Frisco, Texas – Okay. Let's all take a deep breath. Exhale. relax.
Surprisingly, it will be at the same time next year…and the year after that…and the year after that. The frenzy of the NFL's free agent signing period officially begins Wednesday at 3 p.m., with millions of dollars guaranteed to sign average players other teams deemed unworthy of re-signing. Became. And often, a year or two later, they realize that they were plagued by such impulsive decisions. Just ask Denver about the Russell Wilson trade in 2022.
And of course, look, realize that many of you are angry at the Dallas Cowboys. They sit on the sidelines almost every March, and again this week, patiently waiting for the second wave of free agents to begin in a week or so after hitting the market. The value drops to a more reasonable price.
But hey, the Cowboys agreed to terms with long snapper Trent Sieg. This is a double necessity. First, they needed the perfect player last season. Second, if you pay attention to the small details, a bunch of these long snappers are being re-signed, and Zeke is attracting attention from other suitors, so the Cowboys could quickly get whoever they want. We understand that we need to act.
Again, why such outrage? This takes place in March every year. It has nothing to do with Julius Caesar, but it's like the Cowboys' personal march. Almost immediately on Monday, running back Tony Pollard agreed to terms with Tennessee, and the deal began. Look, the Cowboys weren't going to pay Pollard the $8 million per year the Titans are offering. Certainly it would have been neither. We'll soon forget that the Cowboys were criticized for franchise Pollard for $10.09 million last year.
I'm not trying to pull anyone off the shelf, but what about some simple mathematical facts that might prevent all this perception from becoming reality?
First, the salary cap was raised to $255.4 million, otherwise the Cowboys would have been over $20 million to $30 million over that cap at the original $242 million projection.
Second, by saving space, the Cowboys will accumulate more than $4.9 million in surplus starting in 2023. But there is dead money, which eats up $14.7 million of this year's cap. And if they hadn't restructured Zach Martin's contract, the Cowboys would have been penalized for going way over the salary cap Wednesday at 3 p.m.
As it stands, these numbers are always in flux, but after re-signing Zeke and defensive lineman Carl Davis (veteran minimum), the Cowboys have a total of $3.07 million for the game, according to Spotrac.com of cap space remaining. Currently, the top 51 salaries have been compiled. That's 3.07 million dollars. And if the top 53 had been counted, as was the case in Week 1 of the regular season, the Cowboys would have lost $3.4 million.
So, for example, how do you sign Derek Henry to a two-year, $16 million contract with $9 million guaranteed, worth up to $20 million annually, that he agreed to with Baltimore, knowing that there were financial restrictions? Do you expect that?
Just saying, please use shot Just use common sense here.
- Top 5: The five teams have the most money available under the salary cap heading into Monday's legal negotiations. Topping the list is Washington at $96 million, with former Cowboys defensive coordinator and current Commanders head man Dan Quinn buying players he knows at prices the Cowboys can't afford, like center Tyler Biadasz. It's a pretty predictable reason why he would start raiding the Cowboys' roster to bring him in. , defensive end Dorrance Armstrong, and now rotational defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. Next, Tennessee has $80 million available, so paying Pollard an average of $8 million over three years is a lot of money and leaves them with a ton of money left over to pay wide receiver Calvin Ridley. CeeDee Lamb is sure to be thrilled with this four-year, $92 million package. Then $72 million New England made 15 moves Wednesday, followed by $63 million Chicago and Houston. The Cowboys currently rank 27th in the top 51 salary caps.th They only have $3 million available.
- Real head scratcher: Can the Cowboys keep Tyron Smith around for another year or two? Taillon played in 13 games in 2023, but played 942 snaps (including the playoffs), accounting for 71.5 percent of the offensive line, the most since the 2018 season. He was also named an AP Second Team All-Pro, and NFL.com currently lists Taillon as the top available free agent as of Wednesday at 3 p.m. He's not just an offensive lineman. player! So what is his value? Now, Buffalo has agreed to a three-year, $60.5 million contract with three-time Pro Bowl tackle Dion Dawkins, and they also have an offensive guard who just agreed to a deal averaging $17 million. And if that's the market value for a top offensive lineman, Smith's agent probably wants at least market value for Taillon, who turns 34 in December, on his final NFL contract. you know what i'm saying?
