Cowboys 2025 Free Agents

[UK Cowboy]

I believe Cooks is gone. Whether a draft pick or FA replaces him I dont know.
Also With Zimmer gone. I believe Kendricks is gone as well.

Eberflus likes his players bigger and more physical, Zim is more about speed. It will be interesting to see how the players here fit his system. He plays a ton of two high safety looks out of the Tampa 2 scheme. I would think an active 3Tech like Osa would be a must to resign(Warren Sapp was the perfect 3T for that scheme). I would think the guy who is not a fit for this scheme would be Donovan Wilson. He makes his bones near the line of scrimmage and is a hole is coverage. Not a good fit IMO. The guy who would set things off whenever he gets back is Overshown, a guy who can play that Derrick Brooks role of a LB who is fast enough to play coverage but also is a great blitzer

 

[Andresrenee]

It seems like the Jones may have a cash flow problem with their lack of spending in free agency. A lot of toys for these guys and their value is tied up in the equity of the franchise but they still want to live like billionaires. Would be fascinating to see what they earn net income wise. They pay themselves as they clearly need the cash from the business. I know the stadium produces a lot annually but can it be enough to cover their spending?

 

[UK Cowboy]

It seems like the Jones may have a cash flow problem with their lack of spending in free agency. A lot of toys for these guys and their value is tied up in the equity of the franchise but they still want to live like billionaires. Would be fascinating to see what they earn net income wise. They pay themselves as they clearly need the cash from the business. I know the stadium produces a lot annually but can it be enough to cover their spending?

That is so not the problem. The revenue for the Salary Cap is paid out of network and advertising money. The players get two thirds, the owners a third, meaning if the cap is $272M per year, each owner receives $136M per year. This number does not include any of their 8/9 home games plus preseason and playoffs. So 80-100K tickets at sky high rates times 11 or so plus concessions and parking. Plus all merchandise, jerseys and etc, as well as team advertising dollars from Pepsi and all the other companies that are blank of the Dallas Cowboys. Plus the equity in the franchise which is worth $9-10 Billion after he bought the damn thing for like $140M LMAO. Times the 30 whatever years he's owned the team. Cash is so not a problem lol

 

[jarntt]

@jarntt

I've read recently moving cap hit from current year to future years makes sense if the player is likely to see those years. 20M takes up a higher percentage of cap space in 2025 than it would in future years with higher caps.

with this said. An article says we could add 67M in space with no regrets. I read...

Dak 45M restructure to bonus spreading 9M per years 2025 to 2029
Cap savings of 36M (89.9M to 53.9M)

Cee Dee 25M restructure to bonus spreading 5M per years 2025 TO 2030 Cap savings 20M (26.8M to 6.8M)

Parsons is already on the 2025 books for his 5th year option at 21M. They seem to think they will make him the highest paid defensive player and still reduce his 2025 cap number 11M.

The article said players on decline (Steele) or injury (Diggs) aren't wise restructures.

What do you think?

100% agree with the premise. The idea is restructure guys who will be here for a bunch more years so the cap hit that you push back is split out over 4 or 5 years not just one or two. See Zack Martin for the reverse. Because he is at the end of his deal he has $26M in dead money mostly due to the last couple of years restructures and not much we can do with it. If he retires post 6/1 we can split it over 2 years but that's about it.

The only thing (and it's a big one) with their strategy is I am not sold on Dak being healthy enough and good enough to be the starter for 4 more years so I personally put him in the Steele/Diggs category or maybe somewhere in between in his own category, which as you can see in the numbers you posted significantly reduces the amount we can clear up. Since we know the Jones Boyz just gave him a huge deal we know they disagree with me completely so the numbers you listed are valid as to what will actually likely happen or at least could happen.

