Our FA plan?

[dcjules]

I would assume most of us are puzzled by the lack of activity by the Cowboys. Dallas does have 6+ million in cap space, leaving room for some bargain signings at the very least. We watch other teams in the division load up, whether they are smart moves or dumb, that is open to debate. I have to think we are just playing the waiting game (ala Seattle) to see what bargains we can get (Ayers, Avant) or sign a post 6/1 cut!! Once the draft is over, I assume we will sign some players to bolster the roster. Keeping the faith...

 

[Woods]

I would assume most of us are puzzled by the lack of activity by the Cowboys. Dallas does have 6+ million in cap space, leaving room for some bargain signings at the very least. We watch other teams in the division load up, whether they are smart moves or dumb, that is open to debate. I have to think we are just playing the waiting game (ala Seattle) to see what bargains we can get (Ayers, Avant) or sign a post 6/1 cut!! Once the draft is over, I assume we will sign some players to bolster the roster. Keeping the faith...

I think we will sign a couple of depth and Sts type guys. Guys who are generally cheap to get/bargain types. But I really don't expect much more than that in FA leading up to the Draft.

 

[Alexander]

I have to think we are just playing the waiting game (ala Seattle) to see what bargains we can get (Ayers, Avant)

Ayers is visiting the Giants.

 

[Doc50]

I would assume most of us are puzzled by the lack of activity by the Cowboys. Dallas does have 6+ million in cap space, leaving room for some bargain signings at the very least. We watch other teams in the division load up, whether they are smart moves or dumb, that is open to debate. I have to think we are just playing the waiting game (ala Seattle) to see what bargains we can get (Ayers, Avant) or sign a post 6/1 cut!! Once the draft is over, I assume we will sign some players to bolster the roster. Keeping the faith...

No, not puzzled, as there is not much available on the need vs. value radar right now.

Things will look clearer after the draft and UFA signings (for all teams), and we'll see more activity with cuts and signings heading into TC.

 

[slomoxn]

I'm kind of glad they aren't out trying to buy every FA this year, seems whenever they have made a splash it turns into them drowning in some outlandish contract Jerry overpays for. Let them build the team through the draft, get a few good picks and build around that instead of getting a bunch of name players and trying to build around the FAs.

 

[DBOY3141]

I think they are in draft mode. I like they are being wise with the money. I'm all for 2014 to be about playing the young guys and see what we have going into the 2015 season.

 

[Doomsday101]

I would assume most of us are puzzled by the lack of activity by the Cowboys. Dallas does have 6+ million in cap space, leaving room for some bargain signings at the very least. We watch other teams in the division load up, whether they are smart moves or dumb, that is open to debate. I have to think we are just playing the waiting game (ala Seattle) to see what bargains we can get (Ayers, Avant) or sign a post 6/1 cut!! Once the draft is over, I assume we will sign some players to bolster the roster. Keeping the faith...

I expect the Cowboys will sign a couple more mid level free agents. I never expected the Cowboys to be big time spenders in this years FA.

 

[xwalker]

I would assume most of us are puzzled by the lack of activity by the Cowboys. Dallas does have 6+ million in cap space, leaving room for some bargain signings at the very least. We watch other teams in the division load up, whether they are smart moves or dumb, that is open to debate. I have to think we are just playing the waiting game (ala Seattle) to see what bargains we can get (Ayers, Avant) or sign a post 6/1 cut!! Once the draft is over, I assume we will sign some players to bolster the roster. Keeping the faith...

You need to look at everything as "what moves make the Cowboys better in 2015?".

They just had too many roster issues to solve in 2014; therefore, it needs to be a year where they develop some players and get everyone up to speed on the defense.

They need to get players in and have them throughout the off-season and during the season. The constant revolving door on defense last season made it impossible to really develop anything. Even if some of those players had some talent, you can't learn an NFL defense in 2 weeks, especially when the guys beside you have only been around for a couple of weeks also.

Cutting Ware, Austin and not re-signing Hatcher saved about 12M + 5M + 7M in 2014. That's 24M that they will have in 2015 that they wouldn't have had is they had kept those players.

They should keep plenty of roster spots available for the 11 draft picks that they have in this draft.

The plan should be to get down to just needing 2 or 3 players to really be a contender in 2015 and not 8 or 10 like they would need this year.

They're going to go into 2015 with a really young roster and extra salary cap space that they wouldn't have had if they tried too hard to patch the roster this year.

If they can just develop a reasonable base structure and roster on defense and maintain the 5th scoring offense that they had in 2013, then next off-season they will be in a position to go all in and sign any needed free agents and try to be a contender in 2015 and 2016 before Romo retires.

