Reversing course on free agency pre-draft

Cowboyny

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After more time and research thinking about the direction the team should take this off-season, I have changed course somewhat:

-If I had to decide whom to keep Cooper or DLaw, I am leaning towards restructuring Cooper now and asking DLaw for a paycut. Team saves 12.5 Million in a restructure and just cannot see DLaw counting 27 million against the cap this yr and I believe another 29 million the following yr. Simply cannot get rid of our best receiver after our offense struggled so much. DLaw is a good player, but getting paid to be an elite one and struggles with availability. I believe DLaw refuses and plays elsewhere in this scenario. Also, let's factor in a strong DE class in this year's draft and Gregory is expected to be resigned.

-Without much cap funds to go buy a OL starter, think team needs to pencil in Collins back to Guard and starting Steele at Right Tackle. Certainly things can change depending how the draft shakes out. If a high Guard is drafted, Steele would move back to the bench. Don't believe they are signing a fa starting Center. Idea pre-draft is to have a open competition at the Center position between Biaz, McGovern and Farn, hope is with Collins/Martin in between them, they can get by at the Center position.

-#3 WR comes down to cost, if Wilson wants over 5 million you let him walk. Turner can be resigned at a much cheaper rate and can serve as a stop gap starter. He actually played well in limited snaps. Let's also not forget about Fehoko who was drafted to eventually become the #3 WR. With all this being said, team should also add another receiver via the draft. Could they get Gallup on a cheap 1 yr deal? Probably not.

-What to do about the TE position? Shultz has become a good, receiving TE who struggles with blocking in all aspects. Don't we already have that in Jarwin? Paying Shultz market level money would be a huge mistake. Perhaps add a veteran and draft a future starter makes the most sense.

-Team needs to either resign Lve or a comparable veteran starter. This position is more about defending the run then it's about playing coverage in the nickel, where Cox could fill that Neal type of role. Of course, would love a 3 down player, but the need is more of a 2 down mike linebacker. These types of players are less expensive and in the draft could be found after the top 3 rounds. Due to the lack of numbers, team would be wise to have a veteran opposite Parsons at the position.

-I would bring back our two fa safeties in Kearse, Hooker. Why create another need if you don't have to. Kearse is a priority resign as he was one of the best defenders in our defense last season. Think Hooker can be retained on another small contract.

Priority Draft Needs-DE, G/C, TE, LB
 
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Just me, but the way I'm now seeing this is we could well replace both via draft AND free agency ( mid-lower tier ). I hadn't really noticed but do know DLaw and Gregory together had only 9 sacks this season.....Parsons had 13. So for me, I'm ready to turn the page.....

Remember Stephen saying we are facing some tough choices.......I wonder if he speaking directly to DLaw, Gregory and Coop.
 
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Just me, but the way I'm now seeing this is we could well replace both via draft AND free agency ( mid-lower tier ). I hadn't really noticed but do know DLaw and Gregory together had only 9 sacks this season.....Parsons had 13. So for me, I'm ready to turn the page.....

Problem is without their 22 sacks, I think the rest of the team only had about 20 themselves. So we gotta replace that production somehow if we let them both go. I think Tank is more vital than Gregory, though.
 
We need a DT. TE will be tricky and we should spend draft on O-Line. We have a few like Ball that was injured. If we get a new O-Line coach it will go a long way to fixing our O-Line problem. Cut Williams and move Collins. Steele plays in Collins spot and you have a starting line. Go back to power running and stop whatever that scheme philibin is doing now that is terrible. If you do that then the draft could shift to backups that could start. Not spending the first 2 or 3 rounds on O-Line. Score a DT and maybe a LB. Move Parsons to rush on passing downs if we lose Gregory. Many ways this could go. New O-Line coach is the best option that should be done anyways..
 
Just me, but the way I'm now seeing this is we could well replace both via draft AND free agency ( mid-lower tier ). I hadn't really noticed but do know DLaw and Gregory together had only 9 sacks this season.....Parsons had 13. So for me, I'm ready to turn the page.....

Remember Stephen saying we are facing some tough choices.......I wonder if he speaking directly to DLaw, Gregory and Coop.
I heard an interview that Jerry talked to Gregory's agent and he said goodwill over the years will help with the new contract. Could we see somewhat of a discount? Keep in mind Gregory missed 5 games and DLaw missed the majority of the season, think their numbers would be much higher if they both were healthy. Cleary though, Gregory is the better pure rusher.
 
Problem is without their 22 sacks, I think the rest of the team only had about 20 themselves. So we gotta replace that production somehow if we let them both go. I think Tank is more vital than Gregory, though.
Gregory is by far the better pass rusher, where DLaw is more the balanced player of the two.
 
