Potential off-season plans have been a major topic of debate since…well…Thanksgiving? While the Cowboys don’t have many major players ready to hit free agency, there are some controversial ones, mainly Greg Hardy, Rolando McClain and Morris Claiborne.
The needs on this team happen to align with what they are losing. The addition of Greg Hardy was key, as before he was added defensive end was one of the biggest needs on the team. It may end up a case of not knowing what you got until it’s gone if Greg Hardy leaves and isn’t replaced. There is a certain something that comes with having a proven veteran presence on your defensive line.
Rolando McClain began his season suspended, once again prohibiting him from having a normal off-season and early season routine. I was really curious to see what McClain could do with an entire off-season to work, a preseason to round into form and a regular season where he can find his groove. We saw what McClain could do as he got into his groove and really looked dominant in the third quarter of the season.
Morris Claiborne is the other big name free agent. This was almost certainly his best season as a Dallas Cowboy. A former top-10 pick with high promise, Claiborne was never fully healthy or anything near what we expected. We saw a glimpse of what Claiborne could be in the way he guarded Odell Beckham Jr. in week 1, and Julio Jones in week 3. The Cowboys are thin at cornerback and have a decision to make with whether they want to commit to Byron Jones as a cornerback or safety.
Players The Cowboys Must Re-Sign
With that being said, I think all but the latter should be a Cowboy in 2016. Greg Hardy should be able to be retained with a contract that is short-term and not too expensive. That is more than fair for what he brings on the field and off the field. On the field, he handles all the dirty work and causes havoc. He is someone that must be game-planned against and commands attention. He was a big reason for Demarcus Lawrence’s maturation over the season. If you want to see Lawrence and Gregory mature into foundation pieces on the ends of the Cowboys defensive line, you have to make it easier for them with someone like Hardy. He serves as a mentor and teacher for them and doesn’t force them to play too many snaps.
I completely understand being unable to accept or support Hardy for his off-the-field issues. If you are getting the guy who handled himself in the manner he did over the second half of the season, it makes things more tolerable. A long-term commitment would be harder to justify. Something short-term should be worth the risk.
Rolando McClain comes with some off-the-field concerns as well. His suspensions for drugs are concerning and he comes with questions regarding his commitment to the team and sport. When Rolando McClain is on, there are few better at the position. He combines the rare ability to strike fear in anyone running at him and the ability to cover downfield. I worry about the depth at mike linebacker. Anthony Hitchens shows promise, but he doesn’t cover nearly as well as McClain. Sean Lee has a home at weak side linebacker and Damien Wilson seems to fit there more than mike.
While the lack of depth at cornerback is concerning, the injury concerns with Morris Claiborne seem too much to handle. A change of scenery for both player and team may be mutually beneficial. I think Claiborne will be given a good chunk of change elsewhere from someone thinking they can complete the reclamation project. If Claiborne were to accept a one year deal or something cheap, I would be interested, but I would spend my money elsewhere.
Now, where do you go outside the organization?
Free Agents The Cowboys Need For 2016
First stop on the train… Mr. Lamar Miller.
Yes, Darren McFadden looked great as the lead back for Dallas. However, he’s going to be 29 and is extremely injury prone coming off of a huge workload. Not to mention, he isn’t a true fit for their running style.
Lamar Miller is 24 years old, sparingly used by Miami and a perfect fit for what Dallas is trying to do. Miller has been great when used and could be the best running back the Cowboys have employed behind their phenomenal offensive line. For as great as DeMarco Murray was and how well McFadden performed, it is crazy to think that they still haven’t had a true fit running the ball. I can’t wait to see what it will look like when they find a fit.
Next stop would be Trumaine Johnson.
Johnson is a workout warrior who has all the measurables you look for in a cornerback. He was thrust into a major role with St. Louis this year and performed admirably. Johnson finished tied for second in the NFL with seven interceptions this season, tied with Kurt Coleman of the Panthers and trailing only Marcus Peters of Kansas City and Reggie Nelson of Cincinnati.
Forced turnovers were a place where the Cowboys were extremely lacking. The Cowboys finished with eight interceptions in 2015. Only the Baltimore Ravens had less with six. Trumaine Johnson ALONE had one less interception than the entire Dallas Cowboys team.
Johnson shouldn’t be too expensive and still needs developing. With the right coaching he can develop into a top notch cornerback.
Lastly, believe it or not, I think you can afford to gamble on Robert Griffin III.
Did this year teach you anything? You can never have enough quarterbacks. If I never have to see Matt Cassel, Kellen Moore or Brandon Weeden again I would be very happy!
Let’s face the facts, we have to prepare for not having Tony Romo for all 16 games in a season. We have to prepare for the future beyond Tony Romo. Signing a guy like Robert Griffin III doesn’t mean you’re moving away from Romo and it doesn’t mean you don’t draft a QB. Griffin would be quarterback insurance. If they love Jared Goff, Paxton Lynch, Carson Wentz or any QB in this class, you still draft them. If the board doesn’t fall in your favor and you miss on a QB, you have Griffin… just in case.
