Watkins: Is Henry Melton in the Cowboys' future?

Cotton

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Is Henry Melton in the Cowboys' future?

January, 15, 2014

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com


ESPN's Mike Sando writes about the Top 25 free agents for the offseason on a ESPN Insider column, and one name should interest Cowboys fans: Henry Melton.

Writes Sando on Melton: "This one is complicated by the ACL injury Melton suffered during the season. A recent arrest presents another issue to navigate."

With the Cowboys most likely letting Jason Hatcher walk away in free agency, his replacement along the defensive line could be Melton, who is nearly four years younger.

Hatcher had a fantastic season for the Cowboys, and he's expecting a big-money deal in free agency, but the Cowboys' salary-cap issues will prevent them from making a move on him.

It could lead to Melton, whose health and legal issues might impact what he commands on the free agent market. The Chicago Bears missed Melton's presence last season in the heart of the defensive line, and with Cowboys line coach Rod Marinelli having coached Melton previously, it seems like a good fit.

However, the Cowboys have, as we've said, cap issues, so cutting some players and moving money around to clear cap space is a must if Melton is to sign his name to a contract.

The biggest move in this regard might come in letting DeMarcus Ware go, which would free up nearly $7 million in cap space. The Cowboys are roughly $30 million over the cap for 2014, and they'll get under it, but whether they have enough money to make a run at a Melton is uncertain.

Of course, Melton, because he's younger, might ask for more money than Hatcher, and though he's coming off a torn ACL, it appears Melton will make a full recovery.

Upgrading the roster is a must for the Cowboys, especially on defense, and to do this, getting players like Melton, if the cap space allows, would be a good first step in that direction.
 

Smitty

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Would be a nice pick up but I'm concerned about how much money we could offer.

Also concerned because we need 2 DTs, not 1.
 

Bluestar71

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I would rather just build through the draft than blow large amounts of tight cap space in FA. We're not close enough to being a contender where that one big time player in FA will make a difference.
 

Smitty

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I would rather just build through the draft than blow large amounts of tight cap space in FA. We're not close enough to being a contender where that one big time player in FA will make a difference.
I agree, but it's hard to even function if you don't have NFL players, especially along the lines, and we just don't. We don't need high level guys but we need some bodies that are better than what we had.

It doesn't need to be Melton but we should make an effort to sign a couple DLs if possible, which would neither necessitate NOR preclude us taking them in the draft, in that case.
 

lostxn

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I think I'm onboard with axing Ware. He's on the downhill slide. This team isn't doing anything next year. There is no way any moves we make next year will do anything but maintain and status quo. Might as well clean house of bad contracts. We're getting rid of Austin and Ratliff. We're still saddled with Romo's, Ware's, Witten's and Carr's. Of these four, Romo and Ware are the most beat-up but Romo is still very productive and might well be better next year. Not sure at all Ware will bounce back.

We might even get something for trading Ware to a 3-4 team (which is where he should be anyway).
 

Cotton

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I think I'm onboard with axing Ware. He's on the downhill slide. This team isn't doing anything next year. There is no way any moves we make next year will do anything but maintain and status quo. Might as well clean house of bad contracts. We're getting rid of Austin and Ratliff. We're still saddled with Romo's, Ware's, Witten's and Carr's. Of these four, Romo and Ware are the most beat-up but Romo is still very productive and might well be better next year. Not sure at all Ware will bounce back.

We might even get something for trading Ware to a 3-4 team (which is where he should be anyway).
Problem with trading him is no team is going to take on his contract.
 
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