Archer: Updating Cowboys' free agency so far

Cotton

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Updating Cowboys' free agency so far
March, 23, 2015

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas – With free agency about to enter a third week let’s recap the Dallas Cowboys' activity so far.

LOST

LB Justin Durant -- Atlanta Falcons -- three years, $10.8 million ($3 million guaranteed) -- Cowboys weren’t going to pay this much for a player who played 16 games in two years.

LB Bruce Carter -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- four years, $17 million ($4.25 million guaranteed) -- Played well late in 2014 but inconsistencies in four seasons sealed his fate with Cowboys.

DT Henry Melton -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- one year, $3.75 million ($3.25 million guaranteed) -- Bucs hope reunion with Lovie Smith works better than reunion with Rod Marinelli did.

CB Sterling Moore -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- one year, $1.54 million -- Cowboys did not tender him a deal as restricted free agent, which was somewhat surprising.

RT Jermey Parnell -- Jacksonville Jaguars -- five years, $32 million ($14.5 million guaranteed) -- Cowboys cast their lot with Doug Free, a cheaper, better option.

RB DeMarco Murray -- Philadelphia Eagles -- five years, $40 million ($21 million guaranteed) -- Losing the reigning offensive player of the year is a big loss made bigger with him joining an NFC East rival.

DE George Selvie -- New York Giants -- one year, $1.4 million -- A rotational player with the Cowboys, he will be a rotational player with a division rival.

WR Dwayne Harris -- New York Giants -- five years, $17.5 million ($7.1 million guaranteed) -- Giants paid a big price for a top special teamer but one with just 33 career catches.

ADDED

DE Greg Hardy -- one year, $11.3 million (up to $13.1 million) -- Cowboys hedged their bets with a short deal, but off-field concerns made this a marriage of convenience.

LB Jasper Brinkley -- two years, $6 million ($2 million guaranteed) -- A solid run-down player that allows the Cowboys to look for help at other spots.

LB Andrew Gachkar -- two years $5.2 million ($1.2 million guaranteed) -- He is expected to be a core special teamer with the ability to be a potential starter

RB Darren McFadden -- two years, $3 million ($200,000 guaranteed) -- After a lackluster run in Oakland, he will get a chance to be part of a committee behind a top offensive line.

FB Jed Collins -- one year, $810,000 ($65,000 guaranteed) -- He brings some versatility to a position the Cowboys have not featured in years.

FB Ray Agnew -- one year -- Had a solid season in Cleveland, but will be fighting Collins for a roster spot.

RETAINED

WR Dez Bryant -- franchise tag, $12.823 million -- Cowboys have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal or he plays on the tag.

RT Doug Free -- three years, $15 million ($6 million guaranteed) -- The leader of the offensive line room returns at a decent price but will need time to recover from surgery.

WR Cole Beasley -- four years, $13.6 million ($7 million guaranteed) -- A restricted free agent, Cowboys kept Tony Romo happy by keeping one of his security blankets.

DT Nick Hayden -- one year, $745,000 -- He led the Cowboys’ defensive line in tackles in 2014 and has started the last 32 games.

P Chris Jones -- one year, $1.542 million -- A restricted free agent, he can still sign elsewhere but he has a strong leg but needs more consistency.

RB Lance Dunbar -- one year, $1.542 million -- A restricted free agent like Jones, he can be part of a committee approach in 2015.

REMAINING

LB Rolando McClain -- Considering the money spent on Brinkley, his return looks unlikely if he wants a big deal.

DE Anthony Spencer -- Cowboys have interest in keeping but he might find better opportunities somewhere else.

FB Tyler Clutts -- The additions of younger Collins and Agnew make him expendable.

OT Tony Hills -- With Parnell gone, he could be back to compete for the swing-tackle spot.

S C.J. Spillman -- A good special teamer, he might have a better chance elsewhere.

LB James Anderson -- The late-season pickup was for insurance the Cowboys no longer need.
 

Rev

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Dunbar and Jones retained = season saved.
 

Simpleton

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I still have no idea why we tendered Dunbar, a guy who played maybe 100 snaps last year, and not Moore, a guy who played around 400 or so.
 

boozeman

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I still have no idea why we tendered Dunbar, a guy who played maybe 100 snaps last year, and not Moore, a guy who played around 400 or so.
They obviously had something against Moore. Somebody did at least. Probably wasn't Marinelli since he turned up in Tampa.

Carter and Melton are the same way. You read that the "staff" was upset at these guys at various times.

Kind of makes you wonder. Who didn't like them? Who had them in the proverbial doghouse?
 

ravidubey

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Dunbar might be a hedge to see what shakes from the draft.

Moore was clearly something else, and the two moves shouldn't be associated with each other.

I don't think anyone is doing that but it looks like it since we always mention both moves together.
 

Cowboysrock55

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Moore was clearly something else, and the two moves shouldn't be associated with each other.

I don't think anyone is doing that but it looks like it since we always mention both moves together.
The reason they get brought up together is because the Cowboys supposedly wanted Moore back but weren't willing to pay him the salary to use the restricted tender. Obviously the Cowboys looked at Dunbar and wanted him back and felt like it was worth it at the restricted tender salary. Since there is a limited amount of resources and cap space it only goes to logic that one sort of replaced the other in a way.
 

boozeman

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FB Ray Agnew -- one year -- Had a solid season in Cleveland, but will be fighting Collins for a roster spot.
Totally inaccurate.

He was signed in September, waived before the end of October last year.

He started six games but then was cut for another FB off of Seattle's practice squad.

Not sure how that counts as a "solid season".
 

NoDak

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Obviously the Cowboys looked at Dunbar and wanted him back and felt like it was worth it at the restricted tender salary.
I don't agree. From what I understand, a tender isn't guaranteed until the season starts. This was a chance to hang on to him if we can't get anything else done at RB. If (when) we cut him during training camp, it won't cost us a dime.
 
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