Suppose we do take Shadeur Sanders?

[Doomsday]

I was fine with letting Dak walk and going after Nix or Sanders but we all knew Jerry doesn't have the stones to make moves like that.

I still think they can win with Dak but they have to fix the offensive line and give him another stud WR or the offense will always struggle vs good teams.

 

[DandyDon1722]

So, I was posting in a thread, and someone mentioned about Shadeur Sanders. I've been heavily on the record wanting Jeanty. That said, suppose we do take Shadeur Sanders? So, for this thread, I will explore two ways that I could see us going about this.

As I've stated before, Dak's contract (assuming no restructures) would have to be examined. The below link is the details of his contract. There is a tab when looking at his cap hits for "post-June cut".

https://overthecap.com/player/dak-prescott/4848

To me, as I've stated in other threads that I've written, the most optimal times to make Dak a post June 1 cut are 2026 ($40,010,000.00 in cap savings and a $27,686,666.00 cap hit)or 2027 ($45,000,000.00 cap savings and a $16,691,666.00 cap hit).

Before I layout my two scenarios, I must explain why I wouldn't just have Shadeur takeover to start 2025. This offense is far too one dimensional, and, given Dak's contract, we have the luxury of letting a QB sit for a season or two like the Packers did with Love or the Chiefs did with Mahomes. So, it would be better to let him sit a season or two under Dak while he learns the pro game. So, I will present the scenario for him taking over in 2026 (Dak cut in June that year) and 2027 (Dak cut in June that year). I will then, after analysing the two scenarios, provide what I think is the best scenario.

The next thing, before I get into the scenarios, is to look at the most optimal draft (will dive into this more after the SB). Assuming we first draft Sanders, I would then draft Dion Walker (NT Kentucky) or Nazir Stackhouse (NT Georgia) in round 2 and go oline round 3. I'm thinking someone like Xavier Truss (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_Truss). He's 6'7". Unfortunately, this is where having a 4th round pick would be helpful, but hopefully Mingo can step in as a good receiver aside from Lamb. The running backs in this draft class after round 4 (from what I see on Walter Football) don't look very appealing. Additionally, we probably would still have another year or two to get the team ready. Plus, this is assuming we don't restructure Dak, so we are eating a cap hit here. Luckily, cutting Terrance Steele with a June 1 cut in 2025 should save some cap space. However, I think the savings would go to a new contract for Parsons. Unfortunately, I also don't like our safeties if we don't spend on FA entering 2025. On the other hand, the starting oline would probably be (assuming Martin retires) Tyler Smith, Bass, Beebe, Truss (RG), and Guyton (RT, his natural position). Obviously, Dak would start the entirety (assuming healthy) of 2025 and we'd probably want someone like Lance or another backup in the wings until Sanders is ready. Oh, and DLaw will be gone, and I don't think we have enough draft space for another pass rusher in 2025. Luckily, we have Kneeland.

So, now, let's suppose we cut Dak in 2026 for scenario 1. We'd have a dead hit of $27 mil and cap savings of just over $40 mil and a QB on a rookie deal. Assuming Parsons is extended in the 2025 offseason, here are the other contracts that expire after 2025 (https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/contracts). So, it looks like the expiring contracts after 2025 (again, assuming we extend Parsons after the season) would be Jake Ferguson, Wilson, Tolbert, Bland, Waletzko, Bass, and Aubrey among others. Obviously, we will want to extend Aubrey and Bland. We will also probably want to extend Ferguson. So, (of course, we could trade players like Tolbert and Bland after the season for picks), but, depending on the cap space following this, we still need a guard, WR, and a safety. I'd probably draft a guard, RB (since we wouldn't be able to get a good one in 2025), a CB (if we trade Bland), and WR and use FA on a quality safety. Good news, we would have a newly extended Aubrey, a suitable replacement for Tolbert to mix in with Mingo and Lamb, and another guard to replace Bass. Oh, and we should have a better run game and safety play. The downside is that we probably can't adequately replace all the losses, and our linebackers would still be rail thin. But, the nose tackle from 2025 should still be helpful in stopping the run. Plus, we have Sanders with 4 more years (assuming we use the option).

