2017 Roster

[es4m11]

Below are all players with an NFL contract on the Cowboys 2017 roster as of now, with cap hits...

QB: Romo ($24,700,000), Prescott ($635,848) -- $25,335,848
RB: Elliott ($5,671,895), Morris ($2,200,000) -- $7,871,895
FB: K.Smith ($690,000)
WR: Bryant ($17,000,000), Beasley ($4,000,000), Whitehead ($618,000), C.Brown ($465,000) -- $22,083,000
TE: Witten ($12,262,000), Hanna ($3,000,000), Swaim ($628,683) -- $15,890,683
OT: Smith ($15,800,000), Free ($7,500,000), Green ($786,467), Cleary ($615,000) -- $24,701,467
G: Martin ($2,853,391), L.Collins ($623,750), Looney ($850,000) -- $4,327,141
C: Frederick ($14,871,000)
Total: 20
2017 Cap Hit: $115,771,034

DE: Lawrence ($1,752,116), Mayowa ($2,600,000), Tapper ($694,470)
DT: T.Crawford ($10,350,000), M.Collins ($832,788), Thornton ($4,250,000)
OLB: Lee ($12,450,000), Wilson ($731,578), Nzeocha ($631,087), Wilber ($1,750,000)
MLB: Hitchens ($798,716), J.Smith ($1,476,129), Morris ($615,000?
CB: Scandrick ($5,281,021), Brown ($573,736), McFadden ($775,000)
S: Jones ($2,345,984), Heath ($1,921,000), Frazier ($565,000)
Total: 20
2017 Cap Hit: $49,819,978

K: Bailey ($4,000,000)
P: Jones ($1,750,000)
LS: Ladouceur ($1,220,000)
Total: 3
2017 Cap Hit: $6,970,000

43 Players under contract for 2017 at a cost of $172,561,012
2017 Dead Money: $3,051,856
Total 2017 Commitment: $175,612,868

Estimated 2017 Salary Cap: $168,000,000
2016 Rollover Cap: $2,401,553
Estimated 2017 Cap Space: $170,401,553

 

[tomodach10]

Thanks for info!!!

 

[es4m11]

Just wanted to get a discussion going regarding the construction of the 2017 roster.

Doesn't look great as of now, but with a contract restructure or two and a Romo post 6/1 trade/release Dallas can make the necessary cap space to fill out the rest of the roster.

My question is, and what I hope to generate a discussion on, is what is the best way forward considering the Cowboys current cap situation? Please try to keep in mind future obligations that may arise.

 

[cowboycolors]

you have to stay young and cheap with a few choice vet salaries and Dallas is still suffering form some over the top deals
here is what I do and some of y'all are not going to like it
Romo is gone period Im picking Davis Webb or Ross or Beathard in the draft if Prescott goes down season is toast anyway Im not paying a vet QB to come in give my 2nd in command a shot just like this year if disaster strikes

Im saying goodbye to Alf and picking up Hunt from Toledo or Pumphrey in the draft resign McFadden if he is cheap Alf is a class guy but McFadden came in late and outperformed him IMHO

Martin is going to cost us but you have to resign him

Dez is not worth his contract I love him but he is not worth 17 million a year based on production he is 29 next year
Time to trade him after this year or move on ?
Im picking Zay Jones in the draft and Taylor from WK sign Ross from Mississippi state if not drafted

Same with Witten he has given his heart and soul to The Boys but its time to move on let him play it out but then were done we need a young TE several available this year

Build through the Draft and use Will McClay pay him whatever he wants to keep him and let him and the scouts fill out the team till we climb out from the Salary mistakes that have been made 2-3 years were in pretty good shape the only position you over pay for is QB and then never restructure that contract

again Im looking at production vs salary not with my cowboys Blue Glasses on

Todays NFL requires you to be nimble like a college team always replacing the seniors

JMHO

 

[UK Cowboy]

you have to stay young and cheap with a few choice vet salaries and Dallas is still suffering form some over the top deals
here is what I do and some of y'all are not going to like it
Romo is gone period Im picking Davis Webb or Ross or Beathard in the draft if Prescott goes down season is toast anyway Im not paying a vet QB to come in give my 2nd in command a shot just like this year if disaster strikes

Im saying goodbye to Alf and picking up Hunt from Toledo or Pumphrey in the draft resign McFadden if he is cheap Alf is a class guy but McFadden came in late and outperformed him IMHO

