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D82's Christmas Off-Season Mock


D82

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COACHING CHANGES

 

Despite another season without a playoff berth, the fifth such season in seven seasons under Jason Garrett, Jerry and Stephen Jones elect to retain the former Cowboy QB as head coach. However, coordinators Scott Linehan and Rod Marinelli are relieved of their duties and sent packing. 

In their place, current Philadelphia QBs coach John DeFilippo is hired as offensive coordinator while linebackers coach Matt Eberflus is promoted to defensive coordinator. Thus, the 2018 Cowboys coaching staff is as follows:

Head Coach: Jason Garrett
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator: Rich Bisaccia 

Offensive Coordinator/QBs: John DeFilippo
Running Backs: Gary Brown
Wide Receivers: Derek Dooley
Tight Ends: Steve Loney
Offensive Line: Frank Pollack 
Assistant Offensive Line: Marc Colombo

Defensive Coordinator: Matt Eberflus
Defensive Line: Leon Lett
Linebackers: Dat Nguyen 
Secondary: Joe Baker
Safeties: Greg Jackson

Assistant Special Teams: Keith O’Quinn 

ROSTER CHANGES

The Cowboys come to terms with All-Pro guard Zack Martin on a four-year extension worth $64.75MM, including $31.75MM in guaranteed monies along with a $12.5MM signing bonus. 

Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick agree to rework their contracts in order to create additional room for the Cowboys heading into free agency. These deals free up an additional $14.74MM in cap space. 

Veteran corner Orlando Scandrick is traded to the San Francisco 49ers in return for a 2018 5th round pick and DE Benson Mayowa is released. The Cowboys tender DE/DT David Irving with a 2nd Round RFA Tender and come to terms with DE DeMarcus Lawrence on a five-year $84.75MM extension with $52MM in guaranteed money and a $15.5MM signing bonus. The team also agrees to deals with long-time long snapper L.P. Ladouceur and G Jonathan Cooper. 

The following players are either released or not retained:

- QB Zac Dysert
- RB Alfred Morris
- FB Keith Smith
- WR Brice Butler
- G Joe Looney
- DE Datone Jones
- DT Brian Price
- DT Daniel Ross 
- LB Justin Durant 
- LB Justin March-Lillard 
- LB Anthony Hitchens
- LB Kyle Wilber
- CB Bene Benwikere 

Heading into free agency, Dallas has available to them $28.86MM in cap space.

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FREE AGENCY

Dallas signs the following players:

- QB Ryan Fitzpatrick 
- RB Kenjon Barner 
- G Xavier Su’a-Filo 
- C John Sullivan 
- DT Bennie Logan
- MLB Karlos Dansby


2018 NFL DRAFT

Rashaan Evans LB, Alabama (1st Round, 18th Overall Pick)
Mark Andrews TE, Oklahoma (2nd Round, 49th Overall Pick)
Isaiah Oliver CB, Colorado (3rd Round, 82nd Overall Pick)
Deontay Burnett WR, USC (4th Round, 119th Overall Pick)
Royce Freeman RB, Oregon (4th Round, 136th Overall Pick)
Marcus Davenport DE, UT-San Antonio (5th Round, 147th Overall Pick)
Godwin Igwebuike FS, Northwestern (5th Round, 173rd Overall Pick)
Bentley Spain OT, North Carolina (5th Round, 176th Overall Pick)
Skai Moore OLB, South Carolina (6th Round, 195th Overall Pick)
Riley Ferguson QB, Memphis (6th Round, 213th Overall Pick)
Khalid Hill FB, Michigan (7th Round, 240th Overall Pick)

UDFAs

Kyle Hicks RB, TCU
Evan Brown C, SMU
Drew Bailey DT, Louisville
Matt Elam DT, Kentucky 
Ro’Derrick Hoskins LB, Florida State
Taylor Young LB, Baylor
Marcell Harris S, Florida 

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2018 PRE-CAMP COWBOYS ROSTER