Now, suppose we use the cut in 2027 to gain $44 mil. Again, we are assuming Parsons is extended following the cut of Steele. I think in 2026, we have to extend Aubrey either way. In this situation, it makes even more sense to try to trade Bland. Additionally, we will still probably want to sign Ferguson. But, we wouldn't be able to sign as many players. But, we still probably draft a RB, guard, and WR. We also would need a safety in the draft. On the plus side, it gives us another year to make sure the team is ready for Sanders to take over. Downside, Mazi (DT), Kneeland, Liafu, and Beebe currently are scheduled for their contracts to expire in 2027 (of course, using the option on Mazi moves his expiration date to 2028, so let's assume we do that). We'd have 4 mil extra in cap space to extend these players. Additionally, we don't seem to have as many expiring contracts in 2027, so we can use the extra cap savings to fill other weaknesses. The one downside about waiting until 2027 to start Sanders is that he'd only have 3 years left (assuming we use his 5th year option) on his rookie deal.

I'm aware the above scenarios are a mouthful. I think the positives of starting Sanders in 2026 is that we get 4 years of him playing on his rookie deal, and we should have some decent weapons around him. The problem is, the running game wouldn't be ideal yet, and our linebackers room wouldn't be great. But, the nose tackle we draft in 2025 would help with our run defence.

The positives of starting Sanders in 2027 is we'd have more time to make sure he can be successful, but he'd have one less year with his rookie deal. However, assuming the Joneses address the linebackers and any other key weaknesses entering 2027, he should be able to succeed from the time he starts. Additionally, he might get some playing time at the end of 2026 before taking over 2027 to get his feet wet in the NFL. Additionally, Dak's dead hit is significantly reduced in 2027, which means that we aren't as hampered with our 2027 cap space.

So, to me, I would think it's a bit better to let him take over in 2027 as the full time starter and let Dak go in 2027. We'd have a little more cap space and the cap hit wouldn't be as high. So, we'd have more cap space available. It would mean being patient waiting for him to take over, but I think the patience would be rewarded by ensuring he has the ability to succeed. We would be able to have sufficient time with Dak's deal to be able to make sure he's as prepared as possible to start and to succeed.

Not sure why you are keeping Parsons in a rebuild. Maybe Lamb but I think everybody should be available and stockpile as many picks as possible. This current group of players have underperformed when it has counted most. If I was a new coach I need a culture change.

The fanbase will be okay with a rebuild if there’s hope…Sanders…etc.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

First and foremost no way Shadeur sits for 2years.
No way Dak survives injury-free free the 2 years heck he won't survive 2025.
If daddy Deion is the coach expect his son to follow and start ASAP.
Dak is DONE one way or another.
Eyes do you have them?
Brains are they in working order?
People this guy got his money and is done with football.
He wont mind at all sitting on the bench and still unfortunately sweating.

Well, then 2026 would probably be the time he starts. I'm just giving the two scenarios I can see if they go Sanders. I don't think starting a rookie QB week one is necessarily the best idea usually and we can let Sanders learn for a year.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Here's my take on that Jeanty sounds great but even BIjan Robinson having some growing pains, he's not what they thought and I'm a Longhorn fan,

so you gotta be careful up that high picking a running back however think of this I feel like this scenario if we pass up on Jeanty and we pick up Travis hunter if he's still there or a guy like him ie a top WR/Pass rush/DT?.

