Source: Dallas Cowboys decline to pick up 3-year option on DT Henry Melton’s contract, making him a

[gimmesix]

He ended his last two seasons on IR so I would sign him to another one year prove it deal.

I agree. He showed some signs of his old form, but also showed he's not all the way back ... and it's possible he won't get there.

I wouldn't mind if we offered him a similar deal to the one he just had.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

He had that midseason stretch where he really turned it on. They were moving him around a lot and he was getting consistent pressure. Then he just disappeared.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'm sure Melton wasn't surprised by this.

 

[CF74]

Injuries derailed him but he was on pace for an awesome year. He will be back on another prove it deal...

 

[jazzcat22]

Just looked it up we've now opened up 8 million more in cap space on top of what we already had .

So we now have 17 million too spend !!!!

Not so sure it did. Since it was an option, it may not have counted as cap unto it was picked up.
Maybe one of the cap gurus can clarify this.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Not so sure it did. Since it was an option, it may not have counted as cap unto it was picked up.
Maybe one of the cap gurus can clarify this.

from BSPN:

By not picking up the option, the Cowboys will create roughly $8.4 million in cap space. Melton will count $855,000 in dead money against the 2015 salary cap with the proration of a $1 million signing bonus he received last year and per-game roster bonuses earned.

While the move to not pick up the option is not surprising, Melton could re-sign with the Cowboys at a cheaper rate, although that seems unlikely. He will be able to test free agency for the second straight year.

 

[Zordon]

he pissed off the coaches. told you guys before the year it wasn't going to work out. he's the same goofball he was in college.

 

[basstapp]

I thought it said we picked up the three year option and almost cried. Glad I can't read.

 

[Risen Star]

You have this kind of flexibility when you have a Nick Hayden on the roster.

 

[FLcowboy]

The Dallas Cowboys have declined to pick up the three-year, $24 million option on defensive tackle Henry Melton’s contract, making him an unrestricted free agent for the second consecutive offseason, according to a source.

The Cowboys had until Sunday to inform Melton whether they would exercise the three-year option on his contract. He would have been owed $9 million guaranteed if the Cowboys had elected to bring him back in 2015. If Melton had been on the Cowboys’ roster on the first day of the new league year March 10, he’ would have been signed through 2017.

link/http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...eltons-contract-making-him-a-free-agent.html/

No mystery on this move. He filled a hole, and was a stopgap player, but he really didn't stand out enough to warrant a three year extension, when the 2015 draft and free agent season is yet to begin. If nobody else picks him up, then he might be another one year wonder.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I'm not interested in giving a multi-year deal to a known injury risk.

Just my position on it.

At 3M a year for a guy who has a pro bowl to his name and is young and will be two years removed from an ACL.

These are the calculated risks a smart organization takes.

 

[Nightman]

Not so sure it did. Since it was an option, it may not have counted as cap unto it was picked up.
Maybe one of the cap gurus can clarify this.

Dallas is now around 17m under the cap. That is before they even do anything with Romo, TSmith or Carr. They can get close to 50m under the cap with a couple moves.

They need to sign Dez and Murray first. Then they have about 10 other internal FAs to resign. That leaves around 15-20m to spend on outside FAs and the Draft.

 

[xwalker]

Injuries derailed him but he was on pace for an awesome year. He will be back on another prove it deal...

He was going to be a healthy in-active for at least 2 games but injuries to other players kept him active.

 

[Nightman]

At 3M a year for a guy who has a pro bowl to his name and is young and will be two years removed from an ACL.

These are the calculated risks a smart organization takes.

I would like to see them sign Hardy for DE and then give Melton another low risk deal. There are plenty of snaps to fill between 3t and 1t and nickel downs.

 

[LatinMind]

The right call. Crawford's emergence as a 3-Tech and there seemed to be some issue between Melton and the coaches. Like the player but feel this move makes sense.

Now go spend that money on a DE or FS....

I like Crawford alot. But he is a power DT. The guy is really strong and gets under his guy and pushes him straight back. He is not good on stunts. He is not ever going to be a guy to get you sacks. I would love for him to be able to get up to over 290 and play both spots. play the 3tech and switch over to the 1tech and bring in a guy like Gardner or Whaley on rushing downs. Thats what i liked about Melton, the guy can stunt inside or loop around the DE and still rush the passer. Crawford is strictly a bullrush type of guy.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Dallas is now around 17m under the cap. That is before they even do anything with Romo, TSmith or Carr. They can get close to 50m under the cap with a couple moves.

They need to sign Dez and Murray first. Then they have about 10 other internal FAs to resign. That leaves around 15-20m to spend on outside FAs and the Draft.

If they have to franchise Dez, that would eat up about $13 million. The Cowboys can open up about $11 million more by reworking Romo's deal, but that will hurt the 2016 and 2017 cap. My hope is they get a long term deal with Bryant done; minimizing his cap hit this year. In any event, Dallas has the cap room to be major players in free agency....if they so choose.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

I like Crawford alot. But he is a power DT. The guy is really strong and gets under his guy and pushes him straight back. He is not good on stunts. He is not ever going to be a guy to get you sacks. I would love for him to be able to get up to over 290 and play both spots. play the 3tech and switch over to the 1tech and bring in a guy like Gardner or Whaley on rushing downs. Thats what i liked about Melton, the guy can stunt inside or loop around the DE and still rush the passer. Crawford is strictly a bullrush type of guy.

I agree with this post, except that Crawford can be a sack guy with a little more luck. He had three sacks, 25 hurries, and 12 QB knockdowns last season. He was maybe a split second away from having at least nine sacks last year. In the game against Seattle he almost had Russell Wilson three times.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I agree with this post, except that Crawford can be a sack guy with a little more luck. He had three sacks, 25 hurries, and 12 QB knockdowns last season. He was maybe a split second away from having at least nine sacks last year. In the game against Seattle he almost had Russell Wilson three times.

Crawford would have a couple more sacks if the rest of the line was better getting pressure sans Mincey and Lawrence to a lesser extend. The guy playing the #1 DT spot contributes nothing in the pass rush and was out there for a mind-boggling 600 snaps. The guys at LDE spot contributed a some, but not nearly enough.

1043 snaps 5 QB sacks, 13 QB hits, 35 pressures

 

[Vinnie2u]

I hope Dallas don't #1 restructure any contract.... #2 doesn't sign any big money free agent... Suh, Hardy, JPP and #3 doesn't resign Murray for more than 5 mil a yr... Stay the course Jerry.. Chips all in doesn't work... See Denver last year...

 

[casmith07]

Don't need him back. Keep growing our own talent through the draft and bargain free agent acquisitions.