Martin is going to cost us but you have to resign him

Dez is not worth his contract I love him but he is not worth 17 million a year based on production he is 29 next year
Time to trade him after this year or move on ?
Im picking Zay Jones in the draft and Taylor from WK sign Ross from Mississippi state if not drafted

Same with Witten he has given his heart and soul to The Boys but its time to move on let him play it out but then were done we need a young TE several available this year

Build through the Draft and use Will McClay pay him whatever he wants to keep him and let him and the scouts fill out the team till we climb out from the Salary mistakes that have been made 2-3 years were in pretty good shape the only position you over pay for is QB and then never restructure that contract

again Im looking at production vs salary not with my cowboys Blue Glasses on

Todays NFL requires you to be nimble like a college team always replacing the seniors

JMHO

I agree that we have to build through the draft and keep getting younger, but I don't think we can count on drafts like the one we just had, which was all time. Picking where we are, if we add two starters it would be an outstanding draft. Not time to give up on Witten yet, he's still pulling his weight

 

[es4m11]

you have to stay young and cheap with a few choice vet salaries and Dallas is still suffering form some over the top deals
here is what I do and some of y'all are not going to like it
Romo is gone period Im picking Davis Webb or Ross or Beathard in the draft if Prescott goes down season is toast anyway Im not paying a vet QB to come in give my 2nd in command a shot just like this year if disaster strikes

Im saying goodbye to Alf and picking up Hunt from Toledo or Pumphrey in the draft resign McFadden if he is cheap Alf is a class guy but McFadden came in late and outperformed him IMHO

Martin is going to cost us but you have to resign him

Dez is not worth his contract I love him but he is not worth 17 million a year based on production he is 29 next year
Time to trade him after this year or move on ?
Im picking Zay Jones in the draft and Taylor from WK sign Ross from Mississippi state if not drafted

Same with Witten he has given his heart and soul to The Boys but its time to move on let him play it out but then were done we need a young TE several available this year

Build through the Draft and use Will McClay pay him whatever he wants to keep him and let him and the scouts fill out the team till we climb out from the Salary mistakes that have been made 2-3 years were in pretty good shape the only position you over pay for is QB and then never restructure that contract

again Im looking at production vs salary not with my cowboys Blue Glasses on

Todays NFL requires you to be nimble like a college team always replacing the seniors

JMHO

Good thoughts. Just wanted to touch on some of your points, and add a few thoughts of my own...

1. Romo has to go, the money is not in the budget. Barring Romo accepting a major pay cut to be a backup QB, which I can't see as possible, Dallas would have to so heavily mortgage the future to keep him that it's just not worth it under any circumstances IMO.

2. I would be okay with taking a project QB on day 3. I think Kellen Moore is Dallas' #2 QB next year. He's very cheap and Linehan really likes him. Remember, if not for a broken ankle in preseason, Dallas fans may have never gotten a chance to see Dak shine this year.

3. I hadn't really considered cutting Alf, but that may be a real possibility. Morris was merely serviceable this year - looked great in preseason though. Cutting Morris saves Dallas $1.7mil. Not sure McFadden could be re-signed for that money. But if the money were the same, I think I agree with you and would go with McFadden at this point in time. Maybe we can trade Morris for a 6th or 7th round pick? Still having Darius Jackson on the roster would be nice...

4. Martin is priority #1 going forward. If history repeats itself, again, Martin will get a contract extension this summer. I would wait til after the season, but that's me. Martin will get top dollar, and Dallas better be the one to pay it - can't let this guy get away.

5. I don't believe any receiver is worth $17mil - not even J.Jones or A.Brown. Receivers have the easiest job on the field with rules currently as-is, IMO. Outside of QBs, WRs get the most benefit of the doubt from the refs of any position on the field. I like having a top flight pass catcher, but $17mil is a hefty price to pay for a guy who is as reliant on good QB play as any top 10-15 WR in the game. Don't think Dallas could trade him or release him at this point, $25mil dead money cap hit in 2017. Can possibly move on in 2018, but I doubt that happens.

6. If I am Jerry, I would go to Witten and see what his intentions are, if he plans to play beyond 2017 or not? If so, then get his feelings on a team friendly deal for 2018. Maybe something like 1yr4-5mil. If Witten would be agreeable to that, I would then restructure his 2017 contract and spread the cap hits as evenly as I could over 2017 and 2018. Witten has been paid well over his career, and at this point, I think both sides owe it to the other to do what is best for the team. Just spit balling here.