I wouldn't say can't miss but get get you a better position that you utilize better that warrants picking somebody that high,

like passing on Ezekiel Elliott for Ramsey and then in the second round because I heard this is a very deep draft for running backs, you can get your running back in the second round, very much like we could have got Henry... so this year we could get Travis hunter and the next best running back in the second round, even though we lucked out and we got Ezekiel Elliott and Prescott and ends up Prescott in the fourth round was steal,

so you could just flip their effect on the draft it doesn't matter because they both worked out.. think that might be smarter play given we have hindsight in history with zeke/Ramsey and not getting henry, do it differently this time.. but i wouldn't be made Jeanty at 8-12 but rather not.

Sure, I get that. The problem is this doesn't seem like a great running back draft class.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Why would someone consider dropping a top 15 pick on a 5’9 RB (assuming that even hasn’t been exaggerated)? There’s 3 DT being projected in the top 15. Get one, get an end… he’ll even a cornerback. You can get a starting caliber RB in both the second and 3rd and a capable backup in the 5th. Again, this team is one year removed from 3 consecutive 12 win seasons. Going to assume this is an outlier season. When the 49ers had an outlier season they didn’t drop the pick 4 a down the road QB. They got Bosa. Go get a Bosa caliber defensive player, preferably front 7 to pair with Parsons. Switch back to the outside zone running scheme with a 2nd/3rd round RB which should an easiest fix team wise. And most importantly, stop focusing so much on the outliers as if it’s been the norm!

I mean, I could get behind a pass rusher round 1, Walker or Stackhouse round 2 (I'm not wanting Grahem, but I think Walker or Stackhouse will be there round 2), and a guard round 3. The problem is, I don't see a lot of good running backs this draft vs pass rushers. Not to mention we have Overshown and Kneeland. So, while normally I hear you on running backs, this is one time where I think we need to go RB round one. Especially since Jerry won't do anything in FA.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Not sure why you are keeping Parsons in a rebuild. Maybe Lamb but I think everybody should be available and stockpile as many picks as possible. This current group of players have underperformed when it has counted most. If I was a new coach I need a culture change.

The fanbase will be okay with a rebuild if there’s hope…Sanders…etc.

I mean, if we can get a lot of picks for Parsons, then great. If we can't get a lot of picks for him, then maybe we build the interior with him, Kneeland, DO, and a NT (and we should transition to a 3-4 base).

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Not sure I trust the front office drafting defensive line lately

I agree, but Walker or Stackhouse seem to be good options. I don't trust them to take Dline from Michigan lol.

 

[Whirlwin]

I read enough to determine it was nonsense and gibberish!

lol not this person what he writes is not gibberish , if anything, he forgot more than you’ll know. Unbelievable.

 

[Flamma]

Am I the only one that would stay away from Shedeur Sanders? I watch him play now and I do not see what all the noise is about. If he was not Deion's son I don't think he would be anywhere near the top of the QB prospects list.

I will watch him play as much as I can the rest of the year but what I see is an over-hyped product of the media fascination with Deion's family.

Can a Shedeur fan please enlighten me? I am willing to listen.

I don't know what all of the hype is about either. Pray we win enough games to stay away. But our owner sees gold coins with this kid. Jerry never trades up anymore. That's part of their house rules. At least not in the first two days. But don't put it past him to break tradition.

 

[CarolinaFathead]

Depends on whether or not you hit on the pick. It's risky, but having a Derrick Henry, Saquan Barkley, or Bijan Robinson makes life a lot easier for an offense. But you have to make sure you have the personnel up front to take proper advantage of the RB. This idea that you can just plug in any back is ridiculous. Swap out the backups for Henry and Barkley this season. You think those offenses are at or near the top of the league like they are now?

