Dallas Cowboys Free Agents 2015, Who Do you Keep?

[Jiggyfly]

The following is a list of all notable Cowboys FA's next year, make a list of your top 5 must keep and your next 5 that you consider valuable.

This a surprisingly long list of people, I have highlighted my must keeps.

Melton is not a FA but a decision needs to made so include him.

PLAYER - UFA/RFA - AGE
Henry Melton-28
Dez Bryant - UFA - 25
Rolando McClain - UFA - 25
DeMarco Murray - UFA - 26
Bruce Carter - UFA - 26
Justin Durant - UFA - 29
Cole Beasley - RFA - 25
Doug Free - UFA - 30
Jeremy Parnell - UFA - 28
Anthony Spencer - UFA - 30
George Selvie - UFA - 27
Dwayne Harris - UFA - 27
Lance Dunbar - RFA - 24
Sterling Moore - UFA 24
Nick Hayden
Chris Jones
Tyler Clutts
Josh Brent
C.J. Spillman
Darrion Weems
Jack Crawford
Ron Leary RFA
Cameron Lawrence
Donald Hawkins
Lavar Edwards
Tony Hills
David Little

 

[Cotton]

Must keep:

Bryant
McClain
Free
Melton (restructure hopefully)
Murray (short-term deal and draft his replacement)

Valuable:

Durant
Spencer
Hayden
Moore
Leary

 

[Jiggyfly]

Must keep:

Bryant
McClain
Free
Melton (restructure hopefully)
Murray (short-term deal and draft his replacement)

Valuable:

Durant
Spencer
Hayden
Moore
Leary

If it came down to it I keep Leary over Melton.

But that could change if Melton takes it up a notch.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Must keep:

Bryant
McClain
Free
Melton (restructure hopefully)
Murray (short-term deal and draft his replacement)

Valuable:

Durant
Spencer
Hayden
Moore
Leary

The 9 mil would get prorated. So Melton costs 3 mil against the cap next year on that extension. I doubt that we are going to rework that any to get the figure lower.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

If it came down to it I keep Leary over Melton.

But that could change if Melton takes it up a notch.

Leary is a restricted free agent. Put a first round tender on him and don't look back. That's an easy one.

 

[Cotton]

The 9 mil would get prorated. So Melton costs 3 mil against the cap next year on that extension. I doubt that we are going to rework that any to get the figure lower.

That's not true. I looked it up. As it stands, his cap hit is just over 9 mill next year.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

That's not true. I looked it up. As it stands, his cap hit is just over 9 mill next year.

If Melton shows the Cowboys what they want to see — that he’s healthy and returns to his 2012 Pro Bowl form — he will get a fully guaranteed $9 million base salary in 2015. The Cowboys can prorate Melton’s $9.25 million cap hit in 2015 by dividing it equally over the last three seasons of his deal.




Melton’s base salaries for 2016 and 2017 are $7.5 million each season.

Melton would become an unrestricted free agent for the second consecutive off-season in 2015 if the Cowboys don’t pick up his three-year extension, and that would leave Dallas with $750,000 in dead money.

 

[Cotton]

The only way they can do that is to make his cap hit 10.75 mill in the second and third year of the contract unless they restructure. That's not happening.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

The only way they can do that is to make his cap hit 10.75 mill in the second and third year of the contract unless they restructure. That's not happening.

Well they obviously didn't intend the contract to count more against the cap in 2015 then in 2016 and 2017. With Ware's money coming totally off the books by 2016 and 2017 we can afford to pay a probowl DT that kind of money at the age of 28/29.

 

[Cotton]

Regardless, to prorate it, it would require a restructure to convert the base money into a signing bonus. So, a restructure would be required anyway.

 

[Cotton]

Well they obviously didn't intend the contract to count more against the cap in 2015 then in 2016 and 2017. With Ware's money coming totally off the books by 2016 and 2017 we can afford to pay a probowl DT that kind of money at the age of 28/29.

If they do that, and decide to cut him in 2016, there would be 6 mill in dead money on the books for that year. It would be dumb.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

If they do that, and decide to cut him in 2016, there would be 6 mill in dead money on the books for that year. It would be dumb.

Why would they cut him?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Regardless, to prorate it, it would require a restructure to convert the base money into a signing bonus. So, a restructure would be required anyway.

Not if it's built into the contract... I think it's great to want everyone on a cheapy contract but an elite 20 something DT on a 3 year 24 million dollar contract with a 9 mil signing bonus is a bargain.

 

[Cotton]

Why would they cut him?

Who knows what can happen over that span? I just don't see the restructure happening that. And they won't if they are smart.

 

[Cotton]

Not if it's built into the contract... I think it's great to want everyone on a cheapy contract but an elite 20 something DT on a 3 year 24 million dollar contract with a 9 mil signing bonus is a bargain.

It's not built into the contract. They would have to convert it from base salary to signing bonus to be able to prorate. That requires a new contract.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

It's not built into the contract. They would have to convert it from base salary to signing bonus to be able to prorate. That requires a new contract.

It's not technically a base salary since it is guaranteed. We do a lot of contracts just like that. Pretty sure the Cowboys had something very similar on Carr's contract.

 

[Cotton]

It's not technically a base salary since it is guaranteed. We do a lot of contracts just like that. Pretty sure the Cowboys had something very similar on Carr's contract.

It would require a restructure/new contract. Which I'm fine with given it is done properly.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

It would require a restructure/new contract. Which I'm fine with given it is done properly.

I don't think that's necessarily true but the point remains. Is he worth 3 years, 24 mil, with a 9 mil signing bonus? That's basically how the contract is structured for the extension. I'd say a 28 year old DT who could make another probowl this year would be worth it. Especially since the contract would basically cover his prime years and expire at about the perfect time.

 

[Cotton]

I don't think that's necessarily true but the point remains. Is he worth 3 years, 24 mil, with a 9 mil signing bonus? That's basically how the contract is structured for the extension. I'd say a 28 year old DT who could make another probowl this year would be worth it. Especially since the contract would basically cover his prime years and expire at about the perfect time.

Fair enough. I don't think I'm ready to commit to 10+ mill per year in the last two years of the contract just yet. Let him play more snaps, and remain productive and I would definitely consider it. But, as it stands right now, I'm not to that point.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Fair enough. I don't think I'm ready to commit to 10+ mill per year in the last two years of the contract just yet. Let him play more snaps, and remain productive and I would definitely consider it. But, as it stands right now, I'm not to that point.

Well of course. I mean the guy could tear his ACL tomorrow and I'd say hell no to giving him that extension. If he continues on his current trajectory I don't know how you wouldn't offer him that extension. Right now the guy is on pace for 8 sacks but given how he has gotten better as the year has gone on I could see him easily surpassing that number.