Dallas Cowboys 2022 Offseason Thread -- Every Time Jerrah Talks, an Angel Sheds Their Wings

[mdmost 43,055]

Why do I feel like this year was the window and we've yet again missed it. 

[youdunnf'dup 2,147]

1 minute ago, Texzilla58 said:

To get a fifth round pick after basically telling the world you’re cutting his sorry ass says someone did some selling. I figured he would have gone to Vegas or Rams had he been cut.

I agree with that actually. I have a feeling a few teams were fighting for him though and that was our best offer from an afc team 

[LTtxfan 49,368]

Hopefully Cowboys make a couple of good picks with these two Cleveland picks that they receive from the Browns.

Poor Amari going to Cleveland from Dallas -- that's gotta suck.  😋

[Loch Ness Monster 3,533]

Baker sucks

[Message Board User 12,396]

1 minute ago, Loch Ness Monster said:

Baker sucks

May not be Baker next year...just sayin.

 

['stache 21,887]

Do other teams fans squabble over salary cap stuff like they know what they’re talking about as much as Cowboys fans? Legitimately curious. I maintain that nobody truly understands salary caps. I know I don’t and I really don’t care. Just get players. The reason we’ve been close to success recently is that we’re hitting on draft picks better in recent years. Our coaches still suck shit though.

[LTtxfan 49,368]

With all their cap issues, should Dallas re-sign Gallup who just injured his ACL in January ??

Maybe consider using that money elsewhere...  

Quote

By trading Cooper, the Cowboys clear $16 million in cap space. He leaves behind $6 million in dead money, which is still much less than his $22 million cap hit for 2022.  The trade will become official on March 16 when the new league year begins.

This gives Dallas some extra money to use on a receiver such as Michael Gallup, who they’re working to re-sign ahead of free agency.

 

[Sgt Hulk 13,841]

21 minutes ago, LTtxfan said:

Hopefully Cowboys make a couple of good picks with these two Cleveland picks that they receive from the Browns.

Poor Amari going to Cleveland from Dallas -- that's gotta suck.  😋

I can’t wait to draft a center from eastern Kentucky with the 5th. And a full back from Abilene Christian in the 6th 

[TonyTexas 10,532]

Was Cooper’s 3 seasons and a 2022 5th rounder worth $54M and a 1st rounder? (2019 27th pick)

Edited March 12, 2022 by TonyTexas

[lilMAC25 3,821]

55 minutes ago, Mo Horn said:

So instead they should have just cut him, which they were going to do, and get nothing? Nobody was going to trade a decent pick for him. 

They shouldn’t have let it out that they were thinking about cutting him, then maybe they could have gotten more.

[Vic Mackey 47,159]

Why do I feel like this year was the window and we've yet again missed it. 

We will never have a true window with the carnie gypsy Jones family running things. More like a peephole every 5 years where we need every thing possible to go our way just to even win a wild card game.

Any other team worth a damn keeps it's best players with ease. Even with paying huge contracts.

[Mo Horn 8,855]

25 minutes ago, lilMAC25 said:

They shouldn’t have let it out that they were thinking about cutting him, then maybe they could have gotten more.

That's a fair point, however the whole league can do math, and he was the most logical to be cut. It wasn't much of a secret.

[EvilCaseMcCoy 691]

Zeke sells a lot of jerseys

['stache 21,887]

48 minutes ago, TonyTexas said:

Was Cooper’s 3 seasons and a 2022 5th rounder worth $54M and a 1st rounder? (2019 27th pick)

Yes. Not my money and he improved our offense drastically. 

[TexasGary 849]

1 hour ago, Sgt Hulk said:

I can’t wait to draft a center from eastern Kentucky with the 5th. And a full back from Abilene Christian in the 6th 

I can't wait to watch said center and full back cut before the end of training camp.

[taybo20 2,878]

Welp...whatever. 

[TonyTexas 10,532]

1 hour ago, 'stache said:

Yes. Not my money

That sentiment is fine in MLB. But NFL payrolls are essentially fixed and thus salaries are a zero sum game. 

[Catdaddyhorn 3,447]

Not quite.  There's plenty of room to maneuver under the cap by changing salaries to bonus money, voidable years,  and a number of other methods of massaging the cap to a teams benefit.  Cap Boy got burned in the late 90s and never recovered from his unyielding fear of the cap and thus runs from it like it's the plague.  