How you really save money is obviously by cutting players when the contract allows. I would be cutting one or both starting safeties (they won't). Cutting Wilson saves us over $5M if before 6/1 or $7M if post 6/1. Hooker has two years left so cutting him saves less this year but a lot next year. I don't care which they cut, just cut one of them at least. Cutting both really clears up a lot of cap space and I'm not sold that they are much better than the guys behind them. If we draft safety early then 100% you need to cut at least one of them. Same goes for Diggs and Steele if they are concerned about them. Both can be cut to improve our long term cap health. Personally I'm not giving up on Diggs yet and with Steele I just don't think we have the players behind him to step up. Plus, while I don't think he is worth his contract I really don't think he is the horrible player most seem to. But, if Guyton takes a step forward and we draft another OL early, I'd likely just cut Steele.

Getting back to Dak and why I wouldn't do it. His dead money is already $151M. That $36M in cap savings due to a restructure would just add to it. I'd probably just restructure about $20M or so of his 2025 salary instead of the maximum of $45M because he will be here for a minimum of two more years. I am very worried about what happens with him. Right now if he is cut after 2027 with one year left on his deal we take a $34M hit. If we restructure him every year that goes higher and higher. Bottom line this team (just like last year) can clear a ton of cap space if they want to.

 

[jarntt]

That would suck. I liked kendricks

me too. He certainly isn't an All Pro but he is decent in the middle and what I would call "a football player". We need more guys who stick their nose in. I see a lot of that attitude and "want to" in Liufau as well, but I'm not sure he is stout enough to take on an OG and still make the play to be able to play the Mike. But, with Kendricks, he is a free agent. Let's see how much he wants and if he even wants to stay

 

[PDay8810]

100% agree with the premise. The idea is restructure guys who will be here for a bunch more years so the cap hit that you push back is split out over 4 or 5 years not just one or two. See Zack Martin for the reverse. Because he is at the end of his deal he has $26M in dead money mostly due to the last couple of years restructures and not much we can do with it. If he retires post 6/1 we can split it over 2 years but that's about it.

The only thing (and it's a big one) with their strategy is I am not sold on Dak being healthy enough and good enough to be the starter for 4 more years so I personally put him in the Steele/Diggs category or maybe somewhere in between in his own category, which as you can see in the numbers you posted significantly reduces the amount we can clear up. Since we know the Jones Boyz just gave him a huge deal we know they disagree with me completely so the numbers you listed are valid as to what will actually likely happen or at least could happen.

How you really save money is obviously by cutting players when the contract allows. I would be cutting one or both starting safeties (they won't). Cutting Wilson saves us over $5M if before 6/1 or $7M if post 6/1. Hooker has two years left so cutting him saves less this year but a lot next year. I don't care which they cut, just cut one of them at least. Cutting both really clears up a lot of cap space and I'm not sold that they are much better than the guys behind them. If we draft safety early then 100% you need to cut at least one of them. Same goes for Diggs and Steele if they are concerned about them. Both can be cut to improve our long term cap health. Personally I'm not giving up on Diggs yet and with Steele I just don't think we have the players behind him to step up. Plus, while I don't think he is worth his contract I really don't think he is the horrible player most seem to. But, if Guyton takes a step forward and we draft another OL early, I'd likely just cut Steele.

Getting back to Dak and why I wouldn't do it. His dead money is already $151M. That $36M in cap savings due to a restructure would just add to it. I'd probably just restructure about $20M or so of his 2025 salary instead of the maximum of $45M because he will be here for a minimum of two more years. I am very worried about what happens with him. Right now if he is cut after 2027 with one year left on his deal we take a $34M hit. If we restructure him every year that goes higher and higher. Bottom line this team (just like last year) can clear a ton of cap space if they want to.

good stuff...well almost

kidding

you the Dallas fan cap man

 

[UK Cowboy]

100% agree with the premise. The idea is restructure guys who will be here for a bunch more years so the cap hit that you push back is split out over 4 or 5 years not just one or two. See Zack Martin for the reverse. Because he is at the end of his deal he has $26M in dead money mostly due to the last couple of years restructures and not much we can do with it. If he retires post 6/1 we can split it over 2 years but that's about it.

