The Landry Hat
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Dallas Cowboys and free agency are like oil and water

By Tyrone Starr

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: (L) Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stands on the field prior to their NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: (L) Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stands on the field prior to their NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 02: Henry Melton #69 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 2, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 02: Henry Melton #69 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 2, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Over the past five years, the Cowboys have signed a total of 51 players in free agency.  Those signings totaled $157.6M and have cost Dallas a total guaranteed amount of $34.9M.

At first glance, the money seems awfully reasonable… and it is.  As I said before, when you tie your own hands together, your options are limited.

The problem isn’t the money they have lost.  The problem is the production they have received from the players signed.  Here is a list of every player that the Cowboys brought in for more than $5M.

YEAR PLAYER POS AGE FROM TO YEARS DOLLARS TOTAL GTD
2014 Henry Melton DT 31 CHI DAL 4 $27,501,000.00 $1,000,000
2017 Terrance Williams WR 28 DAL DAL 4 $17,000,000.00 $9,500,000
2016 Cedric Thornton DT 29 PHI DAL 4 $17,000,000.00 $9,000,000
2015 Greg Hardy DE 29 CAR DAL 1 $11,311,600.00
2017 Nolan Carroll CB 31 PHI DAL 3 $10,000,000.00 $3,000,000
2016 James Hanna TE 28 DAL DAL 3 $8,250,000.00 $3,250,000
2015 Andrew Gachkar OLB 29 SD DAL 2 $5,200,000.00 $1,200,000

The first problem that instantly noticeable is the age of these players.  Not one player was less than 28 years of age at signing.  Why you would give anyone without a history of stellar play big dollars after that age is beyond me.

Now for the gruesome production.

Melton played just one year, starting three games and sacking the quarterback five times.  Melton earned just over $3.5M, played one more season in Tampa Bay and is out of the league.

Everyone on the internet must be too busy spitting vitriol at Dez Bryant to notice how Terrance Williams is stealing money.  Somehow, he “earned” a $17M deal with $9.5 guaranteed after putting together back-to-back seasons averaging less than 50 catches, less than 725 yards and less than four touchdowns.

What did he do after inking such a deal?  53 catches, 568 yards and 0 TDs.  Dallas has an out after this year and should eat the $2.5M in dead money it will cost them to get out of this deal.

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