The above would be the plan if Romo stays healthy for 2014. If he does not stay healthy they can just really tank the season, get a top 10 pick and look for a QB in the 2015 draft.

 

[Manster74]

I really don't want to see them spend money because they have some room. They need to be smart and it seems like that may be the case.

 

[Alexander]

Cross Ayers off your lists. He has signed with the Giants.

 

[gimmesix]

I would assume most of us are puzzled by the lack of activity by the Cowboys. Dallas does have 6+ million in cap space, leaving room for some bargain signings at the very least. We watch other teams in the division load up, whether they are smart moves or dumb, that is open to debate. I have to think we are just playing the waiting game (ala Seattle) to see what bargains we can get (Ayers, Avant) or sign a post 6/1 cut!! Once the draft is over, I assume we will sign some players to bolster the roster. Keeping the faith...

I think Dallas is saving room to sign Spencer and possibly re-sign Smith and/or Bryant (and apparently, Murray). I don't think we'll see any FA signings outside of that.

 

[ceerrece]

I think they will wait until after the Draft.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think they will wait until after the Draft.

Chances are your right and there will be some good value players. Hate to say it but it seems to me so many teams will go out and pay big money on star players and never get the return on that player.
I think one FA Dallas made a while back was Kyle Kosier not a star player but a solid addition for a good price.

 

[perrykemp]

They signed one of the best DL in free agency in Melton. What else did you realistically think they were going to do?

 

[Kaiser]

I really don't want to see them spend money because they have some room. They need to be smart and it seems like that may be the case.

Agree, this is the lull period before the draft where a lot of Free Agents are waiting to see who will have holes to fill after the draft. I think the Cowboys still add a WR like Burleson and a Will to back up Carter, plus Spencer when he is farther along in his rehab also.

Depending on the draft, I think there is also a good chance they resign Waters to play OG at the very end of training camp.

 

[ThreeandOut]

I think they will wait until after the Draft.

They may pick up a FA WR after the draft if the don't select a WR that could back up Dez and Williams during the draft.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Their plan is to fix our needs in the draft and not overspend on free agents previous teams no longer want. Its the correct way to approach this. Sure, its not exciting and it doesn't create new threads on Cowboys Zone but its the correct approach.

 

[windward]

I agree with everyone that says the draft should be our focus. Besides we can roll over any unused cap space to next year.

 

[Nightman]

I think Dallas is saving room to sign Spencer and possibly re-sign Smith and/or Bryant (and apparently, Murray). I don't think we'll see any FA signings outside of that.

I think that was the plan the whole time. Sign Melton(had a good feeling on him), get some DL depth but don't overpay. Draft Defense heavy and get an OG in the first 4 rounds.

Save the big bucks for Dez and TSmith. Murray can be extended but at the going rate of 3-4m.

 

[kiheikiwi]

Their plan is to fix our needs in the draft and not overspend on free agents previous teams no longer want. Its the correct way to approach this. Sure, its not exciting and it doesn't create new threads on Cowboys Zone but its the correct approach.

Yes and no. Yes it's the correct way for this team and the money they don't have - however, I would have thought that this far into free agency that the remaining players are not the expensive contract type. And I thought Ayers would have been exactly what we should be looking at. Relatively cheap short term contracts for players who have been passed over so far. Don't need to be stars, but solid players with flaws - who come in for a purpose. ROTATION. Look how the Giants have quietly bought in OLmen, filled gaps they will still take in the draft and got Ayers for their Dline rotation. Plus for cheap. Seams smart.
We will need to carpet bomb this draft for DT's and D-Ends as well as other positions we still need - so why not bring in a few cheap rotational players, with flaws who can at least play the positions you need ? Isn't that exactly what we should be doing? And without having to spend alot ?
Also, Spagnola - (who I usualy don't like his company line,) said in one of his columns - that signing Melton was a good start, but not the end game. People/fans/ and FO should not look at that as a "hey, we shored up the 3 tech. we're good. Senario." I agree, it should not be all we do. But it looks like the FO does not. I think we needed to find at least one backup guard if possible, then still draft another. DT and DE are obviously big needs still, regardlless of the Melton signing. WR is a high to mid round need, LBer. Are we going into this year with the Safeties we have ? So, as you can see. Too many holes for one draft to fill, low cost free agents like Ayers seemed to good to be true. I guess they were. The question that we all have to ask ourselves now is, will everyone be OK with a really down year, not even reaching 500. By not filling all our needs this one season, but having a younger, cheaper roster with more money and cap room next year. Short term down turn, for better long term stability and hopefully production on the field ? OK, rant completed !