2016 Offseason

[es4m11]

Going into the 2016 Offseason Dallas has many needs to address. With the #4 pick in the draft and potentially a bit of money to spend, the Cowboys should be able to address most of these issues. Trimming some dead weight will be necessary, but it should allow Dallas to be players in free agency. Working off the numbers provided by spotrac for the Cowboys current 2016 cap figure I'll provide my outline for a successful offseason.

As of right now Dallas has spent $143,196,639 against the 2016 cap, including $902,744 in dead money. The NFL has forecast a salary cap between $147-155 million. Let's just say it falls somewhere in the middle at $152 million. Leaving Dallas with $8,803,361 in current cap space.

TRIM DEAD WEIGHT
Cut Brandon Carr -- cap hit: $13,817,000 - dead cap: $7,434,000 = savings: $6,383,000
Cut Barry Church -- cap hit: $4,750,000 - dead cap: $500,000 = savings: $4,250,000
Cut Gavin Escobar -- cap hit: $1,339,703 - dead cap: $360,545 = savings: $979,158
Cut Terrell McClain -- cap hit: $1,100,000 - dead cap: $100,000 = savings: $1,000,000
Cut Jameill Showers -- cap hit: $525,000 - dead cap: $0 = savings: $525,000
New dead money: $8,394,545 + existing dead money: $902,744 = $9,297,289
Total cap savings: $13,137,158 + existing cap space: $8,803,361 = $21,940,519

RESTRUCTURE CONTRACT
Tyron Smith -- convert: $10,000,000 of base salary to signing bonus = savings: $8,000,000
Total cap space: $21,940,519 + savings: $8,000,000 = $29,940,519


FREE AGENTS
Sign SS Eric Weddle - 4yrs $36m (8,9.5,10,8.5) w/ 18m guarantee (used Devin McCourty as comp)
Sign DT Damon Harrison - 5yrs $32m (5.5,6,6.5,7,7) w/ 16m guarantee (Linval Joseph, Dan Williams comps)
Sign TE Dwayne Allen - 4yrs - $18m (3.5,4,5,5.5) w/ 8m guarantee (Lance Kendricks, Gary Barnidge)
Sign DE Jeremy Mincey - 2yrs - $3m (1.5,1.5) w/ 1m guarantee
Total 2016 expenditure: $18,500,000
Cap space: $29,940,519 - $18,500,000 = $11,440,519

DRAFT CLASS
With BPA in mind....
1st round targets: CB, QB, DE (Bosa), trade back, LB, RB
2nd round: QB, CB. LB, RB, DT
3rd round: RB, LB, DT, WR, S, DE
4th round: BPA
5th round: BPA
6th round: BPA
7th round: BPA
Draft class cost: approx. $5,000,000
Cap space: $11,440,519 - $5,000,000 = $6,440,519

$6,440,519 left, and that is before any 2015 cap rollover is factored in. Let's just say Dallas has $4,000,000 to roll over - I think it's a bit more than that, but let's be conservative. That leaves Dallas with $10,440,519 still to spend.

RE-SIGN
Travis Frederick -- 5yrs $45m (7,9,9.5,10.5,11) w/ 23m guarantee (Rodney Hudson, Pouncey brothers)
Cap space: $10,440,519 - 1st year of Frederick contract: $7,000,000 = $3,440,519

We can fill any remaining holes with $3,440,519

Not saying this is what will happen, but this is what I would do.

 

[es4m11]

My same issue with Nets scenarios...Issue is never year one. In general when you go down to $0 by restructuring and pushing money back and also back load FA contracts you create problems in future years. So going into year two and three you don't have the carryover or the players to cut perhaps and still need to pay everyone plus more FAs and extensions and draft picks.

I didn't really look at any of the individual numbers, just names and nothing too crazy here IMO. Doubt I'd be spending much on a TE though. And Not sure why you would cut Terrell McClain at that price - Guy could be a starter for us if healthy. Other Dallas FAs you aren't resigning that could cost 7 figures: Leary, Bernadeau, Dunbar, Rolando McClain and Claiborne. So if you don't bring back Carr or Claiborne you are going to play a rookie draft pick every down I assume and who is your #3 CB? That's why I bring back Claiborne. I want Jones at FS and I want a lot of CBs I can play if I have to.