- Words to live by: When the NFL announced that the salary cap would officially increase to $255.4 million, remember what Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said when asked about the Cowboys having more space: Stephen is right when he says, “A cap bump helps in a way, but all 32 teams receive a cap bump, so we all know what that means.” So I'll review it here. Now, when wealthy people are splurging leaving those at the bottom of the cap space to the curb, you certainly do. But if these deals don't work out, the team will have to pay the Pied Piper at some point. Just ask Denver again. After giving up five draft picks, including No. 1 and No. 2 and No. 2, in a trade, Denver is now willing to pay $85 million to let Wilson go after just two years.
- Exhibit B: Remember all the fuss about Seattle trading two first-round picks for safety Jamal Adams in 2020? The Cowboys were heavily criticized for not allowing the former LSU star, who grew up right here in Carrollton, to play. Well, here's the Seahawks releasing the injury-plagued safety who re-signed in 2021 for a four-year total of $70.58 million, and is currently absorbing $20.8 million in dead money heading into 2024. . These mistakes end up hurting the team. And it's one reason the Cowboys are absorbing an additional $6 million in dead money this year after Ezekiel Elliott's 2023 release cost them $5.8 million last year.
- Exhibit C: And now let's consider Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup. He notes that his preference is to release him before the $4 million roster guarantee begins on March 18 to save the Cowboys cap space this year. Few would want to point out that the Cowboys would have $13.05 million in dead money for no one if they released or traded Gallup. And even if the $8.2 million base salary announced on June 1 and not collected until June 2, Gallup will record $4 million in dead money this year and another $8.7 million next year. It turns out.
- Free tip: As for the Cowboys' cap space, their 2024 rookie pool is projected to be $8.1 million, but they don't have it at the moment. Why extend CeeDee Lamb to reduce his $17.99 million fifth-year option hit and adjust Dak's $29 million base salary? The Cowboys' realignment with Zach Martin's $16.25 base salary increased their cap space by $13 million, but the 34-year-old All-Pro guard has three years of automatically voidable years and will be eligible at some point. I want you to know that there will be a loss for the Cowboys. If he doesn't play after 2025, that's $17 million in dead money… Hey Dalton Schultz, I was sitting courtside at a Dallas Mavericks game trying to get the story done at the deadline. I remember, oh my god, there's 16,000 people screaming at Reunion Arena and you're complaining about being The Star while you're lifting weights. Do you notice people on your tour walking down the hallway and knocking on your windows? seriously.
This week's Last Word commemorates Chris Mortensen's career as a journalist. He is known simply as “Mort” to those who know him best. He passed away on March 3rd at the age of 72 after a battle with throat cancer. Most people knew Mort from his work at ESPN since 1991.
I had the pleasure of getting to know him when he worked for the company in the early 1980s. atlanta journal constitution. I met him through my college roommate who also works there. Mort never bossed anyone around, was always kind and helpful when he could, and was a great guy once he was hired by the university. dallas times heraldespecially when he tried to beat the Cowboys in 1989 when Jerry Jones bought the team.
The deal was done, and Mort became the first NFL reporter for ESPN and NFL Network. Because you can always trust Mort's accuracy when it comes to breaking news. He wasn't willing to sacrifice accuracy to get first place. That's why he had so many sources in the NFL ranks. they trusted him.
And one person who clearly trusted Mort was Jones. Because if Mort has news about the Cowboys, you can count on it being right.
“Chris will forever be a part of the NFL family,” Jerry said in a statement. “He was loved by so many, was a great voice for the game, and was one of the most passionate and talented people we've ever known. He will be greatly missed and we know Chris will be a great voice for the game. Thank you for the special memories and legacy you have left with us.”
Don't make them like Mort anymore.
