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Watkins: Calvins Cowboys notes - Insight on Sean Lees position change, Connor Williams role and extension talks
By Calvin Watkins 3h ago
A casual observer would infer the Cowboys made a questionable decision in keeping linebacker Sean Lee on the roster. Last season, Lee lost his starting job to rookie Leighton Vander Esch, and after enduring hamstring injuries again, he played in just 21.4 percent of the defensive snaps. Recent developments, however, provide insight into their reasoning. According to a source, the Cowboys plan to move Lee from weak-side linebacker to the strong side.
When Lee was drafted in 2010, the Cowboys wanted him to play strongside linebacker. But hamstring issues prompted the team to move him to the weak side, where he could avoid heavy blockers and be relatively free to make plays. Lee has exceptional football IQ, and the Cowboys don’t want him off the field. The linebacker’s health has prevented that from being a consistent reality, but Dallas will do all it can to find snaps for the veteran. With this new plan, there’s a possibility Lee will start in the base defense.
Given how NFL teams utilize three- and four-receiver sets, Lee doesn’t expect to be on the field often in 2019. He’s not strong in coverage anymore, so assigning him to a tight end is a matchup disadvantage for the Cowboys. Damien Wilson, the Cowboys’ starting strongside linebacker last season, participated in 27.9 percent of the defensive snaps, slightly down from his participation in 2017 (30.7 percent).
On the surface, this seems like a smart move. The Cowboys get to keep a veteran linebacker who can mentor not only Vander Esch but middle linebacker Jaylon Smith as well. Lee also gives the Cowboys something coach Jason Garrett loves: position flexibility. The big question is the same as it’s always been: Can Lee stay healthy?
If the experiment doesn’t work out, the Cowboys will miss the $7 million they could have saved by releasing Lee. That money could have gone a long way this offseason, considering the franchise’s lengthy extension checklist. Dallas entered the offseason trying to lock up defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott, wide receiver Amari Cooper and cornerback Byron Jones to long-term deals.
Lawrence was eventually taken care of, signing a five-year, $105 million deal with $65 million guaranteed. Lawrence received the most guaranteed money in franchise history. Prescott’s looming contract is expected to surpass it.
It was essential for the Cowboys to save money wherever they could. But what the organization did was reduce Lee’s salary from a $7 million base to $2 million. Lee can also earn more money through incentives.
The Cowboys are gambling on Lee’s health. Lee was willing to reduce his salary to stick around and is also moving from the position he’s played most to help the team. It’s clear both sides wanted to make this work.
Lee, however, isn’t the only player who could potentially switch positions.
(Matthew Emmons / USA Today)
Connor Williams was the starting left guard in his rookie season until knee surgery — and the strong play of Xavier Su’a-Filo — prevented him from getting his job back. Williams, healthy and packing 10 extra pounds, could move to right tackle in 2020. Maybe even sooner.
The Cowboys expect to lose starting right tackle La’el Collins to free agency in 2020. Collins will make a $6.5 million base salary in 2019 and could draw significant interest from other teams next year. This spring, Oakland signed Trent Brown to a four-year, $66 million deal, the biggest contract for a right tackle in the NFL. The Cowboys do not want to pay big money to keep Collins and don’t want to go anywhere near Brown’s deal. But that contract and Collins’ pending free agency have forced the Cowboys into some interesting decisions. The Cowboys re-signed swing tackle Cam Fleming to a two-year deal, drafted Penn State guard Connor McGovern in the third round and placed pressure on Williams to get stronger. All that could lead to an interesting training camp, with McGovern, Su’a-Filo and Williams battling for the starting left guard spot. If McGovern wins the left guard job, Williams’ future at tackle would appear even more likely.
The Cowboys value Williams and may see him as a better long-term right tackle than a guard. Williams just needed to get stronger, which he’s done this offseason. The Coppell, Texas, native has all the measurables to play tackle in the NFL. He’s 6-foot-5 with 33-inch arms and 10.5-inch hands. Williams’ role, however, remains uncertain. It’s too early to determine if the Cowboys made a mistake in drafting Williams, but a position change in his second pro season could go a long way toward the Longhorn finding his long-term role in Dallas.
As the Cowboys enter the rookie minicamp this weekend, they do so with no recent progress on two potential contract extensions. Cooper and Prescott are next on the list of players the Cowboys plan on taking care of. A source said the team hasn’t moved further along with either one and that nothing is going on at this stage.
When the Cowboys extended Lawrence’s deal, they were on an unofficial clock due to Lawrence’s leverage in being able to delay shoulder surgery. Lawrence’s status is uncertain for Week 1 after undergoing the surgery last month, but there’s hope he could return in early September. Cooper and Prescott do not have a timetable, but multiple sources indicate the Cowboys would like to finalize those contracts before the start of the season.
