FanPost

Who Do You Pay? 2019-2021

The cap situation looks healthy in 2019. However, a number of players are due extensions in the next three seasons. Who would you spend the money on?

2019 - Projected $55M in space

Going into the 2019 offseason, there are three players that should be considered top priority to commit to. These players all happen to play in high priced positions. The front office will consider them as cornerstone players to build around since it required the use of premium capital to acquire them - via draft, by trade, and to eventually retain through extension. Look for the following players to get long term "team-friendly" deals:

D. Lawrence ($18M)

A. Cooper ($16M)

B. Jones ($14M)

Other notable free agents to consider: C. Beasley, G. Swaim, D. Irving

Unless Stephen Jones pulls a rabbit out of a hat by signing Lawrence and Cooper to extensions that bucks the current trend of "the next man up" getting paid higher than the last, then both will are likely to be paid according to the top 3 players at their position. I’ve seen some projections by some amazing writers and fans that suggest Tank will get $14M yearly. I believe that projection goes beyond wishful thinking. Strap in. He’s getting paid more than Olivier Vernon. Earmark roughly $18M of that $55M to go to arguably the best DE in the entire league the last two seasons.

If Dallas was willing to pay Sammy Watkins $14M per year, I’d assume they’d be fine with paying a better player in Cooper more than that in his eventual extension. Cooper is already accounting for $14M of the space in 2019 as he plays on the 5th year option Oakland exercised. However, Dallas didn’t give up a first round pick for a rental. Lock him in at some point.

I added in Byron Jones as a potential guy to extend early. He is already accounted for. Like Cooper, he too will be playing under the 5th year option (btw, his cap hit is based on the Safety scale since he’s played the majority of his career at that position). However, it may be a consideration to go ahead and extend him before the corner prices continue to go rise after ‘19. I think he’s a No. 1 corner in this league. Cooper is a No. 1 WR and so is Tank at DE. You simply have to pay up at these premium positions. The key will be how Stephen works those deals and when their largest cap hits will occur. Sometimes contracts are constructed knowing that restructuring is likely to occur at some point.

For the 2019 squad, this means some well respected players will say goodbye. It’s natural. Even with the cap seemingly healthy, the front office may be faced with clearing up more space/roster spots for up and coming players.

2017 saw Tony Romo in the booth.

2018 saw Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and Dan Bailey depart.

In 2019, we might witness another Cowboy favorite ride into the sunset... Sean Lee.

2020 could potentially see Tyrone Crawford released for cap relief and Tyron Smith gone due to [no jinx] . It’s hard to look ahead, but good franchises must.

My gut tells me that the following guys may be released to create cap and roster space ... savings if cut (dead money):

S. Lee $7M savings ($3.075)

A. Hurns $5M savings ($1.25)

T. Williams $2.25M savings ($2.5)

J. Thomas $2M savings ($300K)

That’s $16.25M of space opened up.

Why release Lee? 54 and 55 are the present and future. Unfortunately, General Lee has had a hard time staying healthy. $11.075M is too much to eat for a guy that already has his replacement on the team and balling out. Covington and Wilson seem like nice LBs to keep around behind 54 and 55. Dallas always uses a late rounder on the position. I’d even understand if Thomas is retained.

Why release Hurns and Williams? At WR, Cooper, Gallup, and Beasley are a nice trio trot out. Lenoir and N. Brown have an upper hand on others they’d bring in to compete for the 4-7 spots. At this point, Hurns may still have an upside as he’s starting to get his legs under him. Don’t forget this is his first year back from an ACL tear. However, would he be that hard to replace by a cheaper player?

2019 Biggest needs - TE, S, DL

I have a feeling that a vet should be considered at S. If it’s Earl Thomas the hope is that what he has left in the tank is better than what 25 and 38 has now. Plus, the price tag shouldn’t be as big as it would have been before his injury. If pulling in ET occurs, it’d allow them to go into the draft without forcing their hand on the position.

After the Cooper deal, I believe the greatest need shifted to finding a play making TE. Maybe they search for one in free agency. Maybe they also look for one early in the draft. My guess is for us to watch for one of their day 2 picks to go towards TE. Dak needs a guy to work the middle. That’ll be his security blanket.

I still would like a higher priority to be placed on DT, especially since I fear Irving will be a guy they let walk. This draft class is LOADED with DTs. I have 10 of them in my early top 40. Like always, DTs fall in the draft. Also, I’d always welcome a DE. 90 needs help. Taco’s development doesn’t leave me to believe he’d be that guy. Armstrong may be the permanent starter opposite of 90. I like what I see there. Randy is Randy. As loaded as the draft class is at DT, it’s equally stacked at DE. It wouldn’t bother me one bit to snag one earlier than what most would want.

My guess for 2019:

Stephen and Jerry will semi-go-all-in.

- 90, 19, 11, and 31 will be homegrown guys to pay.

- Earl Thomas and a vet TE will join the squad as big fish free agents.

- They will bank on OL meshing together. They will trust in 52 and 71 to ride it out.

- Dak gets his extension but his cap hit will not be astronomical yet.

- Eerie feeling another big fish FA will be had. Get ready.

- TE, DL, and S are the first 3 picks.

But What about Dak? Wait until 2020!

Real short- They can do whatever they want. Seems like he’s getting the early extension based on Jerry’s comments. I haven’t seen much in his play to make that call now. I’m all for letting him try to prove getting a $100M+ extension after putting in four years of work, not three. Why jump the gun now? I’d rather risk having to pay him a couple million more per year because he balled out in 2019, than see him get a mega deal and produce similar to what we’ve witnessed the last season and a half.

Other 2020 Cowboys decisions - Will La’el Collins be worth extending? Will Tyrone Crawford be worth a cap hit of $9.1M or do they release him to save $8M?

Unpopular Decision? - Ezekiel Elliott

Will Zeke’s situation come close to Le’Veon Bell’s? 2021 could see Dallas with many double digit salaries taking up slices of the cap - QB, DE, WR, LT, RG, C, CB. Jaylon Smith and Chidobe Awuzie are scheduled to be unrestriced. Do not be surprised if Zeke isn’t a two contract player. Heck, don’t be surprised if he is. Just get ready for hard decisions on some familiar faces.

Looking ahead actually makes me realize how healthy the roster and cap situation is for Dallas. Looks like a promising future.

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.