Edited March 12, 2022 by Catdaddyhorn

[lilMAC25 3,821]

1 hour ago, 'stache said:

Yes. Not my money and he improved our offense drastically. 

This.

 

 

the prospect of Dallas offense without a Cooper type WR is pretty frightening.

[DougO 5,256]

3 hours ago, mdmost said:

Why do I feel like this year was the window and we've yet again missed it. 

There is not window that includes McCarthy and Kellen Moore. There will be no window until there is leadership and a staff that knows what they're doing and isn't ten years behind every other team in the league.

[DougO 5,256]

Browns gonna Brown. Wish they could have gotten at least a 4, but OK. 

[DougO 5,256]

If I could have picked any team in the NFL for Cooper to go to so Dallas would have few to no regerts, the Browns would be in my top 3. 

[DougO 5,256]

The Browns have become the Cowboys but in a shitty town and shitty uniforms.

[DougO 5,256]

I guess we expect a huge breakout year for Donovan Peoples-Jones.

[Sgt Hulk 13,841]

Gonna be cool to see CD double covered as Noah brown and some guy drafted in the 4th round from wofford called up off the practice squad get the other 185 yards passing per game we are gonna average 

['stache 21,887]

2 hours ago, Catdaddyhorn said:

Not quite.  There's plenty of room to maneuver under the cap by changing salaries to bonus money, voidable years,  and a number of other methods of massaging the cap to a teams benefit.  Cap Boy got burned in the late 90s and never recovered from his unyielding fear of the cap and thus runs from it like it's the plague.  

This. There are so many exceptions and maneuvers that I don’t even know what’s what anymore, especially with non guaranteed contracts and constant changes to contracts to “create cap space.” I don’t even know what an nfl contract even means at this point. People who work for teams in this area can manipulate it in smart ways. Our leaders are idiots and will never get it right.

[Texzilla58 4,744]

Gonna be cool to see CD double covered as Noah brown and some guy drafted in the 4th round from wofford called up off the practice squad get the other 185 yards passing per game we are gonna average 

It’s a deep draft for WRs. I don’t have an issue with what will McClay will deliver from the draft. I am a big Cooper fan but he’s not producing anywhere close to his contract. Too bad zeke is not on the same structure so they could shitcan him.

It doesn’t matter. As long as this team has McCarthy and his clown show offensive coaching crew it won’t matter. I expect them to win the east again and lose in first round again.

[SurlyBDR 22,850]

[LTtxfan 49,368]

4 hours ago, DougO said:

If I could have picked any team in the NFL for Cooper to go to so Dallas would have few to no regerts, the Browns would be in my top 3. 

"Other 2"  por favor ??

[Bodhi 1,124]

7 hours ago, Vic Mackey said:

More like a peephole every 5 years where we need every thing possible to go our way just to even win a wild card game.

Gloryhole

[youdunnf'dup 2,147]

1 hour ago, Texzilla58 said:

It’s a deep draft for WRs. I don’t have an issue with what will McClay will deliver from the draft. I am a big Cooper fan but he’s not producing anywhere close to his contract. Too bad zeke is not on the same structure so they could shitcan him.

It doesn’t matter. As long as this team has McCarthy and his clown show offensive coaching crew it won’t matter. I expect them to win the east again and lose in first round again.

That’s not him not getting open though. That’s Kellen and Dak not getting him the fucking ball. But I agree for the most part. 

[Catdaddyhorn 3,447]

1 hour ago, Texzilla58 said:

It’s a deep draft for WRs. I don’t have an issue with what will McClay will deliver from the draft. I am a big Cooper fan but he’s not producing anywhere close to his contract. Too bad zeke is not on the same structure so they could shitcan him.

It doesn’t matter. As long as this team has McCarthy and his clown show offensive coaching crew it won’t matter. I expect them to win the east again and lose in first round again.

A WR needs the targets to produce.  We refuse to utilize our playmakers in this offense.  But at least we'll have cap space.  Hopefully cap space will go for 1100 yards and 14 TDs next year. 

[lilMAC25 3,821]

1 hour ago, Texzilla58 said:

It’s a deep draft for WRs. I don’t have an issue with what will McClay will deliver from the draft. I am a big Cooper fan but he’s not producing anywhere close to his contract. Too bad zeke is not on the same structure so they could shitcan him.

It doesn’t matter. As long as this team has McCarthy and his clown show offensive coaching crew it won’t matter. I expect them to win the east again and lose in first round again.