I want Witten back in 2018, even if he is just a #2 TE at that point - I think the rookie Gaethers is going to be a player, and I want him spending as much time with Witten as possible. Read up on what Romo has to say about Gaethers - apparently Romo and Gaethers would wear the defense out running scout team in practice. Gaethers supposedly has a great work ethic also. He's also like 6'8" 270lbs.

7. I have read some things regarding McClay that give me reason for optimism that he intends to stay in Dallas. Supposedly McClay has already turned down multiple interview offers from other teams. And if one writer is to be believed, McClay likes it in Dallas and wants to stay. We can only hope. McClay has been killing the draft for a few years now.

 

[Manster7588]

I'd ask Witten to push about 3M guaranteed into 2018 and give him an additional 4M to do so. If he decides not to play he'll count 3M in dead money but the team looks to be in a much better cap situation then.

 

[es4m11]

Kicking around some numbers, I have put together a scenario in which Dallas can get right with the cap, fill out the roster and grab a couple nice pieces in free agency. I would do something like this...

Prior to first day of new league year...
1. Restructure $12,500,000 of Travis Frederick's 2017 base salary -- saves $10mil in 2017
2. Extend Jason Witten 1yr/$4mil ($2mil guarantee), restructure $3,000,0000 2017 salary into 2018 base salary -- saves $3mil in 2017
3. Cut Doug Free -- saves $5mil in 2017
4. Cut Kyle Wilber -- saves $1.25mil in 2017
Total cap savings: $19.25mil
$175,612,868 - $19,250,000 = $156,362,868 committed in 2017
Remaining 2017 cap space: $14,038,685
41 players on roster

Free Agency...
1. Sign Jordan Mills, RT -- 4yr/26.25mil/$10mil guarantee (1st yr $5,250,000)
2. Sign Logan Ryan, CB -- 4yr/23.75mil/$10mil guarantee (1st yr $4,500,000)
3. Sign JJ Wilcox, SS -- 3yr/$10mil/$4.5mil guarantee (1st yr $2,750,000)
4. Tender David Irving (ERFA) -- 1yr/$615,000
Total 2017 cost: $12,500,000
Remaining 2017 cap space: $1,538,685
45 players on roster

Draft...
1st Round: DE, CB, DT, TE
2nd Round: CB, DE, DT, TE, WR
3rd Round: WR, RB, QB, OL, TE
4th Round: BPA
5th Round: BPA
6th Round: BPA
7th Round: BPA

6/1/2017...
1. Trade Romo after 6/1 for conditional 2018 draft pick -- saves $14mil in 2017
Remaining 2017 cap space: $15,538,685
44 players on roster

Post 6/1/2017...
1. Sign Kellen Moore, QB -- 1yr/$1mil
2. Sign Brice Butler, WR -- 2yr/$3mil/$1mil guarantee (1st yr $1,250,000)
3. Sign Jack Crawford, DE -- 2yr/$4mil/$1.5mil guarantee (1st yr $1,750,000)
4. Sign Jonathan Cooper, G/C -- 1yr/$1.5mil
5. Sign 2017 Draft Class -- Approx. $6mil
Total 2017 cost: $11,500,000 (approx.)
Remaining 2017 cap space: $4,038,685
55 players on roster


Obviously, I am making a few assumptions here, but I tried to be realistic. The Dallas front office will do something completely different from this, but this is one way to sort out the Cowboys cap situation without restructuring a bunch of large contracts (eg. Smith, Dez). Just my opinion on what could/should be done.

 

[es4m11]

I'd ask Witten to push about 3M guaranteed into 2018 and give him an additional 4M to do so. If he decides not to play he'll count 3M in dead money but the team looks to be in a much better cap situation then.

Pretty much exactly what I was thinking.

 

[Manster7588]

I still think there's a chance Romo is a Cowboy next season, but he's gonna HAVE to take a 4 to 5M staight up pay cut. If he's given a real opportunity to win the #1 job he'd be open to the option.

