Cowboys news: A potential Gerald McCoy return to Dallas would all depend on health

Mailbag: Worst-Case Scenario Heading Into the Draft? - Rob Phillips, David Helman

The Cowboys were hoping to have Gerald McCoy last season, but maybe they can get a re-do in 2021.

Regarding the Cowboys’ needs seemingly every year at DT, are the Cowboys willing to circle back and consider re-signing Gerald McCoy? Nice track record and price seemed right last year, maybe friendlier contract after the quad injury...can be a mentor for Gallimore and Hill. — NES NESTLE / SAMMAMISH, WA

Rob: This to me is a little like the “should Dallas be interested in J.J. Watt?” question we answered Monday. I think McCoy would be a great fit in terms of leadership and the defensive line rotation, provided he’s healthy. I’m not sure where he is with the injury, and remember, the quad was a previous issue for him because there was an injury waiver built into the contract last year. But just like last year, I agree he could be an asset to the interior line if healthy. It’s a shame that happened a week into camp.

David: Everything with McCoy just makes me think: “if he’s healthy.” I’d love to have him back on this team. He’s a good player, and he’s obviously a leader. It just depends on how well he has rehabbed. If his recovery has gone well, I’d be really happy to have him back on the team for 2021.

Once Jerry Jones comes to grips with losing the Dak Prescott negotiation, talks will become much easier - Jean-Jacques Taylor, DMN

Just get it over with, Jerry, and sign Dak.

Question: When is the last time a quarterback as good as Dak Prescott has had to bicker with a franchise to get his money?

Answer: Never.

In the past three years, we’ve seen franchises sign Russell Wilson, Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Tannehill, Deshaun Watson and Pat Mahomes to lucrative long-term deals.

Prescott? He’s still waiting, in part, because the Cowboys haven’t come to grips with the fact that they aren’t winning this negotiation. Once Jerry and Stephen Jones embrace that, hammering out an agreement will be easier.

Besides, when the TV contracts get reworked — most expire after the 2022 season — the league and teams will get an infusion of cash and the salary cap will swell. When it does, Prescott’s salary cap number won’t seem all that big.

Each day the Cowboys don’t get a deal done it costs them money because the price of a franchise quarterback never (ever) goes down.

3 & Out: 3 Offseason Priorities In Addition To Dak - Rob Phillips, The Mothership

CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs are on the right path, now what can the Cowboys get out of the rest of their 2020 draft?

Can third-round pick Neville Gallimore build on the progress he made as a midseason starter? Defensive tackle is a critical piece in new coordinator Dan Quinn’s defense, and improved play up front is the first step toward fixing the run defense.

Can fourth-round pick Tyler Biadasz reclaim the starting center job he had before his November hamstring injury? The decision to keep Joe Looney at center over Biadasz late in the season was probably as much about sustaining continuity on the offensive line as anything else.

Can fourth-round safety Reggie Robinson II and fifth-round defensive end Bradlee Anae, not used on defense last year, emerge in 2021? Xavier Woods and Aldon Smith are impending free agents at those positions. Maybe it’s a stretch to envision Robinson and Anae becoming major contributors in Year 2, but remember, Wilson played only 16 snaps his rookie season, so it’s not impossible with a fresh set of eyes on the defensive staff.

The Cowboys must decide if last year’s rookie class is ready to take the next step, or if precious cap space will need to be spent to fortify certain positions.

Atlanta Falcons release Ricardo Allen, Allen Bailey for salary-cap savings - ESPN

With Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt coming over from the Falcons, any player released from that system is worth considering in free agency. Especially at a position of need like safety.

In moves that free up $10.75 million in salary cap space, the Atlanta Falcons have released starting cornerback [safety] Ricardo Allen and defensive end Allen Bailey, it was announced Thursday.

The Falcons rank near the bottom of the NFL in salary cap space.

Allen, a four-time team captain, was coming off his sixth season with the Falcons after being selected in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. He had two interceptions, five passes defended and 25 tackles last season. Overall, he started 76 of 77 career games and has 11 interceptions.

He recovered after a torn Achilles tendon in Week 3 ended his 2018 season. He started all 16 games in 2019, when he was Atlanta’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

The team cleared $6.25 million in salary cap space by releasing Allen and another $4.5 million by cutting Bailey.

NFL players who could regress in 2021 - Chris Mueller, Yardbarker

Zeke’s rebound is on everybody’s mind.

Ezekiel Elliott

Elliott had his worst season, in terms of rushing yards per game, in 2020. A large part of that could be chalked up to Dak Prescott’s injury, but some of it may have had to do with Tony Pollard performing well when he got the chance. Elliott will still be Dallas’ feature back, but it’s worth wondering if the Cowboys might not see value in lessening his workload, and therefore his statistical output, in service of keeping two fresh backs available at all times. If they want an object lesson in how that can work well, they should look no further than their loss to the Browns last year.

What the Carson Wentz deal means for the Dallas Cowboys - Connor Green, The Landry Hat

Carson Wentz. Ha!

That trade has a handful of profound implications for the NFC East and the Dallas Cowboys. First, and perhaps most importantly, it means that a division title will likely be even more up for grabs for Dallas and the rest of the teams’ in the NFC East. It also means that if the Cowboys manage to re-sign their starting quarterback Dak Prescott that they will almost certainly head into 2021 with the best signal-caller in the division by a significant margin.

Another potential consequence of this move is that it makes the Eagles more likely to select a quarterback with the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft. That possibility should both concern and delight fans of Dallas because it means that some of the teams’ possible targets like cornerback Patrick Surtain II have a greater chance of falling to them at the tenth overall pick.

Wentz, who was benched last year after leading the Eagles to a 3-8-1 record in his twelve starts, struggled immensely last season. The former Pro Bowl quarterback led the league in interceptions in 2020 with fifteen despite not playing a quarter of the year. The former number two overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft had for years been in discussions as the best quarterback in the NFC East before his pitiful performance last year.

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