What Restructures Need to Occur to Sign Big Free Agents?

[TexasBacon]

Yeah, I know the odds of Jerry making a signing that could, you know, actually have an immediate significant impact on the team are slim to none but if he's finally feeling the grim reaper closing in on him like Parsons on Heineke and does, what contracts could the Cowboys restructure and how much would it free up in cap space? I wouldn't do Zeke (again) but I'm in the "keep Amari" camp so they could potentially do that. Do they go ahead and already do something with Dak's? Ask Lawrence to take a pay cut? I don't think they can release him because I don't know that it would be worth it, especially with what they could replace him with.

 

[shabazz]

The man who commands 22% of the teams salary cap has to answer that question

 

[Jake]

Someone other than Stephen Jones making the decisions, because he doesn't do "big" free agents.

He focuses on keeping the band together, even though the band hasn't won anything beyond the NFC East.

 

[fivetwos]

Yeah, I know the odds of Jerry making a signing that could, you know, actually have an immediate significant impact on the team are slim to none but if he's finally feeling the grim reaper closing in on him like Parsons on Heineke and does, what contracts could the Cowboys restructure and how much would it free up in cap space? I wouldn't do Zeke (again) but I'm in the "keep Amari" camp so they could potentially do that. Do they go ahead and already do something with Dak's? Ask Lawrence to take a pay cut? I don't think they can release him because I don't know that it would be worth it, especially with what they could replace him with.

No need to create cap room for players you aren't going to sign.

 

[Whirlwin]

The man who commands 22% of the teams salary cap has to answer that question

I’m sure he’d be more than happy to restructure. If necessary

 

[Creeper]

There aren't that many Cowboys players who can be restructured to gain any substantial savings.

The top 6 Cowboys contracts which includes Dak, DLaw, Cooper, Tryon Smith, La'el Collins, and Zeke accounts for $154,616,000 of the Cowboys 2022 $230,530,000 in active contracts.

All but Dak and Zeke can be cut to create CAP space, or all can be restructured to create CAP space. Zeke's deal is the tricky one. If they restructure him, even modestly, it means they will take a CAP hit in 2023 if they decide to move on from his contract. If they leave his deal alone then they can cut him after this season and create CAP space.

Dak is not going anywhere until at least 2024 so we may as well get used to his deal and restructure it to maximize the CAP save in 2022. They have to hope that 2024 brings the big CAP increase from the new TV contracts.

I went through the numbers and did some quick calculation for the above contracts making some modest conversions of salary to bonus and created about $46 million in CAP saves for 2022. I did not touch Zeke's contract. And in every case, the restructure still allowed for cutting the players, except Dak.

They Cowboys may have to be more aggressive than I was because $46 million create frees about $18 million for free agents after the rookie pool is accounted for. But being more aggressive may mean making a commitment to some players in 2023 as well.

 

[Hawkeye19]

The way forward is simple but difficult:

1. Admit McCarthy is not going to get you to a SB and prepare for life without him after 2022

2. Admit Zeke, Cooper, and Dak aren’t getting you to a SB and prepare for life without all 3 by 2024.

3. Blow up the old core of players by 2024 as well… Smith, Lael, Gregory, Jarwin, D Law etc… all need to be released asap

4. Make a good hire at HC after 2022

5. Do whatever you have to do to get in position to draft a franchise QB

6. After purging the cap, add quality players in FA. Be choosy. But don’t go bargain bin shopping. Identify your needs and address them with quality assets

7. Continue to build through the draft. Stop drafting injured players and avoid taking a “flyer” on a guy who drops. Add quality players with every pick— build your team from the OL and DL out

 

[Denim Chicken]

Big free agents?

 

[DasTex]

There aren't that many Cowboys players who can be restructured to gain any substantial savings.

The top 6 Cowboys contracts which includes Dak, DLaw, Cooper, Tryon Smith, La'el Collins, and Zeke accounts for $154,616,000 of the Cowboys 2022 $230,530,000 in active contracts.

All but Dak and Zeke can be cut to create CAP space, or all can be restructured to create CAP space. Zeke's deal is the tricky one. If they restructure him, even modestly, it means they will take a CAP hit in 2023 if they decide to move on from his contract. If they leave his deal alone then they can cut him after this season and create CAP space.

Dak is not going anywhere until at least 2024 so we may as well get used to his deal and restructure it to maximize the CAP save in 2022. They have to hope that 2024 brings the big CAP increase from the new TV contracts.

I went through the numbers and did some quick calculation for the above contracts making some modest conversions of salary to bonus and created about $46 million in CAP saves for 2022. I did not touch Zeke's contract. And in every case, the restructure still allowed for cutting the players, except Dak.

They Cowboys may have to be more aggressive than I was because $46 million create frees about $18 million for free agents after the rookie pool is accounted for. But being more aggressive may mean making a commitment to some players in 2023 as well.