My same issue with Nets scenarios...Issue is never year one. In general when you go down to $0 by restructuring and pushing money back and also back load FA contracts you create problems in future years. So going into year two and three you don't have the carryover or the players to cut perhaps and still need to pay everyone plus more FAs and extensions and draft picks.

I didn't really look at any of the individual numbers, just names and nothing too crazy here IMO. Doubt I'd be spending much on a TE though. And Not sure why you would cut Terrell McClain at that price - Guy could be a starter for us if healthy. Other Dallas FAs you aren't resigning that could cost 7 figures: Leary, Bernadeau, Dunbar, Rolando McClain and Claiborne. So if you don't bring back Carr or Claiborne you are going to play a rookie draft pick every down I assume and who is your #3 CB? That's why I bring back Claiborne. I want Jones at FS and I want a lot of CBs I can play if I have to.

Check other thread this will be deleted. Had to make some corrections.

But to address your points. None of the deals I proposed are backloaded too much, so the cap hits only gradually increase. As far as future years are concerned, the salary cap is going up, and dead money coming off - so the backloaded deals are mitigated. And Tyron Smith's deal being restructured is only a problem if you see Smith being cut in the next 5 years. I don't see that happening, and Smith's deal was always meant to be restructured. Now hopefully, this is the last year Dallas will have to restructure contracts.

Yes, I would plan on starting a rookie CB with Scandrick - that's why I feel it is important to get Hargreaves. I am cutting Terrell McClain because need the money to work and if I am bringing in Damon Harrison, I can part with McClain. And I am moving on from Rolando McClain. Tired of depending on oft-injured players. My #3 CB could be Mo Claiborne if the price is right, meaning dirt cheap. Other than that, I'm sure Dallas can find someone.

 

[es4m11]

Going into the 2016 Offseason Dallas has many needs to address. With the #4 pick in the draft and potentially a bit of money to spend, the Cowboys should be able to address most of these issues. Trimming some dead weight will be necessary, but it should allow Dallas to be players in free agency. Working off the numbers provided by spotrac for the Cowboys current 2016 cap figure I'll provide my outline for a successful offseason.

As of right now Dallas has spent $143,196,639 against the 2016 cap, including $902,744 in dead money. The NFL has forecast a salary cap between $147-155 million. Let's just say it falls somewhere in the middle at $152 million. Leaving Dallas with $8,803,361 in current cap space.

TRIM DEAD WEIGHT
Cut Brandon Carr -- cap hit: $13,817,000 - dead cap: $7,434,000 = savings: $6,383,000
Cut Barry Church -- cap hit: $4,750,000 - dead cap: $500,000 = savings: $4,250,000
Cut Gavin Escobar -- cap hit: $1,339,703 - dead cap: $360,545 = savings: $979,158
Cut Terrell McClain -- cap hit: $1,100,000 - dead cap: $100,000 = savings: $1,000,000
Cut Jameill Showers -- cap hit: $525,000 - dead cap: $0 = savings: $525,000
New dead money: $8,394,545 + existing dead money: $902,744 = $9,297,289
Total cap savings: $13,137,158 + existing cap space: $8,803,361 = $21,940,519

RESTRUCTURE CONTRACT
Tyron Smith -- convert: $10,000,000 of base salary to signing bonus = savings: $8,000,000
Total cap space: $21,940,519 + savings: $8,000,000 = $29,940,519


FREE AGENTS
Sign SS Eric Weddle - 4yrs $36m (8,9.5,10,8.5) w/ 18m guarantee (used Devin McCourty as comp)
Sign DT Damon Harrison - 5yrs $32m (5.5,6,6.5,7,7) w/ 16m guarantee (Linval Joseph, Dan Williams comps)
Sign TE Dwayne Allen - 4yrs - $18m (3.5,4,5,5.5) w/ 8m guarantee (Lance Kendricks, Gary Barnidge)
Sign DE Jeremy Mincey - 2yrs - $3m (1.5,1.5) w/ 1m guarantee
Total 2016 expenditure: $18,500,000
Cap space: $29,940,519 - $18,500,000 = $11,440,519

