Time to make some hard decisions on a few long-term starters

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Tyron Smith-has 1 yr left on his contract and counts over 17 million against the cap. With his long, injury history and the emergence of Tyler Smith, it's time to make the move. Unless, he takes a pay cut or they can find a trading partner, he is a release candidate. I've heard they can save close to 10 million as a June 1st cut.

Zeke Elliot-he was the Cowboy offense for the first few years of his career, but Garrett ran him into the ground and appears he end is here. Shell of his former self and has zero burst any longer. He wants to stay, but he is now a progress stopper that is holding the team back.

Dalton Shultz-I have gone back and fourth about him, as he was a huge part of the team's passing attack, but having Shultz as the team's #2 option means your offense just isn't good enough. He is a good player, but isn't worth an elite contract. We have a few good young options, draft upcoming has a deep class, maybe add a low level veteran to the group.

time to let tyron walk, as much as I respect him and like him. unless he is willing to take a significant, significant pay cut to finish his career here.

bye bye zeke. unless he is willing to play for veteran minimum.

I like Schultz. he is not elite athletically, or physically gifted. but he is above average TE. worked his way into a reliable starting role. he is not elite. but we have two more that are similar to him and can combined probably produce the same and grow into good TEs. money will be spent better elsewhere. and if he gets a decent contract, goes to a decent team, will fetch us no less than a 4th round comp pick.

Add to that list Lawrence. but I don't think we can get rid of him in 2023. he has gauranteed contracts. he is good against the run, but he is paid to create pressure, get sacks and Armstrong does about the same for a lot less. one of the worst contracts Jerry ever gave out. he had over all 7 years of gauranteed contracts. unprecedented in the NFL. his cap hit next year is 26M. dead cap hit 35M. its either him or zeke as post june 1st cut, but we can't do both. most probably he is going to be cut in 2024 when the dead cap hit is 9M.

 

[john van brocklin]

I would not count on Dallas creating cap space to sign high-priced free agents but rather creating enough cap space to re-sign guys like Pollard and Wilson while putting themselves in a position to NOT have to restructure Dak's deal thereby giving him a 1-year prove it or you are gone after the 2023 season stance.

That's a reasonable approach as well.
I just don't get acting like free agency is the plague.

 

[JW82]

They definitely can’t keep Tyron with his current number. But I’d be surprised if they didn’t restructure him to a dirt cheap number and have him as the swing tackle for the next 2 years. As much as I like Pollard, go draft a runningback or 2.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Agreed on Zeke and Elliot. But Tyron gives us the depth you need for a long play off run. So unless you start a rebuild now, as in complete overhaul, I'd keep him for that one additional year. I guess they will build on the team they have right now, because they think they're on to something. So no need to let him go. Zeke and Schultz should make enough room to get another good WR and a CB.

is tyron worth 17M for depth? his dead cap hit is 8M. I think time for tyron to take a significant pay cut.

 

[Bobhaze]

Most of the better GMs realize it’s better to release a guy a year early and save some cap space than wait until it’s a year late and there’s no other option.

 

[J_Allen]

I would like to see Smith released and then brought back, and the same with Elliot.

Schultz can kick rocks.

 

[Bobhaze]

I would like to see Smith released and then brought back, and the same with Elliot.

Schultz can kick rocks.

I think moving on from Elliott is important. Jerry has had a problem with having too much “love” for players he drafts and not enough the “tough love“ needed to move on from sentimental attachments. Keeping Zeke around “at a lesser amount” is fools gold. He will still cost way more than a rookie who would have fresher legs and a rookie contract. I would make Zeke a June 1 cut and move on.

 

[MAZEREZAM]

It would be better to restructure Tyron’s contract to create more cap space. He can remain at RT rather than relying on Steele who just blew out his knee.

 

[Frosty]

They could redo Tyron’s deal, but it’s way too much to keep a player who misses so much time.

Might be best to renegotiate Tyrons deal, (lower his cap hit) then make him the swing tackle....that way he is. not a starter but is the emergency backup....

 

[Flamma]

Designating Zeke a post-June 1st release splits his $11.8M in dead money between 2023 and 2024 ($5.9M each season) thereby Dallas saves almost $11M against the cap in 2023 and roughly $8.3M in 2024.
As far as Tyron Smith, he has $8M worth of dead money remaining with a 2023 cap charge of $17.6M so he too would get designated a post-June 1st release thereby splitting the dead money ($4M each season) and saving Dallas $13.6M in 2023.

