Dallas Cowboys: Big contract decisions taking center stage
By Brad Austin
LOCKING UP MARTIN
The prevailing belief is Zack Martin (OG) will be signed to an extension in coming months. Certainly he’s earned a massive payday after four straight Pro Bowls.
Yet the Cowboys would be naive not to consider other costs along the offensive line.
La’el Collins (OT), Travis Frederick (C), and Tyron Smith (OT) are scheduled to consume roughly $69 million of cap space over the next two seasons.
Paying a fourth worthy offensive linemen a fortune will provide major dividends. Yet it will surely continue to short change other areas of the roster.
An extension will happen, but the contract must be back loaded to keep the first two years rather light. Frederick and Smith’s extensions were structured this way.
Considering all the money that will be tied up in four offensive line starters, don’t expect Jonathan Cooper (OG) to return unless the price is cheap.
The Cowboys will likely seek a new fifth starter (LG) early in the 2018 draft. Dallas needs a cost-efficient starter in the trenches to offset the others.
A first or second round guard would lightly impact Dallas’ cap below $5 million combined for 2018 and 2019.
Garett Bolles (OT) was selected by Denver in the first round (20th overall) last year. His total cap charge is $4.5 million over his first two seasons.
Next: The troubling draft history of the 19th overall pick
Forrest Lamp (OG) was drafted by San Diego in the second round (38th overall). San Diego will use only $2.6 million of combined cap his initial two years.