The only thing (and it's a big one) with their strategy is I am not sold on Dak being healthy enough and good enough to be the starter for 4 more years so I personally put him in the Steele/Diggs category or maybe somewhere in between in his own category, which as you can see in the numbers you posted significantly reduces the amount we can clear up. Since we know the Jones Boyz just gave him a huge deal we know they disagree with me completely so the numbers you listed are valid as to what will actually likely happen or at least could happen.

How you really save money is obviously by cutting players when the contract allows. I would be cutting one or both starting safeties (they won't). Cutting Wilson saves us over $5M if before 6/1 or $7M if post 6/1. Hooker has two years left so cutting him saves less this year but a lot next year. I don't care which they cut, just cut one of them at least. Cutting both really clears up a lot of cap space and I'm not sold that they are much better than the guys behind them. If we draft safety early then 100% you need to cut at least one of them. Same goes for Diggs and Steele if they are concerned about them. Both can be cut to improve our long term cap health. Personally I'm not giving up on Diggs yet and with Steele I just don't think we have the players behind him to step up. Plus, while I don't think he is worth his contract I really don't think he is the horrible player most seem to. But, if Guyton takes a step forward and we draft another OL early, I'd likely just cut Steele.

Getting back to Dak and why I wouldn't do it. His dead money is already $151M. That $36M in cap savings due to a restructure would just add to it. I'd probably just restructure about $20M or so of his 2025 salary instead of the maximum of $45M because he will be here for a minimum of two more years. I am very worried about what happens with him. Right now if he is cut after 2027 with one year left on his deal we take a $34M hit. If we restructure him every year that goes higher and higher. Bottom line this team (just like last year) can clear a ton of cap space if they want to.

I think if Jerry had held out a few more weeks roll we were 3-6 and then Dak goes down with another season ending injury he would have saved a quarter of a billion in cap space and the rebuild would be fully underway

 

[Godstree]

me too. He certainly isn't an All Pro but he is decent in the middle and what I would call "a football player". We need more guys who stick their nose in. I see a lot of that attitude and "want to" in Liufau as well, but I'm not sure he is stout enough to take on an OG and still make the play to be able to play the Mike. But, with Kendricks, he is a free agent. Let's see how much he wants and if he even wants to stay

He was very polished. Just knew what to do.

 

[PDay8810]

But, with Kendricks, he is a free agent. Let's see how much he wants and if he even wants to stay

please...Let's see the asking price. So many teams have money.

it's a numbers game at the LB position. We going to need a couple

 

[PDay8810]

100% agree with the premise. The idea is restructure guys who will be here for a bunch more years so the cap hit that you push back is split out over 4 or 5 years not just one or two. See Zack Martin for the reverse. Because he is at the end of his deal he has $26M in dead money mostly due to the last couple of years restructures and not much we can do with it. If he retires post 6/1 we can split it over 2 years but that's about it.

The only thing (and it's a big one) with their strategy is I am not sold on Dak being healthy enough and good enough to be the starter for 4 more years so I personally put him in the Steele/Diggs category or maybe somewhere in between in his own category, which as you can see in the numbers you posted significantly reduces the amount we can clear up. Since we know the Jones Boyz just gave him a huge deal we know they disagree with me completely so the numbers you listed are valid as to what will actually likely happen or at least could happen.

How you really save money is obviously by cutting players when the contract allows. I would be cutting one or both starting safeties (they won't). Cutting Wilson saves us over $5M if before 6/1 or $7M if post 6/1. Hooker has two years left so cutting him saves less this year but a lot next year. I don't care which they cut, just cut one of them at least. Cutting both really clears up a lot of cap space and I'm not sold that they are much better than the guys behind them. If we draft safety early then 100% you need to cut at least one of them. Same goes for Diggs and Steele if they are concerned about them. Both can be cut to improve our long term cap health. Personally I'm not giving up on Diggs yet and with Steele I just don't think we have the players behind him to step up. Plus, while I don't think he is worth his contract I really don't think he is the horrible player most seem to. But, if Guyton takes a step forward and we draft another OL early, I'd likely just cut Steele.