So those 2 players alone could save Dallas $24.6M in 2023 and $8.3M in 2024.

Time to cut bait and move on from those two.

That's fine as long as that's the only two they plan on doing.

I would not count on Dallas creating cap space to sign high-priced free agents but rather creating enough cap space to re-sign guys like Pollard and Wilson while putting themselves in a position to NOT have to restructure Dak's deal thereby giving him a 1-year prove it or you are gone after the 2023 season stance.

This sounds like a seasonable approach, but Dallas at the moment is 7M over the cap I think. Then they need room for rookies, whatever slop they get in FA, and room for bonus money if they extend any players. That's not even counting re-signing anyone.

 

[J_Allen]

I think moving on from Elliott is important. Jerry has had a problem with having too much “love” for players he drafts and not enough the “tough love“ needed to move on from sentimental attachments. Keeping Zeke around “at a lesser amount” is fools gold. He will still cost way more than a rookie who would have fresher legs and a rookie contract. I would make Zeke a June 1 cut and move on.

While I agree, he's good in short yardage situations and he is excellent in past protection. He's almost like our version of Jerome Bettis now. If he's not a distraction the locker room I'm off for bringing him back at a cheaper deal. Unless we can get someone better in the draft who does the same things he does.

 

[Cowboyny]

time to let tyron walk, as much as I respect him and like him. unless he is willing to take a significant, significant pay cut to finish his career here.

bye bye zeke. unless he is willing to play for veteran minimum.

I like Schultz. he is not elite athletically, or physically gifted. but he is above average TE. worked his way into a reliable starting role. he is not elite. but we have two more that are similar to him and can combined probably produce the same and grow into good TEs. money will be spent better elsewhere. and if he gets a decent contract, goes to a decent team, will fetch us no less than a 4th round comp pick.

Add to that list Lawrence. but I don't think we can get rid of him in 2023. he has gauranteed contracts. he is good against the run, but he is paid to create pressure, get sacks and Armstrong does about the same for a lot less. one of the worst contracts Jerry ever gave out. he had over all 7 years of gauranteed contracts. unprecedented in the NFL. his cap hit next year is 26M. dead cap hit 35M. its either him or zeke as post june 1st cut, but we can't do both. most probably he is going to be cut in 2024 when the dead cap hit is 9M.

DLaw is probably a 2024 decision

 

[fivetwos]

Since coddling Dak doesn’t work, I want to do the exact opposite.

Start by not giving his security blanket fifty million dollars.

 

[fivetwos]

DLaw is probably a 2024 decision

He restructured to 3/30, fully guaranteed. He will be here two more years.

He had a very good season and played a key role in shutting down the SF run game.

He is pretty far from any type of problem.

 

[Cowboyny]

Might be best to renegotiate Tyrons deal, (lower his cap hit) then make him the swing tackle....that way he is. not a starter but is the emergency backup....

It could be on the table, but cannot keep him at that 17 million number

 

[Aven8]

I just don’t see how you can cut Tyron yet until you know where Steele is at with his knee. Torn ACL/MCL that just happened in December. Look at Gallup.

Schultz will go to the highest bidder. And Zeke is an afterthought for me. He can’t play at all.

 

[thunderpimp91]

So you think they'll really gonna sign someone good this time? I mean "top ten in his prime" good?

Maybe, maybe not. Keeping a guy like Tyron hostage on the roster as death though is just criminal both to the team and Tyron. Let him go play in what is likely the end of his career. External fee agents aside does keeping him around keep you from resigning guys like Wilson and LVE? I just don’t see any scenario you keep Tyron around as depth.

 

[Tussinman]

It would be better to restructure Tyron’s contract to create more cap space. He can remain at RT rather than relying on Steele who just blew out his knee.

Not only that McGovern is gone (another team will pay decent money especially if they put him on the right side where he's more comfortable) so the question is do your really lose 2 of your late season starters and then like you said rely on a 3rd guy coming off a Major surgery?

I think they'll redo his deal, thats too many pieces to lose

 

[Mr_437]

Tyron is the most interesting situation. If TS is cut then Waletzko or Ball is your starting RT thru the off-season...is that ok? Those guys were drafted for this moment. Steele shouldn't be rushed back like Gallup, so he won't start the season. Cowboys could draft another OT, also. Personally, I'm not interested in a UFA with how this team dumpster dives in FA. Losing McGovern is enough, to lose Tyron also might be too much to replace with Stephen's philosophy.

 

[Havic]

All 3 are gone if I'm the GM.