Do what Philly did in 2011, only better

Under a post called Priorities, Priorities, Priorities that I put up a few days ago, I laid out an ambitious offseason plan that Dallas could implement. Several people thought I was stretching what we could do. By way of this post, I want to add a new argument about just how aggressive Dallas could be. Let's look at what Philly did last year.

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Here's who Philly added in the offseason last year, including the contracts they signed.

09/04/2011 Claimed G Kyle DeVan off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts (did not last)

08/10/2011 Agreed to terms with WR Steve Smith on a one-year deal (26) ($4 million)

08/02/2011 Agreed to terms on a one-year deal with S Jarrad Page (did not last)

08/02/2011 Agreed to terms with RB Ronnie Brown on a one-year deal (30) ($1 million)

07/31/2011 Agreed to terms on one-year deal with G Evan Mathis ($735K)

07/30/2011 Agreed to terms on one-year deal with LB Akeem Jordan ($735K)

07/30/2011 Agreed to terms on five-year deal with DT Cullen Jenkins (31) ($25 million)

07/29/2011 Agreed to terms on five-year deal with DE Jason Babin (31) ($28 million)

07/29/2011 Agreed to terms on five-year deal with CB Nnamdi Asomugha (30) ($60 million)

07/29/2011 Agreed to terms on one-year deal with QB Vince Young (28) ($4 million)

07/28/2011 Acquired CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (25) ($950K in 2011, $1.9 mill in 2012) and 2012 second round draft pick for QB Kevin Kolb.

07/26/2011 Agreed to terms with P Chas Henry ($500 K)

04/30/2011 Eagles select LB Brian Rolle with No. 193 pick in the NFL Draft

04/30/2011 Eagles select C Jason Kelce with No. 191 pick in the NFL Draft

04/30/2011 Eagles select OL Julian Vandervelde with No. 161 pick in the NFL Draft

04/30/2011 Eagles select RB Dion Lewis with No. 149 pick in the NFL Draft

04/30/2011 Eagles select K Alex Henery with No. 120 pick in the NFL Draft

04/30/2011 Eagles select LB Casey Matthews with No. 116 pick in the NFL Draft

04/29/2011 Eagles select CB Curtis Marsh with No. 90 pick in the NFL Draft

04/29/2011 Eagles select S Jaiquawn Jarrett with No. 54 pick in the NFL Draft

04/28/2011 Eagles select G Danny Watkins with No. 23 pick in first round of NFL Draft

02/11/2011 DE Phillip Hunt - Signed to a three-year deal (26) ($500K)

(I pasted in this list from a poster on a Philly board.)

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By comparison, here's my list for who the Cowboys should go after in free agency, matched against the Eagles' free agents. .

1. OG Carl Nicks = contract more than, but comparable to Asomougha (5 yr, $60 mil)

2. C Chris Myers = contract for less than Cullen Jenkins (5 yr, $25 mil)

3. OLB Anthony Spencer = contract comparable to Jason Babin (5 yr, $28 mil)

4. WR Laurent Robinson = contract for longer, but would cost less than Steve Smith in 2011 ($4 mil)

5. Free agent CB = contract could be done for less in 2012 than Vince Young cost in 2011 ($4 million)

6. Free Agent ILB = contract could be done comparable to Mathis + Jordan + Hunt ($2 mil)

7. Rex Grossman = costs about what Ronnie Brown cost ($1.15 million in 2011 v. $1 million for Brown)

8. FA Safety = No comparable

9. Punter = If McBriar, will cost more ($2 mil) than Chas Henry ($500K)

I think my plan could be done for no more than what Philly's plan cost them in 2011 because first year's of free agent contracts can always be structured to be no more than veteran minimums plus pro-rated signing bonuses. So, while I agree Carl Nicks will cost more than Nnamdi Asomougha over the life of the deal, he needn't cost any more in 2012. Meanwhile, Myers will cost less than Jenkins, Robinson will cost less than Smith, a free agent CB could be had for no more than Vince Young's 1 year cost, etc. etc.

The other thing I would note is that Philly spent a lot of money on mostly over-30 guys. Whereas my plan for the Cowboys would be to sign everyone under 30, with the lone exceptions of Chris Myers and Rex Grossman.

It's very doable in terms of cost for the Cowboys to implement this plan.