We need a DT. TE will be tricky and we should spend draft on O-Line. We have a few like Ball that was injured. If we get a new O-Line coach it will go a long way to fixing our O-Line problem. Cut Williams and move Collins. Steele plays in Collins spot and you have a starting line. Go back to power running and stop whatever that scheme philibin is doing now that is terrible. If you do that then the draft could shift to backups that could start. Not spending the first 2 or 3 rounds on O-Line. Score a DT and maybe a LB. Move Parsons to rush on passing downs if we lose Gregory. Many ways this could go. New O-Line coach is the best option that should be done anyways..
I agree about new OL coach, but that doesn't appear to be in the plans. Also, yes DT should be added to our priority needs listing.
 
Problem is without their 22 sacks, I think the rest of the team only had about 20 themselves. So we gotta replace that production somehow if we let them both go. I think Tank is more vital than Gregory, though.

What 22 sacks? 22 career sacks?
 
I heard an interview that Jerry talked to Gregory's agent and he said goodwill over the years will help with the new contract. Could we see somewhat of a discount? Keep in mind Gregory missed 5 games and DLaw missed the majority of the season, think their numbers would be much higher if they both were healthy. Cleary though, Gregory is the better pure rusher.

Translate: He doesn't have a lot skin on the wall. He's started only ONE GAME prior to this season, one game in 6 years. I could be wrong, but I think he gets a better offer on the market.
 
First, people tend to throw out stats without checking facts. Before DLaw missed 10 games This year due to injury, he had played in all 16 games the 4 previous years in a row. He is not injury prone.

Second, the position of TE is much more critical to all QBs than fans realize. I’m not saying Shultz is critical. Pay him what he deserves if that’s possible, and let him walk if the market wants to pay too much. Either way, we keep Jarwin and hope he can be healthy. Every QB relies on his TE for blocking, chipping, late screens, and outlet, save me passes. Make sure Dak has a very good TE or at least someone he’s familiar with.
 
After more time and research thinking about the direction the team should take this off-season, I have changed course somewhat:

-If I had to decide whom to keep Cooper or DLaw, I am leaning towards restructuring Cooper now and asking DLaw for a paycut. Team saves 12.5 Million in a restructure and just cannot see DLaw counting 27 million against the cap this yr and I believe another 29 million the following yr. Simply cannot get rid of our best receiver after our offense struggled so much. DLaw is a good player, but getting paid to be an elite one and struggles with availability. I believe DLaw refuses and plays elsewhere in this scenario. Also, let's factor in a strong DE class in this year's draft and Gregory is expected to be resigned.

-Without much cap funds to go buy a OL starter, think team needs to pencil in Collins back to Guard and starting Steele at Right Tackle. Certainly things can change depending how the draft shakes out. If a high Guard is drafted, Steele would move back to the bench. Don't believe they are signing a fa starting Center. Idea pre-draft is to have a open competition at the Center position between Biaz, McGovern and Farn, hope is with Collins/Martin in between them, they can get by at the Center position.

-#3 WR comes down to cost, if Wilson wants over 5 million you let him walk. Turner can be resigned at a much cheaper rate and can serve as a stop gap starter. He actually played well in limited snaps. Let's also not forget about Fehoko who was drafted to eventually become the #3 WR. With all this being said, team should also add another receiver via the draft. Could they get Gallup on a cheap 1 yr deal? Probably not.

-What to do about the TE position? Shultz has become a good, receiving TE who struggles with blocking in all aspects. Don't we already have that in Jarwin? Paying Shultz market level money would be a huge mistake. Perhaps add a veteran and draft a future starter makes the most sense.

-Team needs to either resign Lve or a comparable veteran starter. This position is more about defending the run then it's about playing coverage in the nickel, where Cox could fill that Neal type of role. Of course, would love a 3 down player, but the need is more of a 2 down mike linebacker. These types of players are less expensive and in the draft could be found after the top 3 rounds. Due to the lack of numbers, team would be wise to have a veteran opposite Parsons at the position.

-I would bring back our two fa safeties in Kearse, Hooker. Why create another need if you don't have to. Kearse is a priority resign as he was one of the best defenders in our defense last season. Think Hooker can be retained on another small contract.

Priority Draft Needs-DE, G/C, TE, LB
This may be the first post of yours I havent quite gotten.

I may be wrong....not as if I've done all the numbers, but I'm not sure we get under the cap with what you want to do and not do.

The general idea is to not create more holes or get worse on paper, but I'm not sure they have any real choice but to do things like Golston for DLaw, Cox for LVE, Lamb as #1, etc.

I realize this is not at all ideal, but I think it's a reality.

