The Cowboys entered Monday with the worst cap situation in the NFL for 2017, but that’s no longer the case. The club has restructured the contracts of two of its top players, All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith and All-Pro center Travis Frederick, reports Todd Archer of ESPN.com. The changes will save Dallas $17.3MM and take the team under the projected $168MM cap for next season.
In order to make the contracts of Smith and Frederick less onerous, the Cowboys converted approximately $21MM of the $24MM they’re due in 2017 into signing bonuses, according to Archer. Smith had been set to rake in a $10MM base salary, while Frederick was slated to earn over $14MM.
This is now the second straight year in which the Cowboys have reworked Smith’s contract. Smith, who signed an eight-year, $98MM extension in 2014, ranks first among left tackles in total value and third in both yearly average and guarantees ($22MM-plus). The 26-year-old has started in all 92 appearances since the Cowboys selected him ninth overall in the 2011 draft, and he’s coming off a season in which he ranked 16th among Pro Football Focus’ 78 qualified tackles.
As was the case with Smith, Frederick was hugely instrumental in the success the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott– and Ezekiel Elliott-led offense experienced in 2016. Frederick inked a six-year, $54.6MM extension with $18.2MM fully guaranteed last August, and currently leads all centers in total value and yearly mean. He’s second only to the Falcons’ Alex Mack in guarantees. The 31st pick in 2013, Frederick hasn’t missed a game or a start in four years with the Cowboys. The 25-year-old was PFF’s second-best center in 2016.
Samuel:
Now is the time for all parties to lend their eyes to Will McClay, tall, long wingspan, fast and a high football IQ. Maintain a input of youth, let a wide receiver that can take the top of the other teams defense and catch the ball. On defense a defense end, middle linebacker, corner back and safety. All players are required to have speed, long wingspan and football IQ.
Always amazed how the same teams every year (Cowboys, Saints, etc) keep pushing signing bonuses to future years. That only makes it harder in the future when all their players come up for extensions. It’s why the Saints have been mediocre the past few years and why the Cowboys will be when all of their core players start needing extensions.
Extensions to future years?
Clearing cap space via restructing base salary into bonus money means pushing dead money into future years. An extension might be able to help that, but that’s only further pushing the issue down the road. If it was the occasional contract or two, then little harm is done. Considering teams like the Saints and Cowboys seem to do this every offseason, it will eventually catch up to them and cost them to make some really tough roster moves that won’t be popular.
Salary cap is also going to go up though and Romo’s salary will be off the books soon.
Cowboys are going to have to pay the piper at some point, all teams have taking lumps and retooled or reloaded. Jerry the mad scientist refuses to do so, at the cost of the cowboys future for years to come, It’s inevitable ask San Fran, Pitt, Green Bay, Giants, Broncos, Seahawks. Every year is Super Bowl or bust with Jerry betting the mortgage payment and letting it ride.
Not sure why you put Seattle in there they have very little dead money in there payroll. Their problem if you can call it that is the money is tied up in the D and QB. Then they try and make DL into OL. The OL and injuries were their biggest weakness this year and since you can’t plan injuries not much you can do about that. We will see what they do about the OL. Even if they stay the course with the OL and the team stays healthy they have a great chance to win the NFCW. Then who knows I wouldn’t bet against them going back to the SB.
Those are team players who will rework their salaries to better the team
Theyre reworking the details of their deals,but if the money is being restructured into signing bonuses,theyre getting that money up front.it actually benefits them.