DRAFT CLASS
With BPA in mind....
1st round targets: CB, QB, DE (Bosa), trade back, LB, RB
2nd round: QB, CB. LB, RB, DT
3rd round: RB, LB, DT, WR, S, DE
4th round: BPA
5th round: BPA
6th round: BPA
7th round: BPA
Draft class cost: approx. $5,000,000
Cap space: $11,440,519 - $5,000,000 = $6,440,519

$6,440,519 left, and that is before any 2015 cap rollover is factored in. Let's just say Dallas has $4,000,000 to roll over - I think it's a bit more than that, but let's be conservative. That leaves Dallas with $10,440,519 still to spend.

RE-SIGN
Travis Frederick -- 5yrs $45m (7,9,9.5,10.5,11) w/ 23m guarantee (Rodney Hudson, Pouncey brothers)
Cap space: $10,440,519 - 1st year of Frederick contract: $7,000,000 = $3,440,519

We can fill any remaining holes with $3,440,519

Not saying this is what will happen, but this is what I would do.

After that offseason the roster would look something like this (according to spotrac)...

QB..................................................................DT
Tony Romo......................................................Tyrone Crawford
Kellen Moore....................................................Damon Harrison
Rookie 2nd Rnd QB (Carson Wentz?)...................David Irving
RB..................................................................Chris Whaley
Darren McFadden..............................................DE
Michael Hill.......................................................Demarcus Lawrence
Rookie 4th Rnd RB (Kenneth Dixon?)...................Randy Gregory
FB..................................................................Jeremy Mincey
FA, if any.........................................................Ryan Russell
TE...................................................................Kenneth Boatright
Jason Witten.....................................................OLB
Dwayne Allen....................................................Sean Lee
Geoff Swaim.....................................................Andrew Gachkar
WR.................................................................Damien Wilson
Dez Bryant.......................................................Mark Nzeocha
Terrence Williams..............................................Ka'lial Glaud
Cole Beasley.....................................................ILB
Devin Street.....................................................Anthony Hitchens
Brice Butler......................................................Rookie 3rd Rnd (Jarrad Davis?)
Lucky Whitehead...............................................CB
T.....................................................................Orlando Scandrick
Tyron Smith......................................................Byron Jones
Doug Free.........................................................Rookie 1st Rnd (Vernon Hargreaves?)
Chaz Green.......................................................Terrence Mitchell
G.....................................................................Deji Olatoye
Zack Martin.......................................................S
La'el Collins.......................................................Eric Weddle
Reshod Fortenberry............................................JJ Wilcox
Cody Clay..........................................................S/T
C......................................................................Dan Bailey
Travis Frederick..................................................Chris Jones
L.P. Ladouceur

In this scenario Dallas needs a C/G, DT, OLB, ILB, CB, S. The Cowboys would have approx. $3.5 million and a 5th, 6th and 7th pick to address these needs. Dallas could....
1) retain Terrell McClain instead of cut him like I suggested in the OP - $1,000,000
2) re-sign Mackenzy Bernadeux for 2yrs 3m (1.5,1.5) - $1,500,000
3) re-sign Jeff Heath 1yr $750k - $750,000
4) Draft LB and secondary depth in the late rounds.

In the base 4-3 Byron Jones is your FS, in Nickel/Dime he plays the slot with Wilcox at SS and Weddle FS.

I'm just doing this for fun, more as a thought exercise. This is by no means a perfect situation, but Rome wasn't built in a day. And that secondary is much better than what we ran out in 2015. Dallas should be able to create a little more wiggle room financially if any other needs should arise - perhaps one other contract restructure.

 

[fordman84]

well, I tried to clean everytyhing up and made it worse because jarntt made his post before the first one in this thread. at me.

So I merged his post to get things back in order. Sorry man.

 

[es4m11]

Going into the 2016 Offseason Dallas has many needs to address. With the #4 pick in the draft and potentially a bit of money to spend, the Cowboys should be able to address most of these issues. Trimming some dead weight will be necessary, but it should allow Dallas to be players in free agency. Working off the numbers provided by spotrac for the Cowboys current 2016 cap figure I'll provide my outline for a successful offseason.