The BIG savings would be trade/cut of Coopers deal. If they can aquire draft picks, I think you have to move on.

Likely could resign one of Wilson/Gallup and another FA, along with the draft picks.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Name that last big-time free agent (outside, not our guys) signed by Stephen Jones? I'll wait........

We go through this every off-season.........should know this by now, Stephen's not giving another team free agent a huge long-term contract.

 

[Stash]

Someone other than Stephen Jones making the decisions, because he doesn't do "big" free agents.

He focuses on keeping the band together, even though the band hasn't won anything beyond the NFC East.

And then pays maximum money when he finally does get around to making that deal.

 

[CouchCoach]

Who was the last "big FA"?

They are lucky. They like their own guys which works out since no other team likes them that much.

 

[JeffInDC]

The man who commands 22% of the teams salary cap has to answer that question

Actually, the idiots that GAVE the man that commands 22% of the cap need to answer this question. Folks can gripe about Dak's $$$ all the want, but, I'm laughing at anyone that can sya with a straight face that they wouldn't have taken that $$$ too. It ain't Dak's fault Jerry & Stephen negotiated against THEMSELVES!!!!!! They had the ability to call Todd France's bluff and let Team Dak negotiate with any other QB desperate team...BUT THEY DIDN'T DO THAT!!!!! So, at what point do folks stop blaming Dak for taking the money?

 

[shabazz]

I’m sure he’d be more than happy to restructure. If necessary

….and Josh Allen and Mahomes may need to do that as well. Of course Dakota has the full right not to do so but at some point he has to ask, “ has he lived up to his contract in the playoffs and against great defenses?”

if he can honestly say “yes”….he should be able to sleep like a baby and keep the contract as it is

with Zeke probably being gone with his salary in 2023 and Lawrence probably not being resigned the main salary to be restructured is Dakotas……again that’s his call.

 

[Stash]

The way forward is simple but difficult:

1. Admit McCarthy is not going to get you to a SB and prepare for life without him after 2022

2. Admit Zeke, Cooper, and Dak aren’t getting you to a SB and prepare for life without all 3 by 2024.

3. Blow up the old core of players by 2024 as well… Smith, Lael, Gregory, Jarwin, D Law etc… all need to be released asap

4. Make a good hire at HC after 2022

5. Do whatever you have to do to get in position to draft a franchise QB

6. After purging the cap, add quality players in FA. Be choosy. But don’t go bargain bin shopping. Identify your needs and address them with quality assets

7. Continue to build through the draft. Stop drafting injured players and avoid taking a “flyer” on a guy who drops. Add quality players with every pick— build your team from the OL and DL out

I think the majority of this is true, but I don't think Jerry has or will give up on Dak until the end of his deal or even later.

I definitely agree with you that 2022 should be treated as a 'get right' year when it comes to contracts and the cap. Make the tough decisions and trade or release the bad contracts.

 

[shabazz]

Actually, the idiots that GAVE the man that commands 22% of the cap need to answer this question. Folks can gripe about Dak's $$$ all the want, but, I'm laughing at anyone that can sya with a straight face that they wouldn't have taken that $$$ too. It ain't Dak's fault Jerry & Stephen negotiated against THEMSELVES!!!!!! They had the ability to call Todd France's bluff and let Team Dak negotiate with any other QB desperate team...BUT THEY DIDN'T DO THAT!!!!! So, at what point do folks stop blaming Dak for taking the money?

……not blaming Dak for accepting the contract…..merely saying that Dak is the only one that can approve a restructuring……blaming Jerry is a moot point

 

[KJJ]

Stephen Jones has already said that the Cowboys are going to continue staying away from high priced/big name free agents. The Cowboys have 21 unrestricted free agents and are going to try and sign their own players.

 

[JeffInDC]

……not blaming Dak for accepting the contract…..merely saying that Dak is the only one that can approve a restructuring……blaming Jerry is a moot point

I'd be SHOCKED if the trigger wasn't already discussed when they negotiated the deal. If I'm Dak, I'd pull that trigger every year - turn that base salary into HUGE BONUSES each year - because, if he doesn't improve, this is it for his BIG $$$ days.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

I think the majority of this is true, but I don't think Jerry has or will give up on Dak until the end of his deal or even later.

I definitely agree with you that 2022 should be treated as a 'get right' year when it comes to contracts and the cap. Make the tough decisions and trade or release the bad contracts.

Agree.......Dak's contract allows him to become a free agent after the 2023 season? I think we'll start getting some little before that......remember how many times they restructured Aikman and Romo deals additional years. We'll see if they restructure Dak in the next couple of years.......IF they don't, I think you have your answer.

 

[KJJ]

Who was the last "big FA"?

They are lucky. They like their own guys which works out since no other team likes them that much.

Greg Hardy was one of the last ones I can remember. He didn’t cost us a lot of money due to his off the field issues. The last big free agent we broke the bank for was Brandon Carr who never lived up to his contract.