There are still elite backs. They never went away, but the gap between a running back’s ideal effectiveness on the field and where you can draft to find a player to maximally realize that ideal effectiveness is starkly narrowed over the last 20 years. You can find backs in the 2-4 rounds that can bring you close to ideal, even ideal for that matter, effectiveness from the RB position. Plus, there is always the incredibly fast degradation and depreciation of a RB’s skill set from when they were in their prime. We are talking 3-4 years here on average. Like I said, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze of a top five pick, although for clarity I’ll add the caveat that this is a general, and not an absolute, rule for the league nowadays. For example, if you have a RB like McCaffrey that can catch 85-100+ balls for a thousand yards and rush for 1500 yards, you gotta consider it if you’re picking in the top 10.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

There are still elite backs. They never went away, but the gap between a running back’s ideal effectiveness on the field and where you can draft to find a player to maximally realize that ideal effectiveness is starkly narrowed over the last 20 years. You can find backs in the 2-4 rounds that can bring you close to ideal, even ideal for that matter, effectiveness from the RB position. Plus, there is always the incredibly fast degradation and depreciation of a RB’s skill set from when they were in their prime. We are talking 3-4 years here on average. Like I said, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze of a top five pick, although for clarity I’ll add the caveat that this is a general, and not an absolute, rule for the league nowadays. For example, if you have a RB like McCaffrey that can catch 85-100+ balls for a thousand yards and rush for 1500 yards, you gotta consider it if you’re picking in the top 10.

Exactly, and I think Jeanty fits that bill.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Not sure why you are keeping Parsons in a rebuild. Maybe Lamb but I think everybody should be available and stockpile as many picks as possible. This current group of players have underperformed when it has counted most. If I was a new coach I need a culture change.

The fanbase will be okay with a rebuild if there’s hope…Sanders…etc.

Teams are no longer willing to trade 1st and 2nd round picks for players. In 2024 only one 2025 pick was traded for a player and the was Houston sending sending what is Minnesota’s 2nd rounder to Buffalo for Diggs. 1st and 2nd round picks represent potential talent with a degree of economic control. Any “stockpile” might be 3rd rounders, at best.

 

[exciter]

I mean, I could get behind a pass rusher round 1, Walker or Stackhouse round 2 (I'm not wanting Grahem, but I think Walker or Stackhouse will be there round 2), and a guard round 3. The problem is, I don't see a lot of good running backs this draft vs pass rushers. Not to mention we have Overshown and Kneeland. So, while normally I hear you on running backs, this is one time where I think we need to go RB round one. Especially since Jerry won't do anything in FA.

Most what I’m seeing has 5-7 guys projected early to mid 2nd to mid 3rd with a couple having Judkins as high as a low 1st
Kneeland is a 43 5t, don’t see him ever being a force as a pass rusher… it’s just not the strong suit of his game.
Overshown is an undersized WiLL with issues holding up!.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Most what I’m seeing has 5-7 guys projected early to mid 2nd to mid 3rd with a couple having Judkins as high as a low 1st
Kneeland is a 43 5t, don’t see him ever being a force as a pass rusher… it’s just not the strong suit of his game.
Overshown is an undersized WiLL with issues holding up!.

I mean, I think Kneeland looked good prior to the injury. I think Overshown has looked solid. Obviously, we will want a pass rusher to replace DLaw. So, if we can get a back like Gordon (would be easier if we had a fourth round pick) in round 3, then maybe we go pass rush and NT with our first two picks.

 

[Cmac]

Within a few years.....he'd be getting trashed by our base. Hmmm.

 

[exciter]

Kneeland looks good for what he is but he’s never going to be a force as a pass rusher or force teams to game plan around him… I think 8 sacks is his ceiling with 6 being a good season for him.
They need a 3t who can consistently create pressure and force teams to game plan around him!

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Within a few years.....he'd be getting trashed by our base. Hmmm.

Oh, I don't doubt it lol. If he loses a game, this fanbase will want a new QB.

 

[blueblood70]

Sure, I get that. The problem is this doesn't seem like a great running back draft class.