As of right now Dallas has spent $143,196,639 against the 2016 cap, including $902,744 in dead money. The NFL has forecast a salary cap between $147-155 million. Let's just say it falls somewhere in the middle at $152 million. Leaving Dallas with $8,803,361 in current cap space.

TRIM DEAD WEIGHT
Cut Brandon Carr -- cap hit: $13,817,000 - dead cap: $7,434,000 = savings: $6,383,000
Cut Barry Church -- cap hit: $4,750,000 - dead cap: $500,000 = savings: $4,250,000
Cut Gavin Escobar -- cap hit: $1,339,703 - dead cap: $360,545 = savings: $979,158
Cut Terrell McClain -- cap hit: $1,100,000 - dead cap: $100,000 = savings: $1,000,000
Cut Jameill Showers -- cap hit: $525,000 - dead cap: $0 = savings: $525,000
New dead money: $8,394,545 + existing dead money: $902,744 = $9,297,289
Total cap savings: $13,137,158 + existing cap space: $8,803,361 = $21,940,519

RESTRUCTURE CONTRACT
Tyron Smith -- convert: $10,000,000 of base salary to signing bonus = savings: $8,000,000
Total cap space: $21,940,519 + savings: $8,000,000 = $29,940,519


FREE AGENTS
Sign SS Eric Weddle - 4yrs $36m (8,9.5,10,8.5) w/ 18m guarantee (used Devin McCourty as comp)
Sign DT Damon Harrison - 5yrs $32m (5.5,6,6.5,7,7) w/ 16m guarantee (Linval Joseph, Dan Williams comps)
Sign TE Dwayne Allen - 4yrs - $18m (3.5,4,5,5.5) w/ 8m guarantee (Lance Kendricks, Gary Barnidge)
Sign DE Jeremy Mincey - 2yrs - $3m (1.5,1.5) w/ 1m guarantee
Total 2016 expenditure: $18,500,000
Cap space: $29,940,519 - $18,500,000 = $11,440,519

DRAFT CLASS
With BPA in mind....
1st round targets: CB, QB, DE (Bosa), trade back, LB, RB
2nd round: QB, CB. LB, RB, DT
3rd round: RB, LB, DT, WR, S, DE
4th round: BPA
5th round: BPA
6th round: BPA
7th round: BPA
Draft class cost: approx. $5,000,000
Cap space: $11,440,519 - $5,000,000 = $6,440,519

$6,440,519 left, and that is before any 2015 cap rollover is factored in. Let's just say Dallas has $4,000,000 to roll over - I think it's a bit more than that, but let's be conservative. That leaves Dallas with $10,440,519 still to spend.

RE-SIGN
Travis Frederick -- 5yrs $45m (7,9,9.5,10.5,11) w/ 23m guarantee (Rodney Hudson, Pouncey brothers)
Cap space: $10,440,519 - 1st year of Frederick contract: $7,000,000 = $3,440,519

We can fill any remaining holes with $3,440,519

Not saying this is what will happen, but this is what I would do.

I'm an idiot! Travis Frederick's extension wouldn't count against 2016 Cap dollars. Dallas would have about $10 million left in cap space to fill out the roster in 2016. In 2017 about $7 million dollars in dead money comes off the books that could absorb Frederick's first year hit. Then of course the salary cap looks to continue to go up as well.

 

[es4m11]

well, I tried to clean everytyhing up and made it worse because jarntt made his post before the first one in this thread. at me.

So I merged his post to get things back in order. Sorry man.

Thanks for trying!

 

[Bmurph]

Report: Some Cowboys soured on Greg Hardy by the end of the season
By Jared Dubin | Staff Writer

January 7, 2016 10:16 am ET

Greg Hardy predictably became a distraction in Dallas this year. (USATSI)

We don't know yet whether Greg Hardy is long for Dallas. Hardy signed a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the Cowboys for the 2015 season, one that guarantees the team cannot use the franchise tag on him this offseason. That means if the defensive end is to stick around with the Cowboys, the sides will have to come to a mutual agreement on a deal.

We know Hardy wants to return. "I look good in blue and white, let's be honest," Hardy said, per the Dallas Morning News.