That’s not what Dallas does. Expect a 8-9 or so season in the year following a decent season.

Edited March 13, 2022 by lilMAC25

[futureman 22,550]

2 hours ago, Texzilla58 said:

It’s a deep draft for WRs. I don’t have an issue with what will McClay will deliver from the draft. I am a big Cooper fan but he’s not producing anywhere close to his contract. Too bad zeke is not on the same structure so they could shitcan him.

It doesn’t matter. As long as this team has McCarthy and his clown show offensive coaching crew it won’t matter. I expect them to win the east again and lose in first round again.

Lulz

[Catdaddyhorn 3,447]

 

[nnm 36,661]

On 3/4/2022 at 6:51 PM, futureman said:

the blame is on dak. every facet of the offense around him was more than solid. we sucked because he touched the ball on every play.

he is the single biggest fraud in professional sports. 

[lilMAC25 3,821]

1 hour ago, nnm said:

[Get ln My Van 927]

I wouldn’t sleep on Malik Turner being our number 3

[LTtxfan 49,368]

8 hours ago, Catdaddyhorn said:

 

 

Yeah I'm not sold on committing big long-term money to injured WR either.

Thought this was interesting...

 

[LTtxfan 49,368]

Ranking the Cowboys offensive position groups based on need before free agency and the draft

While the Cowboys seemingly have a decent number of holes on offense, which position groups does Dallas need to prioritize?

By AidanDavis@aidan1214  Mar 13, 2022, 8:00am CDT  

Quote

Free agency and the draft both attempt to achieve the same goal - fill the biggest needs on your team with the best players to hopefully put yourself in a position to succeed. It’s not rocket science. And while speculation about who is the best player and what is the biggest need can vary, the objective remains consistent.

But while there is always an attempt to rank the “best players” by means of a draft or free agency big board, the same attention is not paid to the first facet of the objective. So, of every offensive position, what are the Dallas Cowboys’ biggest holes?

7.) Quarterback

Players ranked inside the top 25% of PFF grading: Dak Prescott

Players leaving in free agency: None

Percent of 2022 cap committed to position: 9.43%

This ranking shouldn’t come as any surprise and it needs little explanation.

However you feel about Prescott, you should agree that quarterback might be the one position that does not need to be addressed whatsoever on offense. Prescott is the quarterback for 2022.

The only way this will change is if the Dallas Cowboys needed to address the backup QB position. But with Cooper Rush’s performance in the Vikings game, he proved to be a middle-of-the-road backup. He won’t be courted to compete for a starting position, but he is, in the purest sense of the word, okay at what he does.

6.) Running Back

Players ranked inside the top 25% of PFF grading: Tony Pollard

Players leaving in free agency: Corey Clement

Percent of 2022 cap committed to position: 9.97%

The running back position might become a high priority in 2023. With Pollard set to become a free agent and Ezekiel Elliott’s contract being more flexible in a year, both running backs could end up playing elsewhere two seasons from now.

But in 2022, the position does not need to be addressed.

The only reason RB is ranked slightly higher than quarterback is actually due to the fact that Corey Clement is leaving. While his departure shouldn’t keep Cowboys fans up at night, Dallas might need to add a third running back to the roster.

But at the same time, maybe JaQuan Hardy fills this role, given the RB3 is relatively unimportant when you have Elliott and Pollard on the roster. So, obviously not a pressing need, but if the Cowboys sign a running back to the vet minimum or use a day three pick on the position, don't be surprised.

However, RB is another position the Cowboys can essentially forget about for now.

5.) Tight End

Players ranked inside the top 25% of PFF grading: Dalton Schultz

Players leaving in free agency: None

Percent of 2022 cap committed to position: 8.35%

Before Friday, this position could have ranked sixth. But now Dallas needs to focus on long-term need. Because Schultz is now on a one-year contract, and Jarwin has been waived.

And the nature of the TE position is that it takes players a couple of years to acclimate from college to the NFL. Thus, if the Cowboys want to add a TE that they feel comfortable potentially starting next year, they need to draft that player now. Meaning it will take some capital.

But the more likely outcome is that Schultz ends up signing a long-term deal and Dallas continues to fill the TE2 position with Sean McKeon and players that sign at the veteran minimum. Even if that isn’t the case, given other pressing needs the Cowboys need to address, tight end is at the bottom of the totem pole.

Thus, if the Cowboys want to focus on the long-term they can use a little capital this offseason with a day two or early day three pick, otherwise, they are still set at the position for 2022. Meaning that TE is essentially on the same tier as the running back situation now that Schultz has been tagged.

4.) Wide Reciever

Players ranked inside the top 25% of PFF grading: CeeDee Lamb

Players leaving in free agency: Cedrick Wilson, Michael Gallup, and Malik Turner

Percent of 2022 cap committed to position: 13.04%

While you might not agree with it, the wide receiver position ranks closer to tight end by need than any of the top three positions. With CeeDee Lamb and presumably Michael Gallup soon, Dallas is still armed with two solid wide receivers.

Yes, they will have to add a WR3, but other than that, this position is still in a relatively good place. Cowboys fans are used to having three borderline wide receiver ones on the roster, as has been the case for the last two years. But the reality is that in the NFL, most teams don't have the same fortune.

To put this into perspective, Dallas had four receivers rank inside the top-50 PFF offensive grading. Other than the Cowboys, only four NFL teams had more than two players rank inside the top-50. And Tampa Bay was the only other team with four.

So, even with Cooper gone, it doesn’t mean they suddenly need to burn a first-round pick on a receiver. They can add a receiver for less than $5 million and still be fine. Obviously, fans would prefer to have three solid options, but the reality is that such a situation is often unattainable.

This is not a pressing need. Adding a third option is necessary, but that player can be on the level of Adam Humphries or Zach Pascal. Four solid options is often unattainable and three is hard to do. So, even if Cooper or Gallup leave, receiver doesn't automatically become the most pressing need.

Obviously, this all hinges on the assumption that Gallup is being retained. But with Cooper gone, that assumption is all but a formality at this point. But without Gallup, this is a much different conversation.

3.) Center

Players ranked inside the top 25% of PFF grading: None

Players leaving in free agency: None

Percent of 2022 cap committed to position: .85%

If you are paying attention, the top three biggest needs on offense will all be found on the line. But the least of these three is the center position, and more specifically Tyler Biadasz.

It is unclear if Biadasz is the answer. He definitely improved from 2020, and he improved within 2021 as well. In his first nine games, Biadasz was the 24th ranked center by PFF, allowing 14 quarterback pressures and three quarterback hits. But over his last nine games, he was the sixteenth ranked center surrendering seven pressures and one quarterback hit.

But the question remains, is this improvement enough? He still finished 2021 ranked outside the top half of centers, including the most penalties among the position. He also finished tied for eleventh with the most pressures allowed. But he is a solid run blocker and he played in all 18 games this season.

But is that enough? Are the Cowboys comfortable walking into 2022 with an average center? The most likely answer is yes, which is understandable given Biadasz’s improvement. But at the very least they need to add a backup given there isn't a true backup center on the roster.

However, the fact that Dallas can walk into next season with Biadasz means there are more pressing needs on the offensive line. But they have to consider the possibility that Biadasz isn't the answer and at least add depth. Because this is an important position that has been ignored since Travis Fredrick left.

2.) Tackle

Players ranked inside the top 25% of PFF grading: Tyron Smith, La’el Collins

Players leaving in free agency: Ty Nsekhe, Mitch Hyatt

Percent of 2022 cap committed to position: 16.1%

Dallas might have to replace both ends of the offensive line in the next few years for two different reasons.

Tyron Smith, who finished as a top-two graded tackle for just the second time in his career, once again dealt with injuries in 2021. That marks the sixth straight season where Smith has missed time and failed to eclipse 1,000 snaps in a season. It might be time to find his replacement because his durability is becoming a real issue. When he is inevitably out and the Cowboys have to shuffle the line, it ushers in a lot of problems.

On the other side of the ball, the right tackle position is just as messy. La’el Collins has been rumored to be on the trade block, and if you're benching a $50 million tackle, it might make sense. But if you trade or cut Collins, that means Terence Steele becomes the de facto starting RT.

Steele is young and has promise. And he might even be the answer in 2022 if Collins is traded. But he also finished in the bottom half of the league by nearly every meaningful blocking metric, landing as the 60th ranked tackle by PFF grading (out of 88).

So, Collins is a somewhat-decent tackle to have, Steele will never be exceptional but he can fill in if need be. But when you pair the uncertainty at right tackle with the fact that Smith’s health is an issue, tackle suddenly becomes a true need. But if Collins isn't released, tackle can technically wait another year if need be, and thus it isn't the number one priority.