Every expert I've looked at that's gonna do some of the pre draft says it's a very deep very we always hear this about like a lot of the quarterbacks and two or three of them were not even talked about and they're the best ones I mean look one guy is supposed to be Bryce young and Baker Mayfield they're taking before and the guys falling down after him like Patrick mahomes #13 this is what happens when you listen to too many people I've heard from a lot of people that the running back class is probably one of the best it's been in years... But we'll find out when we actually are in the draft talk area because you do realize we're only at mid season right now and trying to figure out both what's the best in college and where we're gonna be picking it's a waste of time it's a complete waste of time.

I think the irony here is I've heard the exact opposite it's very deep... And by the way what happened to running backs are a dime a dozen and you get a young one that knows the position it's the easiest transition you don't pay guys second contracts all this nonsense you don't pick running backs in the first round and now all of a sudden everybody's changed their mind you're all insane I'm not going to come in here and listen to this and then when as soon as Jerry doesn't do it and gives you your way and by the way rico's not a bad running back we have a bad coaching staff the running back by committee should have never happened not in the way that our coaching staff did it they should have used Rico 70% of the time right from the beginning of the season and if he got injured who cares you literally should've put it all on him this year because last year in my opinion he was better than Pollard because of the way the coaching staff used them it should have been flipped rico's got a bad deal here but that's beside the point I'm just saying what happened to all this ridiculous hyperbole about running backs they're all thrown out now because now some of the running backs this year have stepped up in the running game like Philadelphia last night would have not won that game had it not been for saquon Barkley now all of a sudden everybody in here are both hypocrites because some are saying you better not take a running back in the top ten in the first round but at the same time you're saying we need better running backs and we better go get them but don't get him in the first round now it's not deep enough you don't pay him second contract I don't I'm confused y'all have lost me we do not need to take a running back in the top 10...

If you want to take one in the first round that's fine but if they decide to take Jeanty, and they can move down into that 10-12 area, I wouldn't be upset about it but I think it'd be a complete waste of rebuilding this team you need everybody we need another corner possibly or safety let's just call it defensive back if he's best available you take him we could use an outside pass rushing if he's there you take him we need a wide receiver If its a cant miss defensive tackle slash nose tackle you take him..,. but uh oh it's another Michigan guys high on the board this year..lmao

I think you take a TRUE BPA because we need them all But RB should be passed if its tie you go for the harder to fill positions first..

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Every expert I've looked at that's gonna do some of the pre draft says it's a very deep very we always hear this about like a lot of the quarterbacks and two or three of them were not even talked about and they're the best ones I mean look one guy is supposed to be Bryce young and Baker Mayfield they're taking before and the guys falling down after him like Patrick mahomes #13 this is what happens when you listen to too many people I've heard from a lot of people that the running back class is probably one of the best it's been in years... But we'll find out when we actually are in the draft talk area because you do realize we're only at mid season right now and trying to figure out both what's the best in college and where we're gonna be picking it's a waste of time it's a complete waste of time.

I think the irony here is I've heard the exact opposite it's very deep... And by the way what happened to running backs are a dime a dozen and you get a young one that knows the position it's the easiest transition you don't pay guys second contracts all this nonsense you don't pick running backs in the first round and now all of a sudden everybody's changed their mind you're all insane I'm not going to come in here and listen to this and then when as soon as Jerry doesn't do it and gives you your way and by the way rico's not a bad running back we have a bad coaching staff the running back by committee should have never happened not in the way that our coaching staff did it they should have used Rico 70% of the time right from the beginning of the season and if he got injured who cares you literally should've put it all on him this year because last year in my opinion he was better than Pollard because of the way the coaching staff used them it should have been flipped rico's got a bad deal here but that's beside the point I'm just saying what happened to all this ridiculous hyperbole about running backs they're all thrown out now because now some of the running backs this year have stepped up in the running game like Philadelphia last night would have not won that game had it not been for saquon Barkley now all of a sudden everybody in here are both hypocrites because some are saying you better not take a running back in the top ten in the first round but at the same time you're saying we need better running backs and we better go get them but don't get him in the first round now it's not deep enough you don't pay him second contract I don't I'm confused y'all have lost me we do not need to take a running back in the top 10...