I am also a huge proponent of committing to sitting your drafted QB. If I draft a guy like Lynch or Wentz and I see them as a project, I would want Griffin to start games next season if Romo gets hurt, rather than thrust your young QB into action so early. Commit to sitting them by having a contingency plan. You can never have too many QBs and with a guy with as much talent as Griffin it should be worth it and shouldn’t be too expensive.
Planning For 2016 Success This Off-Season
The off-season is that simple. You bring back Hardy and McClain and sign Lamar Miller, Trumaine Johnson and Robert Griffin III. You can do this pretty easily within the cap space. Cutting Barry Church brings the Cowboys cap space to almost $10 million – without adjusting for inflation in the NFL’s cap – and moving money around like the Cowboys always do. Cutting Brandon Carr would bring their cap space to just over $16 million. Without moving money around, the Cowboys would be close to making all of these moves happen. They should have a fairly easy time affording all of this and putting together a roster that can do serious damage next season.
None of the signings and re-signings would deter the team from draft decisions. These moves would provide contingency plans so that you enter the draft without any major needs. You can draft best player available throughout the draft. Drafting with needs is what gets teams in trouble, especially when the Cowboys will be picking high in every round, with a couple compensatory picks in there as well.
This draft and free agency will be huge in building the future of the Dallas Cowboys. The team is at a crossroads right now, with the team being talented enough to win in the Tony Romo era, and young enough to create a dynasty going forward.
R. Griffin has had injuries that make him not as good of a player as the one good season he had and also if he tries to be a runner which a major part of his game, he is vulnerable to more injuries. He might make a good backup, probably not a long term solution for Romo's replacement. He also will likely be very expensive. The problem with the draft is my understanding is there are no franchise type QBs in the draft this year. The problem with Johnny Football is he has too many off field issues which will likely impact his play. I disagree with you about Kellen Moore. I think he should be given a chance to compete for 2nd team QB. He showed some good things and played fairly well for his first time playing and first time against 1st team defenses. The knock on K Moore, his physical limitations, did not show up much in his play. The areas of deficiency ( i.e. interceptions, not enough touchdowns, and lack of consistency accuracy) are areas Kellen Moore excels at and is likely to improve/correct with more experience and 1st/2nd team reps. These are all good signs for Kellen Moore along with his ability to learn and improve as a student of the game and being a quasi coach with a high QB IQ.
I'm a self-important douche bag that can't express opinions without putting down others in order to validate my own self worth. You have been warned. You're a complete wimpy little dick. What's that saying? Those who can't do, blog. Only a blind hater can't see the potential in Kellen Moore. 435 yards in his second start? And he did it with a bunch of no names. John Elway went 1 for 8 for 14 yards and he got sacked four times in first start. By the way Aaron Rogers threw a terrible off target interception in the end zone to give the game to the Vikings. Jay Cutler was like 12 of 23 with less than 200 yards of offense and 3 interceptions against the mighty Lions. I just don't understand you little wimpy guys who refuse to give the guy time to develop by actually working with quality players. Oh, that's right, you're an angry little troll.
Hey crybaby. How does it feel to get some mean spirited rhetoric come back to bite in your little baby ego. Guys like you love to drive the bus over hardworking players and pass final judgement as if your opinion actually matters. The fact is, I was just having some fun poking a hole in this blog and man did I get a reaction. Kind of funny when you let a 67 year old man get your goat. Sorry if I bruised your little ego. Warned? Sounds like a threat. Maybe I'll report you to the police. Squirt.
Since you're the type for e-thugging personal insults, I'd say the only people who would compare Kellen Moore to John Elway, Aaron Rodgers, or even Jay Cutler are simple-minded college football fans who don't know anything about professional football. He threw for 435 yards with a bunch of no names, AGAINST a bunch of no-names. Unless you would get this excited about a preseason game, why would you get this excited about that performance?
He's an interesting backup quarterback option… that's it. Colt McCoy was about as successful as Kellen Moore in college and McCoy actually has an NFL arm. What's he doing nowadays?
Furthermore, what motivation would a Cowboys fan have to be a "hater" of Kellen Moore? If there was objective potential to see, Cowboys fans would reach to see MORE of it than most people. He is, after all, a Cowboys quarterback.
Just not a very good one.
e-thugging? Is that a word, or just one you made up. I'm quite sure only an illiterate would use it. Wow, did my messing with the so-called writer of this blog expose you for the uptight, self important egotist you really are. Did I hurt your feelings? Sorry, just a little payback for all vehement crap spewed by all the self-proclaimed experts who love to rain on the parades of so many. Seriously, take a Xanax and give your bruised little ego a rest. If you're lucky, when you get to be my age, you may actually realize how easy it is to screw with guys like you.
67, huh? I can only hope when I'm your age I am not still prone to becoming a giddy little fanboy of quarterbacks after two bad NFL starts and spending my time criticizing writers on the internet. HOPING I have better things to do with my retirement.
I'm curious where you feel you were "poking holes" in his article, though? Was it the part where you called him a "wimpy little dick?" Nice poking holes, bro.
All I know watching lynch or goff didn't send me smiling, I think it's s weak QB field and we have too many holes to be reaching with a maybe at QB when the drop off in later rounds might not be as large! I think I go defense and think DB to help our crumbling secondary
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk