Will A Crowded Free Agent Market Play Into Cowboys' Hands?

[waving monkey]

The list of NFL cuts is growing rapidly. Will this turn into a buyers' market where the Cowboys can find a bargain or two to help out with the roster?

Some well-known NFL names are starting to show up as being released by their teams. With free agency still days away, teams now can start looking at specific options for filling gaps on their roster. In recent years, the Dallas Cowboys have sought out low-cost free agents to make sure they had their needs filled before the draft, allowing them to seek out the best players when they go on the clock without being handcuffed by need. The Cowboys will likely be most interested in defensive linemen, particularly pass rushers. And with the questions about DeMarco Murray's and Joseph Randle's futures with the team, they also will probably be at least con
sidering the running backs that are available

Some of the major names that have already been released by their teams are Chris Canty, Mathias Kiwanuka, Stephen Bowen, Steven Jackson, Peyton Hillis, and Reggie Bush. There are many more free agents in the league, of course, but a lot of those will be re-signed by their own teams. Ones that have been already released are now known to be available. This list will certainly grow. It is a reflection of the salary cap era, where teams need to free up space and can get much more bang for their buck with young players on rookie contracts. Dallas will be making its own cuts soon, and on March 10 the list will grow tremendously as teams decide who they will let enter free agency without an offer.

link/http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2015...uka-stephen-bowen-adrian-peterson-reggie-bush

 

[pancakeman]

I've made this point before: every cut is increasing the supply of free agents, thus seemingly lowering the price. But every cut also creates a roster hole that needs filling, thus correspondingly increasing the demand. It's a closed system.
I would guess perceived strength of the incoming draft class would be a factor that would have more market effect.

 

[pancakeman]

But I think the article's point about free agents seeing the Cowboys as a team on the rise is an important and happy one.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Yep, more cuts = better for the Cowboys

 

[jazzcat22]

Could very well be a buyers market out there. May get a few decent players at a lower price than normal.

 

[xwalker]

I've made this point before: every cut is increasing the supply of free agents, thus seemingly lowering the price. But every cut also creates a roster hole that needs filling, thus correspondingly increasing the demand. It's a closed system.
I would guess perceived strength of the incoming draft class would be a factor that would have more market effect.

Yes, that's a good point; however, liquidity is an important issue in regards to the timing of it. If there is no liquidity (small number of free agents) then the few will tend to get overpaid. If a team released a player then there is a good chance that they feel they already have options at that position and won't be big players in free agency to replace him.

Timing is such a key issue. If Murray had been a free agent last year, his price would likely have been much much lower.

 

[pancakeman]

If a team released a player then there is a good chance that they feel they already have options at that position and won't be big players in free agency to replace him.

Makes sense. But usually they're releasing one guy to be able to hire another even if at another position. And it may be that for every team that feels they can get away with losing a d-lineman if it allows them to shore up their offensive skill positions, say, there may a team that wants to let a receiver go because they need a stouter defensive front. So the demand is still adjusting with the supply, albeit by a roundabout route.