1.) Guard

Players ranked inside the top 25% of PFF grading: Zack Martin, Connor Williams

Players leaving in free agency: Connor Williams

Percent of 2022 cap committed to position: 7.03%

The final two positions are a toss-up. In fact, tackle and guard were switched a few times when building this list. But in considering need, it boils down to “which position do the Cowboys need to address.” And for the offense, that is none more true than guard.

Zack Martin is 31, and he is no spring chicken, but there is zero evidence in his play that his output will decline any time soon. Martin just finished 2021 ranked as the best guard in the NFL, and he is about as durable as they come, with 2020 being the sole exception.

But obviously, this argument isn’t about Martin.

Connor Williams is a free agent this year. And with the Cowboys cap situation paired with Williams’ output, it doesn't seem like Dallas is rushing to re-sign him. That pretty much only leaves Connor McGovern left at left guard on the roster unless Dallas knows something about Braylon Jones that we do not.

And McGovern is not the answer. He allowed three more pressures, one more quarterback hurry, two more quarterback hits, and the same amount of sacks as Williams despite playing nearly half as many snaps. And keep in mind this is in comparison to Williams, not Zack Martin.

McGovern is a great player to use in Kellen Moore’s specialty packages, coming in to run fullback and he is a solid depth piece. But he is not the answer, and the Cowboys need to invest first-round draft capital to ensure the line is fixed in 2022. And guard is the most evident hole.

It should be an interesting free agency period and draft season. Given the Cowboys' lack of cap space and relatively weak draft capital, they won't be able to fill every need on the team. Thus, they have to prioritize only the biggest holes, which are primarily found on the offensive line.

But things are always changing with Jerry and Stephen Jones at the helm, so this list could look very different in a few months.

Hope Cowboys find a couple offensive linemen in this draft to help...

[DougO 5,256]

12 hours ago, LTtxfan said:

"Other 2"  por favor ??

Jets and Jags. Maybe Panthers, Lions and/or Dolphins in a given week.

[DougO 5,256]

1 hour ago, LTtxfan said:

 

Yeah I'm not sold on committing big long-term money to injured WR either.

Thought this was interesting...

 

 

Yep. And even when he doesn't miss a game, it's sometimes hard to tell. It's a pattern.

 

[Patrick Bateman 3,933]

21 hours ago, mdmost said:

Why do I feel like this year was the window and we've yet again missed it. 

Strangely this feels like the Cowboys brass (one of the dumbest in the league) is treating this offseason like a soft rebuild..... like a reload and shedding salary for something.  What?  No idea.

21 hours ago, Message Board User said:

May not be Baker next year...just sayin.

 

Very doubtful Cleveland trades him in conference.  This feels like a pipe dream..... like Pittsburgh.

18 hours ago, Catdaddyhorn said:

Not quite.  There's plenty of room to maneuver under the cap by changing salaries to bonus money, voidable years,  and a number of other methods of massaging the cap to a teams benefit.  Cap Boy got burned in the late 90s and never recovered from his unyielding fear of the cap and thus runs from it like it's the plague.  

Stephen doesn't seem to understand the difference between economic prudence and economic consternation.  He's always a day late and dollar short.  We don't have vision, we can't time anything correctly, even paying core players.  

10 hours ago, Catdaddyhorn said:

 

This is the weirdness of it all..... we're probably going to give 50m to an injured and inferior WR.  I wonder if Cooper balked at restructuring.

 

Edited March 13, 2022 by Patrick Bateman

[Texzilla58 4,744]

I would only take Gallup on a one year prove it. If he gets a better deal elsewhere then bye. Get a healthy free agent and draft a couple.

Don Hutson and Jerry Rice would suck with Moore and this coaching staff.

[Chad 1,728]

 

[youdunnf'dup 2,147]

 

[Sgt Hulk 13,841]

That’ seems like a lot. And over pay. But it’s Dallas 

[Post Oak 20,277]

I guess it depends on guarantees but at first blush I don't like it.

[youdunnf'dup 2,147]

$12.4 mil a year is about right. If he stays healthy of course 

[LTtxfan 49,368]

1 hour ago, youdunnf'dup said:

 

Hope there are injury clauses that reduces the cap hit. 

Gallup 's best season was 2019 -- was banged up last year then tore acl in Jan 2022.