By Calvin Watkins 3h ago
A casual observer would infer the Cowboys made a questionable decision in keeping linebacker Sean Lee on the roster. Last season, Lee lost his starting job to rookie Leighton Vander Esch, and after enduring hamstring injuries again, he played in just 21.4 percent of the defensive snaps. Recent developments, however, provide insight into their reasoning. According to a source, the Cowboys plan to move Lee from weak-side linebacker to the strong side.
When Lee was drafted in 2010, the Cowboys wanted him to play strongside linebacker. But hamstring issues prompted the team to move him to the weak side, where he could avoid heavy blockers and be relatively free to make plays. Lee has exceptional football IQ, and the Cowboys don’t want him off the field. The linebacker’s health has prevented that from being a consistent reality, but Dallas will do all it can to find snaps for the veteran. With this new plan, there’s a possibility Lee will start in the base defense.
Given how NFL teams utilize three- and four-receiver sets, Lee doesn’t expect to be on the field often in 2019. He’s not strong in coverage anymore, so assigning him to a tight end is a matchup disadvantage for the Cowboys. Damien Wilson, the Cowboys’ starting strongside linebacker last season, participated in 27.9 percent of the defensive snaps, slightly down from his participation in 2017 (30.7 percent).
On the surface, this seems like a smart move. The Cowboys get to keep a veteran linebacker who can mentor not only Vander Esch but middle linebacker Jaylon Smith as well. Lee also gives the Cowboys something coach Jason Garrett loves: position flexibility. The big question is the same as it’s always been: Can Lee stay healthy?
If the experiment doesn’t work out, the Cowboys will miss the $7 million they could have saved by releasing Lee. That money could have gone a long way this offseason, considering the franchise’s lengthy extension checklist. Dallas entered the offseason trying to lock up defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott, wide receiver Amari Cooper and cornerback Byron Jones to long-term deals.
Lawrence was eventually taken care of, signing a five-year, $105 million deal with $65 million guaranteed. Lawrence received the most guaranteed money in franchise history. Prescott’s looming contract is expected to surpass it.
It was essential for the Cowboys to save money wherever they could. But what the organization did was reduce Lee’s salary from a $7 million base to $2 million. Lee can also earn more money through incentives.
The Cowboys are gambling on Lee’s health. Lee was willing to reduce his salary to stick around and is also moving from the position he’s played most to help the team. It’s clear both sides wanted to make this work.
Lee, however, isn’t the only player who could potentially switch positions.
(Matthew Emmons / USA Today)
Connor Williams was the starting left guard in his rookie season until knee surgery — and the strong play of Xavier Su’a-Filo — prevented him from getting his job back. Williams, healthy and packing 10 extra pounds, could move to right tackle in 2020. Maybe even sooner.
The Cowboys expect to lose starting right tackle La’el Collins to free agency in 2020. Collins will make a $6.5 million base salary in 2019 and could draw significant interest from other teams next year. This spring, Oakland signed Trent Brown to a four-year, $66 million deal, the biggest contract for a right tackle in the NFL. The Cowboys do not want to pay big money to keep Collins and don’t want to go anywhere near Brown’s deal. But that contract and Collins’ pending free agency have forced the Cowboys into some interesting decisions. The Cowboys re-signed swing tackle Cam Fleming to a two-year deal, drafted Penn State guard Connor McGovern in the third round and placed pressure on Williams to get stronger. All that could lead to an interesting training camp, with McGovern, Su’a-Filo and Williams battling for the starting left guard spot. If McGovern wins the left guard job, Williams’ future at tackle would appear even more likely.
The Cowboys value Williams and may see him as a better long-term right tackle than a guard. Williams just needed to get stronger, which he’s done this offseason. The Coppell, Texas, native has all the measurables to play tackle in the NFL. He’s 6-foot-5 with 33-inch arms and 10.5-inch hands. Williams’ role, however, remains uncertain. It’s too early to determine if the Cowboys made a mistake in drafting Williams, but a position change in his second pro season could go a long way toward the Longhorn finding his long-term role in Dallas.
As the Cowboys enter the rookie minicamp this weekend, they do so with no recent progress on two potential contract extensions. Cooper and Prescott are next on the list of players the Cowboys plan on taking care of. A source said the team hasn’t moved further along with either one and that nothing is going on at this stage.
When the Cowboys extended Lawrence’s deal, they were on an unofficial clock due to Lawrence’s leverage in being able to delay shoulder surgery. Lawrence’s status is uncertain for Week 1 after undergoing the surgery last month, but there’s hope he could return in early September. Cooper and Prescott do not have a timetable, but multiple sources indicate the Cowboys would like to finalize those contracts before the start of the season.