At some point, when improving is draft only, you have to play them and sink or swim. Can't only figure to use the two top picks every year.

At any rate, we very much need to get away from the ridiculous handcuffing top dollar deals Jerry gave out to try to prove his Garrett experiment.

It may take semi punting on a season to do it.

Of course they will still beat up on the weak division so they will contend, but looking worse on paper is inevitable IMO.

Maybe that's not such a bad thing, because looking good on paper is about all this team has accomplished in a very long time.
 
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After more time and research thinking about the direction the team should take this off-season, I have changed course somewhat:

-If I had to decide whom to keep Cooper or DLaw, I am leaning towards restructuring Cooper now and asking DLaw for a paycut. Team saves 12.5 Million in a restructure and just cannot see DLaw counting 27 million against the cap this yr and I believe another 29 million the following yr. Simply cannot get rid of our best receiver after our offense struggled so much. DLaw is a good player, but getting paid to be an elite one and struggles with availability. I believe DLaw refuses and plays elsewhere in this scenario. Also, let's factor in a strong DE class in this year's draft and Gregory is expected to be resigned.

-Without much cap funds to go buy a OL starter, think team needs to pencil in Collins back to Guard and starting Steele at Right Tackle. Certainly things can change depending how the draft shakes out. If a high Guard is drafted, Steele would move back to the bench. Don't believe they are signing a fa starting Center. Idea pre-draft is to have a open competition at the Center position between Biaz, McGovern and Farn, hope is with Collins/Martin in between them, they can get by at the Center position.

-#3 WR comes down to cost, if Wilson wants over 5 million you let him walk. Turner can be resigned at a much cheaper rate and can serve as a stop gap starter. He actually played well in limited snaps. Let's also not forget about Fehoko who was drafted to eventually become the #3 WR. With all this being said, team should also add another receiver via the draft. Could they get Gallup on a cheap 1 yr deal? Probably not.

-What to do about the TE position? Shultz has become a good, receiving TE who struggles with blocking in all aspects. Don't we already have that in Jarwin? Paying Shultz market level money would be a huge mistake. Perhaps add a veteran and draft a future starter makes the most sense.

-Team needs to either resign Lve or a comparable veteran starter. This position is more about defending the run then it's about playing coverage in the nickel, where Cox could fill that Neal type of role. Of course, would love a 3 down player, but the need is more of a 2 down mike linebacker. These types of players are less expensive and in the draft could be found after the top 3 rounds. Due to the lack of numbers, team would be wise to have a veteran opposite Parsons at the position.

-I would bring back our two fa safeties in Kearse, Hooker. Why create another need if you don't have to. Kearse is a priority resign as he was one of the best defenders in our defense last season. Think Hooker can be retained on another small contract.

Priority Draft Needs-DE, G/C, TE, LB
If you listen to the Cowboys insiders, they seem to think Gregory is the one Cowboys free agent they will go all out to keep. Tank will be offered a huge pay cut but I don’t think he will accept it. His agent will play chicken so he can get Tank more money as a free agent. I think Gallup will return. I just don’t see a team that will break the bank for a solid two receiver with an ACL injury. It’s 50-50 if Gallup starts off next season on the pup list. Don’t underestimate guys like Joseph, Ball, ect when it comes to next season’s team. Boss man is expected to start next season and Ball should be Tyron prime backup at left tackle. To be honest I would get rid of Collins and find away to keep Tank/Cooper. I don’t understand the teams trust in Collins and Gregory.
 
First, people tend to throw out stats without checking facts. Before DLaw missed 10 games This year due to injury, he had played in all 16 games the 4 previous years in a row. He is not injury prone.

Second, the position of TE is much more critical to all QBs than fans realize. I’m not saying Shultz is critical. Pay him what he deserves if that’s possible, and let him walk if the market wants to pay too much. Either way, we keep Jarwin and hope he can be healthy. Every QB relies on his TE for blocking, chipping, late screens, and outlet, save me passes. Make sure Dak has a very good TE or at least someone he’s familiar with.

I see what you saying and I'm DLaw fan/supporter but there's no way in hell they bringing back w/o a pay-cut.
 
I didn’t realize how much of a cap hit DLAW is going to be. CUT HIM.

His production isn’t worth his salary. Imagine only being available for 50% of your season but getting paid $20 million.

At least Dak hasn’t missed games besides the freak accident in 2020.
 
If we do the following:

  • Renegotiate Tank to a 15m base 2-year deal (guaranteed)
  • Cut Cooper
  • Restructure Dak & Martin
  • Assume 6m on draft picks
That give us 14m to spend in free agency so we could sign Gregory, Kearse, Anger and Hooker. That's about the best we can do IMO.
 

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