairly 6-4, 208

These numbers have to be wrong.... NFL.com has hughes at this weight but I just can't believe you can play DE in a 3-4 system at 254 lbs. Fairley is listed at 291 which is better but I still think he is bigger than that.

 

[Plankton]

Yes but that "upside" might come at a ridiculous cost. So you have to weigh the "upside" against the downside, which is that he might not have the impact you would expect or want from an elitely compensated DE. And given his track record to date, that's a very valid concern.

That's a fair point. And, yes, you have to pay a premium for a premier pass rushing DE.

I look at it this way - he dealt with shoulder and back injuries when his production was down. His health was good this season, and the production returned. He also played very well against the run this year. I would have no problem with paying for his upside based off of his recent production.

 

[xwalker]

These numbers have to be wrong.... NFL.com has hughes at this weight but I just can't believe you can play DE in a 3-4 system at 254 lbs. Fairley is listed at 291 which is better but I still think he is bigger than that.

Robert Mathis played as a 4-3 DE at under 250 for a long time.

The Weak Side DE does not have to be bigger than 3-4 OLBs in some 4-3 schemes.

 

[ccb04]

After the comments from Mayhew & Caldwell...not sure Suh even hits the market.

If going big...perhaps Hardy. His trial is in February, so his legal issues could be rectified by the start of free agency...but not sure about any further punishment from the league. He wants to stay in Carolina, even telling a teammate that he'd play for free. Then again, he made 13+ million in 2014 for doing nothing. Apparently, he made his full salary despite being on the commissioners exempt list, because he was franchised.

Given that Marinelli favors a rotation...thus reducing the snaps that everyone gets, I think they might look at/attempt to sign 2 or 3 solid guys to take the place of Melton & Selvie...and possibly Spencer & Hayden. If going that route...I'd look at guys like:

- DE Jabaal Sheard or Jerry Hughes -- Both seem to be better fits in the 4-3. The Bills will be going back to a 3-4 under Ryan. Hughes played for Ryan protege Mike Pettine in Buffalo...and while productive, he was a situational player, so the same could well be the case under Ryan. He was however a full-time player in the 4-3 defense. As a rookie & 2nd year player, Sheard averaged 55 tackles & 8 sacks while playing as a 4-3 DE...and he did so with minimal talent around him as a rookie. Even when the Browns transitioned to the 3-4 in 2013...Sheard still managed 5.5 sacks despite making the change from DE to OLB, rotating with Mingo, etc.

- DT Jared Odrick -- Could make for a decent tandem with Crawford at 3-tech. There are a couple of other guys that could help there as well.

- DE Adrian Clayborn or Brian Orakpo -- IF they could sign one or the other to a 'prove it' deal similar to Spencer. Clayborn showed his production potential in 2011 & 2013...but was injury plagued in 2012 & 2014. Orakpo basically has 40 sacks in 4-1/2 seasons (minus time missed due to injury...which is significant). Given their injury histories...a prove it deal is the only way I'd consider either of them. And perhaps being part of a rotation where they may play half the snaps they have in the past, could help keep them healthier?

Then there's the draft to add more help. Plus, guys like Gardner, Okoye & Whaley, should be in the mix next year as well.

 

[xwalker]

I understand, but his age (26) and upside is huge. He also had 12.5 sacks this year, which was more than all Cowboy DEs combined.

I would be all in for JPP if not for the injury issues. He had back issues which would make me very leery of giving him the contract that will be required to get him.

 

[Plankton]

I would be all in for JPP if not for the injury issues. He had back issues which would make me very leery of giving him the contract that will be required to get him.

That's fair, and a good point. To my knowledge, his issue was a bulging, not herniated, disk.

 

[Doomsday]

Hardy is the only FA I would break the bank for. He could be that Charles Haley type addition this defense needs.

 

[Mansta54]

And the diff is that Marinelli would NOT need to light a fire under Suh, quite the opposite actually.

Suh and JPP are two different players and you can bet, Marinelli would light a fire under Suh also. It's what he does regardless of the player and JPP would be much cheaper then Suh.

