FanPost

Need to analyze cap situation before FA's and draft are meaningful.

According to Over the Cap, Boys are in about a $14mm cap hell situation. How do the cowboys address that situation so they can sign or re-sign free agents and have some money left over for "opportunities" that may arise. The table below show the significant contracts of signed players at least signed through 2022. It assumes a post June 1, 2022 cut. The cuts / restructured are a straw man at this point however I will address the "major" cuts below

Player

2022 Dead Money & Cap Savings

Cut

Restructured

Demarcus Lawrence

$8,000,000

$19,000,000

($19,000,000)

Amari Cooper

$2,000,000

$20,000,000

($2,000,000)

Dak Prescott

$34,450,000

$0

($5,000,000)

Zack Martin

$8,350,000

$11,841,000

($4,000,000)

Tyron Smith

$4,005,000

$13,500,000

($13,500,000)

$0

Ezekiel Elliott

$18,220,000

$0

$0

La'el Collins

$5,250,000

$10,000,000

$0

Anthony Brown

$1,500,000

$5,000,000

($5,000,000)

$0

Blake Jarwin

$1,000,000

$5,250,000

$0

Greg Zuerlein

$333,334

$2,500,000

($2,500,000)

$0

Jourdan Lewis

$1,166,666

$3,500,000

$0

Tarell Basham

$1,250,000

$1,750,000

($1,750,000)

$0

Keanu Neal

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

($1,000,000)

C.J. Goodwin

$400,000

$1,500,000

($1,500,000)

$0

Total

($44,250,000)

($11,000,000)

Cut 1 – Demarcus Lawrence – The above cap reflects an elite pass rusher which he is not these days, coupled with his recent injuries. Cut him, sign Gregory and draft a pass rusher. The ideal situation would be to get Tank and Amari to both take some cuts, not sure they will.

Cut 2 – Tyron Smith - Same thinking on Smith, he is not elite any more and the whole left side of the line is not good. Priority to draft a LT in the first round.

Cut 3 – AB – He is a luxury right now and CB is our deepest position. Would love however to get a restructure instead.

Rest of the cuts are necessary to have some money for free agents.

In the table below, you will see my suggested re-sign or signing of Free Agents.

Free Agents to sign??

Cap Hell 2022

FA Signings

Cuts

Restructured

Cap left

Mo Allie Cos

($7,000,000)

Cedrick Wilson

($2,000,000)

Kicker

($1,500,000)

Randy Gregory

($12,000,000)

Josey Jewell

($6,000,000)

Bryan Anger

($1,500,000)

Dorance Armstrong

($2,000,000)

Jayron Kearse

($5,000,000)

Total

($14,200,000)

($37,000,000)

$44,250,000

$11,000,000

$4,050,000

Several of the FA values came from Pro Football Focus (larger amounts), the smaller are a guestimate.

One of the favorites would be Schultz, but Cox is actually pretty good (even with Wentz as QB). Look at Cox’s write up on PFF. Cox per their analysis is about 3mm cheaper than Schultz. If they are more or less equal, then sign Schultz. I went with Jewell as he been a really good run stopper and will be cheaper than Vander Esch.

We need some money ($7.6mm) for rookies and other moves during the season.

One last note, I saw a change today in Over the Cap carryover from 2021 to $15mm, it was around $4mm but there was no corresponding change in the cap space for 2022.

Anyway, let the discussion begin!

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