QB: Dak Prescott | Ryan Fitzpatrick | Cooper Rush | Riley Ferguson
RB: Ezekiel Elliott | Rod Smith | Kenjon Barner | Royce Freeman | Kyle Hicks
FB: Khalid Hill 
WR: Dez Bryant | Terrence Williams | Cole Beasley | Ryan Switzer | Noah Brown | Deontay Burnett 
TE: Jason Witten | James Hanna | Geoff Swaim | Mark Andrews | Rico Gathers | Blake Jarwin 
OT: Tyron Smith | La’el Collins | Chaz Green | Bentley Spain 
OG: Jonathan Cooper | Zack Martin | Xavier Su’a-Filo 
C: Travis Frederick | John Sullivan | Evan Brown 

LDE: Taco Charlton | Tyrone Crawford | Charles Tapper
1-Tech: David Irving | Richard Ash | Matt Elam
3-Tech: Bennie Logan | Maliek Collins | Drew Bailey
RDE: DeMarcus Lawrence | Randy Gregory | Lewis Neal | Marcus Davenport
SLB: Rashaan Evans | Damien Wilson | Ro'Derrick Hoskins 
MLB: Jaylon Smith | Karlos Dansby
WLB: Sean Lee | Skai Moore | Taylor Young
CB: Byron Jones | Isaiah Oliver | Duke Thomas 
FS: Chidobe Awuzie | Xavier Woods |
Godwin Igwebuike 
SS: Jeff Heath | Kavon Frazier | Marcell Harris 
CB: Jourdan Lewis | Anthony Brown 

K: Dan Bailey
P: Chris Jones
LS: L.P Ladouceur

Red = FREE AGENT 
Blue = Drafted/Undrafted Rookies 

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9 minutes ago, flyingmonkey30 said:

Not sure I'd want to spend a first rounder on a guy who won't play a significant role as a SLB. That's why I like Roquan Smith so much, he can be eased in as the WLB of the future. Strongside linebackers don't do as much in today's pass happy NFL.

With Eberflus having also learning under Phillips...I’d hope he’d shake things up a little bit defensively and utilize some different formations. 

I mean imagine coming out in a 3-4 formation with Lawrence and Gregory as your edge guys with Lee and Evans as your inside backs.

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3 hours ago, Desperado82 said:

With Eberflus having also learning under Phillips...I’d hope he’d shake things up a little bit defensively and utilize some different formations. 

I mean imagine coming out in a 3-4 formation with Lawrence and Gregory as your edge guys with Lee and Evans as your inside backs.

You could, but I don't think he'd do anything too crazy. With so much nickel being played, it seems like a waste to draft a SLB early, especially because Wilson wasn't too bad this year. If we needed a MIKE, I would be fine with Evans, but with Jaylon improving throughout the season, and the addition of Dansby in this case, it just doesn't seem very beneficial IMO.

Love the rest of the draft though, if we could pull it off.

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I'd be exceedingly disappointed with an off-season like this. First, while I don't want Rod on as DC - I *do* want him on the staff. Shift him into the same role Kiffin held at the end. Rod has developed some serious talent along the DL. I don't want to lose that. Scotty can go kick rock, though.

Irving, I am confident, will require a 1st round tender. 

I literally like none of the FA's:

- QB Ryan Fitzpatrick - while I agree that Dak likes having a Vet around, Fitz isn't the guy. And, frankly, year 3 Dak needs to be the vet or is replaced. 
- RB Kenjon Barner - I lied, this is fine. But I would prefer to draft someone late.
- G Xavier Su’a-Filo - Fine with this. 
- C John Sullivan - Dom't see if the value if Cooper is retained. 
- DT Bennie Logan - Will cost WAAYYYY too much money. Awesome player, though.
- MLB Karlos Dansby - Old and slow. No thanks.