 

[tomodach10]

you have to stay young and cheap with a few choice vet salaries and Dallas is still suffering form some over the top deals
here is what I do and some of y'all are not going to like it
Romo is gone period Im picking Davis Webb or Ross or Beathard in the draft if Prescott goes down season is toast anyway Im not paying a vet QB to come in give my 2nd in command a shot just like this year if disaster strikes

Im saying goodbye to Alf and picking up Hunt from Toledo or Pumphrey in the draft resign McFadden if he is cheap Alf is a class guy but McFadden came in late and outperformed him IMHO

Martin is going to cost us but you have to resign him

Dez is not worth his contract I love him but he is not worth 17 million a year based on production he is 29 next year
Time to trade him after this year or move on ?
Im picking Zay Jones in the draft and Taylor from WK sign Ross from Mississippi state if not drafted

Same with Witten he has given his heart and soul to The Boys but its time to move on let him play it out but then were done we need a young TE several available this year

Build through the Draft and use Will McClay pay him whatever he wants to keep him and let him and the scouts fill out the team till we climb out from the Salary mistakes that have been made 2-3 years were in pretty good shape the only position you over pay for is QB and then never restructure that contract

again Im looking at production vs salary not with my cowboys Blue Glasses on

Todays NFL requires you to be nimble like a college team always replacing the seniors

JMHO

Are you crazy? Why trade Dez? Dez played well. He is still young.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Are you crazy? Why trade Dez? Dez played well. He is still young.

I agree, Dez is still a beast

 

[cowboycolors]

Are you crazy? Why trade Dez? Dez played well. He is still young.

I will agree to disagree I really like Dez but he is not worth his salary. Again look at the salary numbers compared to production. Im not looking through my "blue and silver " glasses just at the numbers. dez is a average route runner and has average production he is just not worth 17 million a year

When you look close it is really clear its time to draft his replacement and consider moving on. Cowboys wont do it but that does not mean it should not be looked at

opinions will vary that's just mine

JMHO

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Dez is the reason teams don't bring the house to stop the run. One on one he is still as lethal as they come, team's are forced to hold a safety back.

 

[snookdad]

This team doesn't work with out Drz, Zeke, and Dak. You can't replace Dez's value with a rookie talent IMO. who are we replacing dez with ?

 

[cowboycolors]

guys I am not trying to be the bad guy here.

I would draft Zay Jones he is a better route runner right now as a draft prospect than Dez is. That's just 1 there are others in the draft that will be available. Dez is a good player no doubt and he is a fan favorite. He is not worth his salary that's all I am saying. Romo was not replaceable till we found Dak.

Bottom line you have to be turning over your roster with younger players that are cheaper and produce. Will it be easy NO but you have to look at it that's all Im saying its time.
Why not take make a move 1 year early rather than 1 year late


JMHO

 

[UK Cowboy]

guys I am not trying to be the bad guy here.

I would draft Zay Jones he is a better route runner right now as a draft prospect than Dez is. That's just 1 there are others in the draft that will be available. Dez is a good player no doubt and he is a fan favorite. He is not worth his salary that's all I am saying. Romo was not replaceable till we found Dak.

Bottom line you have to be turning over your roster with younger players that are cheaper and produce. Will it be easy NO but you have to look at it that's all Im saying its time.
Why not take make a move 1 year early rather than 1 year late


JMHO

Zay Jones couldn't hold Dez Bryant's jock strap...

 

[PDay8810]

guys I am not trying to be the bad guy here.

I would draft Zay Jones he is a better route runner right now as a draft prospect than Dez is. That's just 1 there are others in the draft that will be available. Dez is a good player no doubt and he is a fan favorite. He is not worth his salary that's all I am saying. Romo was not replaceable till we found Dak.

Bottom line you have to be turning over your roster with younger players that are cheaper and produce. Will it be easy NO but you have to look at it that's all Im saying its time.
Why not take make a move 1 year early rather than 1 year late


JMHO

it's all good colors....somebody will always piss & moan.....some more than others

 

[jarntt]

Romo is gone period Im picking Davis Webb or Ross or Beathard in the draft if Prescott goes down season is toast anyway Im not paying a vet QB to come in give my 2nd in command a shot just like this year if disaster strikes

Before this past season I and many others said:
if Romo goes down season is toast anyway
Point is you never know...I don't expect it to repeat itself, but we were actually a better team because Romo went down

 

[jarntt]

Dez is the reason teams don't bring the house to stop the run. One on one he is still as lethal as they come, team's are forced to hold a safety back.

I sure as heck am not cutting our only good outside receiver when we are close to a championship, but it appears to me that Dez does not get doubled nearly as often most top WRs. Teams just aren't that worried about him getting behind them and he just doesn't put up the types of numbers that the others do. Now in the red zone, I agree, but not all game long.