Anthony Spencer Franchised; Cowboys Free Agency Plans in Question
By Bo Martin
Today, Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Anthony Spencer received the franchise tag from the club. Spencer has been known as a hot and cold player for much of his career but was expected to receiver considerable interest if he hit the market. Spencer will be due $8.8 mil with this franchise tag and reports are that the Cowboys will consider giving him a long-term deal.
The run-stopping linebacker has recorded 266 tackles, 10 Forced fumbles and 1 interception with the Cowboys to go along with his 21.5 sacks. Spencer is a good linebacker if he could keep his head in the game. The question here is the investment worth the return…
Dallas is sitting on about $12.4 million in cap space at the moment and is expected to cut ties with CB Terence Newman. Newman will free anywhere from about 4-6 million dollars leaving the Cowboys somewhere around $8 million in cap space. The Cowboys have enough glaring needs that $8 wont cut it.
Offensive line and defensive back continue to be a large need here and the Cowboys need to at least make a move to keep the draft from becoming a waste. Free Agents like Courtland Finnegan and Brandon Carr have been linked to the Cowboys but unless the Cowboys can restructure the contract of Ware and some others you’re looking at a really tough possibility of securing these players.
If the Cowboys do restructure some contracts fans should expect to see the attention in this offseason go directly to the defensive backfield. They will likely sign a #1 corner back as well as a depth player. They will then be able to focus all their attention in the draft to a offensive line/BPA format which would ultimately benefit the team the most.
If the Cowboys don’t restructure contracts, fans should expect to see very small moves made, depth moves. This will help the Cowboys in minimal ways (i.e. special teams, injury situations) and the Draft will then become “need” focused. If the Cowboys go into the draft need focused, they will likely bomb and draft players in which aren’t great value.
Ideally, in my opinion, the Cowboys need to sign either Finnegan or Carr, a depth CB, and draft a starting caliber safety, a solid pass rusher, and OL/CB depth. The Cowboys do need a guard and center but they would be a lot more comfortable with the potential of Nagy and Costa than the age of Newman and Elam.