Regarding the draft, I think you landed some solid players - but they were not players I would want:

Rashaan Evans LB, Alabama (1st Round, 18th Overall Pick) - I hate drafting Bama players. I like a lot of other LBers. 
Mark Andrews TE, Oklahoma (2nd Round, 49th Overall Pick) - I know I am in the minority, but I don't want a TE - especially early.
Isaiah Oliver CB, Colorado (3rd Round, 82nd Overall Pick) - Solid pick
Deontay Burnett WR, USC (4th Round, 119th Overall Pick) - Know nothing about him. Is he fast?
Royce Freeman RB, Oregon (4th Round, 136th Overall Pick) - Makes the Barner signing pointless, no?
Marcus Davenport DE, UT-San Antonio (5th Round, 147th Overall Pick) - Know nothing about him.
Godwin Igwebuike FS, Northwestern (5th Round, 173rd Overall Pick) - Great value.
Bentley Spain OT, North Carolina (5th Round, 176th Overall Pick) - Probably my favorite pick. 
Skai Moore OLB, South Carolina (6th Round, 195th Overall Pick) - Great value
Riley Ferguson QB, Memphis (6th Round, 213th Overall Pick) - YES!
Khalid Hill FB, Michigan (7th Round, 240th Overall Pick) - Meh, know nothing about him.

It is not a bad off-season. But I would absolutely want more. 

And, the cherry of what makes this off-season awful? I could live with everything else, in fact, but this:

Quote

The team also agrees to deals with long-time long snapper L.P. Ladouceur

 

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7 minutes ago, Texas_OutLaw7 said:

I'd be exceedingly disappointed with an off-season like this. First, while I don't want Rod on as DC - I *do* want him on the staff. Shift him into the same role Kiffin held at the end. Rod has developed some serious talent along the DL. I don't want to lose that. Scotty can go kick rock, though.

Guys don't take demotions. Only reason Kiffin did it was because he was like 80 when he was hired. Nobody was going after him.

I don't know about Eberflus. His job title includes Passing Game Coord. so he does have some say in scheme/coverage right now. Would much rather look outside organization for new DC.

 Like DeFilippo hire, suspect Philly would either block attempt or he'll get a HC gig. I figure his work in Philly will probably make him a fairly hot candidate. 

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5 minutes ago, WizardHawk said:

Guys don't take demotions. Only reason Kiffin did it was because he was like 80 when he was hired. Nobody was going after him.

I don't know about Eberflus. His job title includes Passing Game Coord. so he does have some say in scheme/coverage right now. Would much rather look outside organization for new DC.

 Like DeFilippo hire, suspect Philly would either block attempt or he'll get a HC gig. I figure his work in Philly will probably make him a fairly hot candidate. 

Maybe. But he also didn't want to be DC - and only did so as a favor to Redball and Kiffin.

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Trust me - I'm not a fan of retaining JG, but unless Jerry is lying it looks like that's what will happen.

Fitzpatrick I feel gives us a better chance than say a 2nd year Cooper Rush should anything happen to Dak. I know he's not the best, but I think he could at least be smart with the football and maintain some semblance of a passing game while Zeke and the running game shouldered the load.

You could argue that signing Barner makes drafting Freeman pointless - but I feel it provides depth and more competition. Barner would come cheap as would Freeman, so what do you lose? 

Sullivan is a cheap vet to backup Frederick should Cooper win the starting LG job. If Su'a-Filo does instead, cut Sullivan and keep Cooper as your backup G/C. With the cap room I freed up, Logan is someone we could sign in this scenario. The numbers all worked out and his contract was based on what he'd likely get this off-season. He'd be a hell of a pickup to add in the middle with Irving. 

I get the hate for Evans, but honestly he's a talented player. A good coach should be able to find a way to get his best players on the field, so if Evans is BPA and we take him - it's on Eberflus to make it work with what we have. 

I'm not quite sure Witten doesn't decide to hang it up after the season...even if he doesn't, I don't want to rely on what we have behind him as it's honestly a bunch of nobodies and a huge "maybe" in Rico. Andrews is a TE that could provide us a deep threat down field that Witten can't.

Burnett is a shifty, speed wideout that could give us another threat downfield.

Watch film on Davenport. It's highly likely he goes late 1st/early 2nd after off-season workouts. Dude is a beast.

 

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