If you want to take one in the first round that's fine but if they decide to take Jeanty, and they can move down into that 10-12 area, I wouldn't be upset about it but I think it'd be a complete waste of rebuilding this team you need everybody we need another corner possibly or safety let's just call it defensive back if he's best available you take him we could use an outside pass rushing if he's there you take him we need a wide receiver If its a cant miss defensive tackle slash nose tackle you take him..,. but uh oh it's another Michigan guys high on the board this year..lmao

I think you take a TRUE BPA because we need them all But RB should be passed if its tie you go for the harder to fill positions first..

I would agree with that, and I'm for trading down if we pick top 15. I'll have to look more into the rb class, but I didn't like a lot of what I saw past round 3 initially.

 

[blueblood70]

I would agree with that, and I'm for trading down if we pick top 15. I'll have to look more into the rb class, but I didn't like a lot of what I saw past round 3 initially.

Rightly would be in this position and jerry would of pick one up in this last raft or got mid-level FA.. What the real irony is here is I don't think people realize how bad Mike McCarthy as an offensive coordinator and the offensive line coach and just the general lack of use and utilization of our entire team especially on offense the last two years they used Rico wrong last year they should have flipped the way they doled out the carries to Tony and Rico last year then they would have known coming into this year that Rico and getting 15 to 20 carries from the start running back by committee is only good if you know how to utilize each player for the packages of plays you're gonna bring them in and there was no rhyme nor reason to how they did that this year and most of us saw it at the Pittsburgh game we should have been using Rico more that same offensive line all the sudden the last three games that Rico has played looked a whole lot better..

So the change of coaching Staffs offensive coordinators offensive line coach head coach should just basically make it to where like when you look over say the San Francisco 49ers how their backup running back had a couple games at 100 yards they're back up wide receivers had a couple games around 100 yards like when their guys go down the scheme picks it up they may not be as dynamic they may not be elite they they not make game changing runs but Rico and some of these guys along with hunter and even if they use zeke better and more correctly left Alvin cook sitting all year this is a Mike McCarthy problem you just can't blame the fact that we had a couple rookies and we didn't have a big enough name running back on our problems this year with the run game his name is Mike McCarthy head coach who couldn't fire himself his offensive coordinator and I know that sounds funny but we gotta blame both of him he's the problem times 2 i can't wait till he goes.

So my general point is I know it feels like a massive need to get a guy like you're talking about in the first round because of how it looked this year but I think that that's not the issue I think we can get a guy in the second or third round and be right back on track with Rico as the backup or really look around the league you don't need a superstar running back you need a team willing to run like Kareem hunt got pulled off the street did they make him workout 2 weeks and get in shape or put him on the practice squad no the man never even had training camp and immediately he started running the ball 20 * a game and he ran it effectively he didn't he didn't do anything special no game breaking runs but if you know how to use your players and you scheme to help them out and you have an effective run game you don't need a big time running back you need a good running back and you need a good scheme and a mind in order to figure out how to use these players..

I think guys like Turpin and Vaughn were wasted here and last year you look at hunter as well I mean they didn't use him to a point where the reason zeke is here because it looked like our short running game our goal line are blocking look bad from the running back positions and really the guy was already here... This is just my opinion but if they don't use these guys last year more properly a guy like zeke probably wouldn't have been back here that is all on Mike McCarthy not Jerry Jones Jerry Jones does not dictate who plays and how much they play even though a lot of you guys think there's some conspiracy theory there there's not one ex coach or player that's ever said so he may be the final decision maker here but somebody's in his ear like this guy wingo this is not his idea somebody brought it to him and yes he obliged that's why we need a better coaching staff to not be able to convince Jerry to do these things because if they didn't utilize the talent the year before properly Jerry wouldn't he needed to bring back a washed up zeke but even zeke had good moments this year but nothing seems consistent because of Mike McCarthy that's my opinion and I'm sticking with it..