Are the Cowboys rebuilding? On the contrary I would actually lead you to believe that Jerry Jones & Family has actually
Jones has done a great job so far this offseason in setting his team up for a playoff run.done a very good job so far in this year's free agency period. I believe the moves they have made so far is putting the team in a good place to make a run at the playoffs again.
The first major move started on March 11th when the Cowboys decided to cut their all time sack leader DeMarcus Ware because he refused to restructure his contract to help the team get under the salary cap. The Cowboys were going to have to pay their 31 year old star $12.25 million. The Cowboys actually saved around $15 million in cutting him. At 31 years of age, statistics have shown that a defensive player is at the end of their peak years and their production will start to drop. DeMarcus should have one good year left, maybe two, maybe three, he is a hard worker and a great locker room guy from all accounts, but his contract was just too much for Dallas. So, the Denver Broncos swooped in with all their money to spend and signed Ware to a 3 year $30 million contract. Denver way overpaid for him and it will cost them later.
Then on March 12th, the Cowboys released Miles Austin, designating him a post-June 1 cut that will save them about $5.5 million against the salary cap. Miles had 3 or 4 good years with the Cowboys, but he is now 29 with his best years behind him and the Cowboys had to make a business decision to let him go. Realistically, he could have two more good productive seasons, but he has always had a hard time staying healthy. This move also makes sense because the Cowboys have a pretty good stable of receivers in Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams as their starters. Then, they have Cole Beasley and Dwayne Harris that have both come on well for the Cowboys. Beasley has shown good things at the slot receiver position and Harris has proven to be a very good return man.
Unrestricted free agent Jason Hatcher then departed, signing a jaw dropping 4 year $27.5 million contract with the Washington Redskins. Hatcher did have probably his best season as a Cowboy in 2013, but he is 31 and at the end of his peak years, so he might have one more good year like that and then he will start to decline. That is a terrible contract for the Redskins and Hatcher should be laughing all the way to the bank, because he pulled off one for the ages thanks to Daniel Snyder and the Redskins.
The Dallas Cowboys did sign four free agents to very good contracts in areas of need. The four players signed were Terrell McClain, Jeremy Mincey, Brandon Weeden, and the biggest coup of free agency, Henry Melton.
- Terrell McClain, DT, 6-2/293, 5.0 40, 25 years old, 10 tackles in 2013 for Houston Texans
- Signed for 3 years $3.05 million
- Good size, speed, and age.
- Played behind two great players in J.J. Watt and Earl Mitchell
- He is just now entering into his peak seasons and should have good production for 7 years
- Will fight for a starting spot inside at DT and will definitely be in the DT rotation
- Jeremy Mincey, DE, 6-4/265, 30, 4.76 40, 17 tackles and 2 sacks in three games in 2013 for Jacksonville and
Mincey, 94, will look to help the Cowboy defense that ranked 30th versus the run and pass in 2013.
Denver
- Signed for 2 years $3.0 million
- Good size and speed
- Should have two good years left
- Will battle for a starting spot and definitely be in the DE rotation
- Brandon Weeden, QB, 6-3/220, 30, 4.89 40, 9TD:9INT, 52.8 completion percentage in 2013 with Cleveland
- Signed for 2 years, $1.23 million, much cheaper than 3.5 million per year that Kyle Orton gets
- Has prototype size and speed
- Has 23 games of starting experience
- Quick delivery with a strong arm
- Mature, poised leader
- Henry Melton, DT, 6-3/295, 27, 4.76 40, 44 tackles, 6 sacks in 2012 with the Chicago Bears
The Dallas Cowboys pulled off the biggest coup of free agency in the signing of Henry Melton.
- Signed for 1 year $3.5 million, $9 million in 2015, $7.5 million in 2016 and 2017
- Cowboys pulled off the biggest coup of free agency in the signing of Melton
- My #1 rated unrestricted free agent DT
- Great size, speed and age
- In his peak years and should have 5 more good productive years left
- Has the speed to play DE as well, but I would put him at DT
I truly believe the Dallas Cowboys have done a very good job in making their team better and putting them in a better position for the future. They need to have a good draft and then they will be in a good position to make the playoffs this next season.