 

[Bluefin]

Here are some of Todd Archer's thoughts on the Cowboys' free agent plans.

IRVING, Texas -- As your mind wanders in free agency to visions of Ndamukong Suh or Jason Pierre-Paul or Darrelle Revis joining the Dallas Cowboys as some sort of final piece to their Super Bowl puzzle, take heed of Jerry Jones' words last week. link

"Can two do more than one?" Jones said. "In some cases relative to dollars, can five do what one does?"

Jones is not talking about two premier players. He is talking about getting two players for the price it might cost for a great player.

So when you start wondering about Suh or Pierre-Paul or Revis, shoot a little lower and remember two -- or three -- is better than one.

"If anything this year showed me that with the numbers [it works]," Jones said.

"Now anytime you go too far in excess of theory, then you're going to get out of bounds. Everything has its moderation. But in general, loading up big-time on a player in an area that really requires just to some degree good solid intense consistent play, that might be not the way to go."

I love the idea of developing a legit 8 deep game day DL rotation and I don't want to overpay for someone like Ndamukong Suh.

But the team is going to have to spend some money if it wants to try to get better prior to the draft during free agency.

Dallas can't limit itself to looking for bargain signings like we got last year in Jeremy Mincey and Terrell McClain.

 

[hutch1254]

About Jerry Hughes. How much of the production he showed is actually him and how much is due to the other 3 studs he has on the line with him? Williams, Dareus and Williams probably open many opportunities for Hughes. He ain't gonna have that here. I'd be leery about bringing him in and giving big money.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

About Jerry Hughes. How much of the production he showed is actually him and how much is due to the other 3 studs he has on the line with him? Williams, Dareus and Williams probably open many opportunities for Hughes. He ain't gonna have that here. I'd be leery about bringing him in and giving big money.

hes a good player but he's not the kind of guy that'll put us over the top.

 

[50cent]

Yes, IMO both Mincey and DLaw can play either side. Mincey did play a lot of 3-tech in the past, but he came to the Cowboys weighing 290 and got down to 267 by the end of the season.

Greg Hardy 6-4, 275
JPP 6-5, 278
Jerry Hughes 6-2, 254
Pernell McPhee 6-3, 280
Brandon Graham 6-2, 265
Jabaal Sheard 6-3, 264

Donkey Kong Suh 6-4, 305
Nick Fairly 6-4, 208




4-3 DE Kroy Biermann ATL 30
4-3 DE Cliff Matthews ATL 26
4-3 DE Osi Umenyiora ATL 34
4-3 DE Jerry Hughes BUF 27
4-3 DE Jarius Wynn BUF 29
4-3 DE Greg Hardy CAR 27
4-3 DE Trevor Scott CHI 31
4-3 DE George Selvie DAL 28
4-3 DE Anthony Spencer DAL 31
4-3 DE George Johnson DET 28
4-3 DE Darryl Tapp DET 31
4-3 DE Tyson Alualu JAX 28
4-3 DE Derrick Shelby MIA 26 R
4-3 DE Corey Wootton MIN 28
4-3 DE Jason Pierre-Paul NYG 26
4-3 DE Demarcus Dobbs SEA 28
4-3 DE O’Brien Schofield SEA 28
4-3 DE Greg Scruggs SEA 25 R
4-3 DE Alex Carrington STL 28
4-3 DE Da’Quan Bowers TB 25
4-3 DE Adrian Clayborn TB 26
4-3 DE Larry English TB 29






3-4 OLB John Abraham ARI 37
3-4 OLB Sam Acho ARI 27
3-4 OLB Marcus Benard ARI 30
3-4 OLB Pernell McPhee BAL 27
3-4 OLB Jabaal Sheard CLE 26
3-4 OLB Brooks Reed HOU 28
3-4 OLB Ricky Sapp HOU 29
3-4 OLB Andy Studebaker IND 30
3-4 OLB Justin Houston KC 26
3-4 OLB Dezman Moses KC 26 R
3-4 OLB Akeem Ayers NE 26
3-4 OLB Cheta Ozougwu NO 27 R
3-4 OLB Jermaine Cunningham NYJ 27
3-4 OLB Brandon Graham PHI 27
3-4 OLB James Harrison PIT 37
3-4 OLB Arthur Moats PIT 27
3-4 OLB Jason Worilds PIT 27
3-4 OLB Dwight Freeney SD 35
3-4 OLB Dan Skuta SF 29
3-4 OLB Quentin Groves TEN 31
3-4 OLB Derrick Morgan TEN 26
3-4 OLB Everette Brown WAS 28
3-4 OLB Brian Orakpo WAS 29

DT Alameda Ta’amu ARI 25 R
DT Dan Williams ARI 28
DT Corey Peters ATL 27
DT Terrence Cody BAL 27
DT Colin Cole CAR 35
DT Dwan Edwards CAR 34
DT Stephen Paea CHI 27
DT Devon Still CIN 26 R
DT Ishmaa’ily Kitchen CLE 27 R
DT Ahtyba Rubin CLE 29
DT Nick Hayden DAL 29
DT Terrance Knighton DEN 29
DT Mitch Unrein DEN 28
DT Nick Fairley DET 27
DT Andre Fluellen DET 30
DT C.J. Mosley DET 32
DT Ndamukong Suh DET 28
DT Fred Evans FA 32
DT Letroy Guion GB 28
DT B.J. Raji GB 29
DT Ryan Pickett HOU 36
DT Jerrell Powe HOU 28
DT Jared Odrick MIA 28
DT Tom Johnson MIN 31
DT Alan Branch NE 31
DT Sealver Siliga NE 25 R
DT Brandon Deaderick NO 28
DT Tyrunn Walker NO 25 R
DT Mike Patterson NYG 32
DT Kenrick Ellis NYJ 28
DT Damon Harrison NYJ 27 R
DT Pat Sims OAK 30
DT D’Anthony Smith SEA 27
DT Kevin Williams SEA 35
DT Ray McDonald SF 31
DT Chris Neild WAS 28


3-4 DE Tommy Kelly ARI 35
3-4 DE Christo Bilukidi BAL 26
3-4 DE Lawrence Guy BAL 25
3-4 DE Sione Fua CLE 27
3-4 DE Tim Jamison HOU 29
3-4 DE Fili Moala IND 30
3-4 DE Cory Redding IND 35
3-4 DE Kevin Vickerson KC 32
3-4 DE Leger Douzable NYJ 29
3-4 DE C.J. Wilson OAK 28
3-4 DE Cedric Thornton PHI 27 R
3-4 DE Ricardo Mathews SD 28
3-4 DE Karl Klug TEN 27
3-4 DE Jarvis Jenkins WAS 27

I'd take Paea and either Hardy or Aldon Smith via trade to give us the flexibility in the draft to go BPA! I'd then target Dorial Beckham to complete the offense. Did I mention I'd resign Dez and Murray? Free, Ro McClain and Carter too.

 

[BIGDen]

I love the idea of developing a legit 8 deep game day DL rotation and I don't want to overpay for someone like Ndamukong Suh.

But the team is going to have to spend some money if it wants to try to get better prior to the draft during free agency.

Dallas can't limit itself to looking for bargain signings like we got last year in Jeremy Mincey and Terrell McClain.

Ideally the team would love to pull off what Seattle did before the 2013 season and get two very good players (Avril and Bennett) at a reasonable price. Signing those two was huge for that D. I don't know if we'll be able to get that lucky, but I'm sure the Cowboys would feel better about signing maybe Sheard and Hughes/Graham (or similar players) to solid contracts than paying a king's ransom for JPP. Now having said that, I'd like both. Give me Hardy (a stud) AND Sheard (could do very well again in a 4-3) as well as a 1st or 2nd round DL and we've just created a monster DL when you combine those guys with Crawford, Mincey, and Lawrence. Sign a solid UFA FS who understands angles and how to read offenses and we've gotten our Haley and Everett type additions to turn this 1991ish team (great O, so so D) to a 1992ish team (great O and D). Fingers crossed that we get this offseason right. We're close and need to just make a few shrewd FA moves and draft well.