Getting back to Dak and why I wouldn't do it. His dead money is already $151M. That $36M in cap savings due to a restructure would just add to it. I'd probably just restructure about $20M or so of his 2025 salary instead of the maximum of $45M because he will be here for a minimum of two more years. I am very worried about what happens with him. Right now if he is cut after 2027 with one year left on his deal we take a $34M hit. If we restructure him every year that goes higher and higher. Bottom line this team (just like last year) can clear a ton of cap space if they want to.

Dak does seem to be a health risk, as does Diggs. No?

For me it always comes back to a football heart and old fashion "want to".

 

[Schmoopy1000]

please...Let's see the asking price. So many teams have money.

it's a numbers game at the LB position. We going to need a couple

I have a feeling we will see some new faces at LB. Possibly a couple of rookies this year. (definitely one)

 

[jarntt]

I have a feeling we will see some new faces at LB. Possibly a couple of rookies this year. (definitely one)

Agree we need LBers. But, the first question is what defense will we run? Eberflus has been a 4-3 guy but let's see what he says.

Obviously, Overshown's rehab will be a huge factor here. I'm not of the belief like some that he is out for the year but certainly he won't start the season on the 53. Overshown (when back) and Liufau should have two spots locked up regardless of what defense we run. Clark is a decent backup although he got almost no run last year and Vigil was surprisingly better than I expected but like Kendricks is a free agent. A decision on Kendricks will likely come before the draft. We need a stud run stopper at LBer or a stud DT to make all of these guys better or really, both. Regardless of what else happens we do need to add a LBer. Even if we re-sign Kendricks we need a 3rd guy while Overshown is out and Kendricks is close to retirement so we still need to add a player into the mix even if we have all 3. If we don't sign Kendricks our top LBers while Overshown is out are currently Liufau, Clark and Buddy Johnson. How is that even possible?

Let's see what the plan is for Sam Williams. Is he an early down weak side LBer like Leonard was with Eberflus in Indy? I'm not sure he has the quickness and change of direction for that but I see it written a lot so just throwing it out there. Is Micah an early down LBer and nickel pass rusher? This is probably what I would personally do at least while Overshown is out and especially if we resign Tank and Golston who are more early down run stoppers at DE like Kneeland.

I just can't get it out of my head how much more I think a stud defender does for this team than an offensive player and especially if they expect improvement from the young OL (assuming Martin is done)

 

[PDay8810]

I'm thinking Jerry could get reactionary from all this.

Parsons is also of the same mindset.

""I want to see players here,'' he said. "I eant to see some of these (in-house free agents) back in this locker room. I want to be as aggressive (in free agency) as we can be.''

LOL

 

[PDay8810]

sounds like Martin isn't ready.

could you stand to see this guy in another uni?

 

[Sir Robin Of Camelot]

sounds like Martin isn't ready.

could you stand to see this guy in another uni?

Wouldn’t dig it…

 

[UK Cowboy]

sounds like Martin isn't ready.

could you stand to see this guy in another uni?

I heard him yesterday and it sounds like he might be open to coming back now. He loves the power schemes Schotty and the kid from Arizona want to run

 

[jarntt]

Martin was not good at all this past year and was pretty good, but not great the year before. Perhaps it was injury related? I think his time might be up

 

[ArlingtonCowboys100]

I heard him yesterday and it sounds like he might be open to coming back now. He loves the power schemes Schotty and the kid from Arizona want to run

I don't see Martin playing for peanuts. This FO will low-ball Martin. I see him retiring or playing elsewhere

 

[UK Cowboy]

I don't see Martin playing for peanuts. This FO will low-ball Martin. I see him retiring or playing elsewhere

Yes but they have dead money still from Zach's signing bonus and I think they could actually move some of that around and spread his salary and remaining bonus out. If he can get healthy would love to have him back. Otherwise he is a Deadskin

 

[jarntt]

To all of you who are under the delusion that we will make any improvements, operate any differently or be any better in 2025: