Since it will be a slow 3-4 days, What does everyone think about the Cowboys situation?
Their young core is all hitting the window where they want new money and they’re almost objectively the strongest team in the NFC East. With all of the future money they’ve already utilized, it’s giving some obvious heartburn while they decide who is the critical piece. Lately it has been mentioned that Ceedee will be the first to see the brinks truck.
I’m really intrigued more by what they do with Parsons. He’s clearly a centerpiece of the defense but I’m also skeptical that he’s on the Watt/Bosa level. He just feels more of a pass rush specialist, and more of a luxury.
In 2024 Dallas has 12 million in cap space with the draft class and everyone signed.
In 2025 Dallas has 65 million in cap space which is 5th in the NFL.
In 2026 Dallas has 180 million in cap space which is 2nd in NFL.
In 2027 Dallas has 254 million in cap space which is 11th in the NFL.
Dallas has enough cap space to EASILY get all three players signed and still have enough left over for whatever they need. Plus Dallas drafts well, so when players come up for contracts Dallas can just go to next man up or draft their replacement. This is actually the way Dallas has been operating for a while now.
I am sure that any of us could structure contracts to stagger the cap hits over the next 5 years with the monies that are available to the team. The Dallas front office chooses to play dumb.
In 2024 Dallas has 12 million in cap space with the draft class and everyone signed.
In 2025 Dallas has 65 million in cap space which is 5th in the NFL.
In 2026 Dallas has 180 million in cap space which is 2nd in NFL.
In 2027 Dallas has 254 million in cap space which is 11th in the NFL.
Dallas has enough cap space to EASILY get all three players signed and still have enough left over for whatever they need. Plus Dallas drafts well, so when players come up for contracts Dallas can just go to next man up or draft their replacement. This is actually the way Dallas has been operating for a while now.
I am sure that any of us could structure contracts to stagger the cap hits over the next 5 years with the monies that are available to the team. The Dallas front office chooses to play dumb.
do you realize how quickly that cap space is going to go even if they just bring back 2/3?
ceedee = 32m+ aav (AJB), 50%+ guaranteed
parsons = 34m+ aav (bosa), 50%+ guaranteed
dak = 53m+ aav (goff), 54%+ guaranteed
that adds up to at least 119m AAV.
so even if they backloaded those deals to pay half of each of their AAVs year 1 in 2025, that would still be $60m. with another $60m above the cumulative 119m left to distribute over the lives of those contracts.
ceedee is the no brainer to get done first and he'll be the cheapest. dak and parsons are going to be nightmare fuel negotiations.
Dallas didn't lose those players to the cap.
Dallas believed they could find another center that could hold up better against bull rushs and have a better push in the run game. Dallas drafted Beebe as the answer.
Dallas moved on from Tryon Smith because of the uncertainty of his availability week to week. If Smith had no questions with availability, Dallas would have resigned him.
Dallas doesn't believe in paying the RB position. Dallas thought 4 million a year for Zack Moss was too much. The team could have drafted multiple RBs in the 3rd round of the draft but passed and chose none. Sheer insanity on the teams part, but it is what it is.
The defensive line players were replaced with players already on the team or not resigned because of scheme fit under Zimmer.
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They lost a couple of starters on the OL, lost their starting RB, a couple of DTs and a couple of DEs. I think Philly has better talent.
Dallas didn't lose those players to the cap.
Dallas believed they could find another center that could hold up better against bull rushs and have a better push in the run game. Dallas drafted Beebe as the answer.
Dallas moved on from Tryon Smith because of the uncertainty of his availability week to week. If Smith had no questions with availability, Dallas would have resigned him.
Dallas doesn't believe in paying the RB position. Dallas thought 4 million a year for Zack Moss was too much. The team could have drafted multiple RBs in the 3rd round of the draft but passed and chose none. Sheer insanity on the teams part, but it is what it is.
The defensive line players were replaced with players already on the team or not resigned because of scheme fit under Zimmer.
so they added basically 0 players from FA above the minimum by choice? had nothing to do with the cap that they only signed 3 new veterans total, each around the minimum?
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but that is a lie.
In 2024 Dallas has 12 million in cap space with the draft class and everyone signed.
In 2025 Dallas has 65 million in cap space which is 5th in the NFL.
In 2026 Dallas has 180 million in cap space which is 2nd in NFL.
In 2027 Dallas has 254 million in cap space which is 11th in the NFL.
Dallas has enough cap space to EASILY get all three players signed and still have enough left over for whatever they need. Plus Dallas drafts well, so when players come up for contracts Dallas can just go to next man up or draft their replacement. This is actually the way Dallas has been operating for a while now.
I am sure that any of us could structure contracts to stagger the cap hits over the next 5 years with the monies that are available to the team. The Dallas front office chooses to play dumb.
do you realize how quickly that cap space is going to go even if they just bring back 2/3?
ceedee = 32m+ aav (AJB), 50%+ guaranteed
parsons = 34m+ aav (bosa), 50%+ guaranteed
dak = 53m+ aav (goff), 54%+ guaranteed
that adds up to at least 119m AAV.
so even if they backloaded those deals to pay half of each of their AAVs year 1 in 2025, that would still be $60m. with another $60m above the cumulative 119m left to distribute over the lives of those contracts.
ceedee is the no brainer to get done first and he'll be the cheapest. dak and parsons are going to be nightmare fuel negotiations.
I went and looked at Goff, Jefferson, and Boston cap hits for this year and the next three.
In 2024 Dallas would gain 27 million in cap space over right now.
In 2025 Dallas would be minus 5 million in cap space.
In 2026 Dallas would have 28 million in cap space.
In 2027 Dallas would have 103 million in cap space.
The only year Dallas would have to get creative is in 2025. But Dallas writes all their contracts to be restructured.
Using the contracts of Goff, Jefferson, and Bosa shows it can be done, easily.
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In comment 16556474 BillT said:
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They lost a couple of starters on the OL, lost their starting RB, a couple of DTs and a couple of DEs. I think Philly has better talent.
Dallas didn't lose those players to the cap.
Dallas believed they could find another center that could hold up better against bull rushs and have a better push in the run game. Dallas drafted Beebe as the answer.
Dallas moved on from Tryon Smith because of the uncertainty of his availability week to week. If Smith had no questions with availability, Dallas would have resigned him.
Dallas doesn't believe in paying the RB position. Dallas thought 4 million a year for Zack Moss was too much. The team could have drafted multiple RBs in the 3rd round of the draft but passed and chose none. Sheer insanity on the teams part, but it is what it is.
The defensive line players were replaced with players already on the team or not resigned because of scheme fit under Zimmer.
so they added basically 0 players from FA above the minimum by choice? had nothing to do with the cap that they only signed 3 new veterans total, each around the minimum?
That's how Dallas operates. They don't sign free agents. They wait till free agency is over and shop on the bargain rack. Stephen Jones is the cheapest person in the NFL. The last free agent they signed was Brandon Carr 12 years ago.
Dallas uses the draft to replenish the team. Free agency is used to get a stop gap till a starter is drafted. Wash, rinse, repeat for years now.
beyond the 3 guys we are talking about they also have daron bland to extend in the next 2 years and odigizua hitting FA next year.
and they have zack martin who was a first team all pro last year in his final year.
and demarcus lawrence also in his last year, though he was merely a pro bowler last year.
It is not crazy. Prescott is an average QB. He has been over-rated since his rookie year due to a very strong OL and running game.
Meanwhile, if we did draft Parsons instead of the whole Toney debacle... what would we do right now with his contract?
Agreed.. plus they were not in position to draft a top QB this year and there were no free agents that would have been a real upgrade vs Dak.
Philly has void year dollars for those players in amounts unheard of in league history. $125m for Hurtz alone. Hey, Howie is a genius. Maybe it’s the rest of the league that are fools. Who knows.
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... But they should resign Parsons and Lamb and move on from Prescott.
It is not crazy. Prescott is an average QB. He has been over-rated since his rookie year due to a very strong OL and running game.
Meanwhile, if we did draft Parsons instead of the whole Toney debacle... what would we do right now with his contract?
Easy
Not sign Burns and it would would work out
People hate over paying Jones. Which is understandable. But why pay Dak Mahomes level cash if not more for 5 years. No thanks. Teams have been cracking and over paying by huge margins for good not great guys. Dak is top 15. But top 5 no fucking way. Top 10? Ok. But he’s going to want top 5 money.
And IMO a they traded for Lance w the hopes he takes over in 25
High level players in the NFL always get paid. According to many here it is easy to find cheap DT, G and S
Parsons will be paid because he is a game altering player. Lamb will get paid because they can’t function without him - and he is really good and young
Dallas issue is they are not as good as SF and Phi/Det are just as good. They will beat up on bad teams like they always do
It's not crazy. It's smart.
The Dak Experience needs to end. Dallas got great utility out of a 4th round draft choice. But it looks like he's found his ceiling. And he's one of those guys, like he predecessor, who just can't get over the hump come the playoffs. Time to move on.
Dallas is sort of a victim of drafting too well. McClay has been tremendous finding talent. I believe he's the best college valuator in the NFL. And now they have too many home grown players who have excelled coming up for big contracts at once...
So much for building through the draft... ;)
Prescott will play out the season on his final year. He has always bet on himself and has all the leverage in these contract negotiations. If they make an extended playoff run I see Dallas paying him up to $60 million per year.
Dallas has been very quiet about Trey Lance progress at QB.
He is a unknown at this time.
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... But they should resign Parsons and Lamb and move on from Prescott.
People hate over paying Jones. Which is understandable. But why pay Dak Mahomes level cash if not more for 5 years. No thanks. Teams have been cracking and over paying by huge margins for good not great guys. Dak is top 15. But top 5 no fucking way. Top 10? Ok. But he’s going to want top 5 money.
And IMO a they traded for Lance w the hopes he takes over in 25
Agreed, but since Dak is arguably top 10 he will get top 5 money from someone. That's the rub (problem) with today's NFL. It's just such a big percentage of the cap.
And yes, Lance is their hope.
It’s the NFL’s business model. They want the QBs to be highly paid celebrities, social media footprint, glitz and glam. It’s what drives popularity, fringe interest/new business and revenue streams.
The cap is huge now and it’s understood the QB will take up a large portion, but still plenty of $$ to go around. They’ve set it up that way.
It’s the NFL’s business model. They want the QBs to be highly paid celebrities, social media footprint, glitz and glam. It’s what drives popularity, fringe interest/new business and revenue streams.
The cap is huge now and it’s understood the QB will take up a large portion, but still plenty of $$ to go around. They’ve set it up that way.
I don't disagree but more specifically they know offense sells. Which has made the QB position even more essential to a teams' success.
As has been said repeatedly, an elite QB is key to winning championships. But a top 10 QB is necessary to compete for a Championship.
(We can debate how good Brock Purdy is - but the fact that the entire 49er team is so good is an anomaly)