Hardy also said he believes he took full advantage of his opportunity in Dallas this year. "I believe so," he said. "I believe it's the perfect timing for me just coming to a place that was accepting and coming to a place that let me play and do my thing and be personable and be reasonable for me and with me and help me change my life and change the world."

We don't know at this point whether or not the Cowboys want him back. We do know that after Hardy served his four-game suspension (as a result of his alleged -- and trust me, I hate that I have to type alleged here -- domestic violence incident), he came back and recorded six sacks in 12 games, failing to reach the threshold that would have triggered additional salary incentives. We also know that while he was on the field and in the locker room for the Cowboys, he apparently became a "constant headache" for head coach Jason Garrett, thanks to that Morning News report.

Along the way, Hardy became a constant headache for Jason Garrett. The Cowboys coach met with him at least four times to address his conduct.

Hardy became such a worry over the last month of the season that the club increased its involvement, providing a more active support staff to check in on him, a source said.

A few teammates who had supported Hardy early began to sour on him late in the season, in part because his perpetual tardiness for team meetings never resulted in a reduction of playing time. Tardiness was also an issue for Hardy with his previous teams.

Hardy was in for more plays than any other Cowboys defensive end in 11 of his 12 games. On Thanksgiving, Demarcus Lawrence played one more snap than Hardy against Carolina. Even after the Cowboys had been eliminated from playoff contention, Hardy played more than any other defensive end in the final two games against Buffalo and Washington.

That sounds like basically the opposite of what Hardy himself said about his time in Dallas. There's nothing about him being personable or reasonable or "changing the world," at least.

That version of events also doesn't reflect all that well on Jason Garrett and/or Rod Marinelli and/or Ben Bloom and Leon Lett (who coach the defensive line), who constantly preach accountability. If Hardy was allowed to skate by without punishment for showing up late to meetings (and pulling all the other various nonsense he did throughout this season), but other players were cut for reportedly not wearing suits on the team flight, of all things, what does that say about the coaching staff and what accountability really means?

In the end, Hardy sure seems like a guy that's a heck of a lot more trouble than he's worth, especially if he plays the way he did over the second half of the season as opposed to how he did early on. With the Cowboys having Lawrence and Randy Gregory on the edge, plus Tyrone Crawford at defensive tackle and the No. 4 pick in this year's draft with which to potentially add even more talent, they may be able to move on from Hardy and feel pretty decent about their defensive line.


PLEASE NO!

 

[tylerTX88]

Hopefully he gets to "change the world" some place else. One year was enough for me.

 

[jarntt]

I'm an idiot! Travis Frederick's extension wouldn't count against 2016 Cap dollars. Dallas would have about $10 million left in cap space to fill out the roster in 2016. In 2017 about $7 million dollars in dead money comes off the books that could absorb Frederick's first year hit. Then of course the salary cap looks to continue to go up as well.

Technically the answer to that is,,,it depends what they do. Likely they won't increase his 2016 salary so that won't change, but he will get a signing bonus and 20% of that will hit 2016.

 

[es4m11]

Put me down for a big NO to Hardy in 2016. I hope Jerry lets this little pet project go. Can't help but feel like Hardy hurt the organization big time.

 

[es4m11]

Technically the answer to that is,,,it depends what they do. Likely they won't increase his 2016 salary so that won't change, but he will get a signing bonus and 20% of that will hit 2016.

Signing Frederick in-season in 2016 is probably the best way to go about it, if Dallas has the cap dollars to absorb the 20% hit. Waiting until the offseason of 2017 would be too risky IMO.

 

[snookdad]

I don't necessarily want him back, but one of the things I feel like hurt this team this year was the lack of continuity. F/A is a big part of football so moving parts is the nature of the beast, but we loss so many key parts at once in one season I believe that did hurt the team. This team needs to build a defensive corps and an Identity. I believe Hardy did open the door for Lawerence on the other side due 2 double teams. On the flip side he may have stunted the growth of Gregory though. Put me down as We need to keep Hardy, unless we Draft Bosa are go after Wilkerson.

 

[PDay8810]

that last game with Lee in street clothes, there was a camera shot of Hardy talking his head off to Sean Lee about something football. Lee was looking straight forward and being a nice guy and all it sure seemed to me he was looking forward to when Hardy shut his mouth and he could just smile and walk away. It's said often on the Dallas air waves Hardy was late often to meetings as he was known to be in Carolina, and it wasn't looked at all that favorable as the season went on BY THE PLAYERS.

Garrett is all about guys that play the game for the right reasons and love the game. That ain't Hardy,...Hardy is a paycheck and a lifestyle.

No Thanks

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

that last game with Lee in street clothes, there was a camera shot of Hardy talking his head off to Sean Lee about something football. Lee was looking straight forward and being a nice guy and all it sure seemed to me he was looking forward to when Hardy shut his mouth and he could just smile and walk away. It's said often on the Dallas air waves Hardy was late often to meetings as he was known to be in Carolina, and it wasn't looked at all that favorable as the season went on BY THE PLAYERS.

Garrett is all about guys that play the game for the right reasons and love the game. That ain't Hardy,...Hardy is a paycheck and a lifestyle.

No Thanks

I saw the same thing. It happened right after an easy TD for the Skins. Hardy, I thought was laughing, maybe not. Lee didn't look like he cared what he had to say though.

 

[jarntt]

I don't necessarily want him back, but one of the things I feel like hurt this team this year was the lack of continuity. F/A is a big part of football so moving parts is the nature of the beast, but we loss so many key parts at once in one season I believe that did hurt the team. This team needs to build a defensive corps and an Identity. I believe Hardy did open the door for Lawerence on the other side due 2 double teams. On the flip side he may have stunted the growth of Gregory though. Put me down as We need to keep Hardy, unless we Draft Bosa are go after Wilkerson.

Did you really see a lot of double teams on Hardy? I didn't

 

[UK Cowboy]

Did you really see a lot of double teams on Hardy? I didn't

I didn't see it

 

[Ekspozed]

I'd love to let go of Hardy and sign one of the Jets d-line. Just dont see them resigning both. A FA would help more than drafting a tackle IMO and it's a big need.

 

[snookdad]

Did you really see a lot of double teams on Hardy? I didn't

I think when he first started playing when he was hot he was getting chipped a lot by RB and TE, but towards the end no. I could be mistaken though.

 

[scotsman1948]

I think when he first started playing when he was hot he was getting chipped a lot by RB and TE, but towards the end no. I could be mistaken though.

wasn't really impressed by the whole defensive line, DL seemed the only one trying

 

[Bmurph]

This would be interesting, not sure it happens

Reports: Eagles request permission to speak to Tom Coughlin about HC job
By Jared Dubin | Staff Writer

January 9, 2016 9:50 am ET



Tom Coughlin will talk to the Eagles this week. (USATSI)








One of the two NFC East teams with a head coaching vacancy has requested to interview the other's former head coach. Per multiple reports, the Eagles requested permission to interview former Giants coach Tom Coughlin.

They needed to request permission because Coughlin was technically not fired, but rather resigned with a year left on his deal with the Giants. The Giants granted permission and the Eagles will reportedly meet with Coughlin on Monday.

In 12 seasons in New York, Coughlin compiled a record of 102-90, making the playoffs five times (three times as division champion, twice as a wild card). The Giants were knocked out in their first game during three of those playoff trips, but the other two resulted in a pair of the greatest and most surprising Super Bowl runs in NFL history.

Prior to the Giants, Coughlin spent eight years as coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The first coach in the franchise's history, Coughlin took the Jags to the AFC title game during their second year of existence. He compiled a record of 68-60 during his time there, and the team went 4-4 in his four playoff appearances.

He has become known over the years as a stern, disciplinarian coach, with his teams often being penalized for being any later than five minutes early to team events. In recent years, though, his Giants teams seemed to be rather undisciplined, which contributed to their eventual parting of ways. Coughlin has also had issues with clock management, particularly this year as the Giants blew multiple fourth-quarter leads thanks in part to clock blunders.

He is a likely Hall of Fame coach, though, and he's well-respected. Coughlin did make it clear that he's not necessarily retiring when he resigned from his post with the Giants, but at his age (he's 69 years old), it would be slightly surprising to see him take another job rather than walk off into the sunset.