If ever there was a time to get Earl Thomas....

Great player but that move would make more sense if he were the missing piece, and I don’t think they’re there just yet. And say you give up a 3rd - do you just rent him a year at 8.5m that could otherwise be rolled over to next season, or are you going to give him a blockbuster deal at 29 with 8 seasons’ wear on him?

No question he’d instantly improve a weak safety group right now. But I think next year they’re right back where they started only without a decent draft pick and bunch of cap space to show for it.

If these guys step up and go 10 wins or something maybe after the season. He’d be a UFA and we’d have some idea of who the keepers are on the team are and how the cap outlook sits. Besides, Seattle may come down in price yet.

I think he’d add enough value at a position of need to be worth it. Even if only for a 1 year trial. This team is never going to be one missing piece away (most aren’t)... your reasoning just feels a little nitty, no offense

Dan Bailey released.

I think his groin never got right tbh

Yeah I think it was that, plus veteran minimum, plus the fact that we had a viable alternative in camp...still moderately bummed though. Someone will pick him up undoubtedly.

Real interested to see what our defense looks like on Sunday.

Also- a big year for Dak. Hopefully can bounce back some. Dez was definitely a negative last year.

The overwhelming sense is that the D may be better than the O. No idea what to expect frankly.

season opener! Going on record saying it will be remembered as a rebuild year but a disciplined one. If they can break .500 with the 3rd-youngest roster in the league they’ll be in great shape going forward. If they can be better than that they could wind up terrifying.

If they struggle, and I think they’re probably about a 6 or 7-win squad as is, I don’t think that’s a terrible result. There aren’t any contract-protected players outside of Martin, and they have more than enough cap space to add talent.

My biggest questions for 2018:

1) Is Dak Prescott the franchise QB you want to commit $30m a year to?
2) Is DLaw an elite pass rusher or just a decent one?
3) Is the DE group good enough to let DLaw go?
4) Fredbeard?
5) Do they have any outside WR that scares defenses, or looks like they can rise to that level?
6) How many tight ends do we have to draft/sign?
7) How is Tyron looking health-wise?
8) Is the CB group good enough?
9) Frazier and Woods - especially Woods. I know a lot of people were thrilled that they got him so late in the draft, and then he looked decent as a rookie last year, at least as far as upside. All that got lost in the Earl Thomas talk and I get why, but Woods played as well as the young corners did? Thomas will very likely be available after the season if they still want him (and without spending a 2nd!). Good opportunity to figure out if Woods can be the guy although he’s out today. Frazier is a different story at SS but he’s been improving and had some moments late in the year and is obviously a stud ST player - the Barry Church comparisons have played out so far. They’ll need help at safety but I’m not sure whether they be looking for starter help or depth help. I wonder if we’ll look back and think Seattle did us a favor - and wtf how do they not even take a 2? If they like him that much why not work out an extension? Otherwise guy’s a ghost after the season and they’re probably going to suck...seems like they’re looking for someone desperate to do a Jerry. I know a lot of people disagree but I think you may feel different when they’re on the clock at pick 48 and wind up with Thomas anyway, or have passed because Woods held up.
10) Need some kind of idea about the DT group and the players there. Irving is a mess. Crawford is pricey and 270lbs now. Collins? I have no idea what to expect but this could easily wind up the biggest need. Even if they’re good there this year.
11) Kicker! I mean this isn’t even some stud rookie they’re replacing Bailey with but some journeyman CFL dude.

Good time to be a fan though, for better or worse this is a very different place for the team to be compared to the last 25 years. Jerry seems to be getting out of his own way just enough to let them grow organically instead of going all in every year, although they may do that next year anyway.

Randy Gregory news is so disappointing. I just don't get these guys.

Oline didn't help, but Dak is who we thought he was...

Wonder how Jerry will waste a top 3 pick next year.

I knew this would be a rough go on offense this season, but yikes.

Load the box, really no one on the Cowboys scares anyone outside of Zeke. TEs and WRs are subpar.

Connor Williams is much worse than Ron Leary from two years ago. No one outside of Zach Martin on the OL didn't have a **** up or three.

And then Dak. He is what he is. Certainly can't carry an offense. Needs a lot of help.

B-but guys, he completed 65% of his passes and didn't make any mistakes. You just can't put a price tag on that. Better lock him up now.

I'm still amused that the D is actually good at the O sucks. That happened fast.

Carolina has a real good front 7 on D but La'el Collins had two holding penalties and a whiff or two and Tyron Smith had two holding penalties. Connor Williams looked like complete ass. Joe Looney is Joe Looney.

Dak was throwing balls into the ground early. Our wideouts/TEs are meh even on a good day. Gonna be some low scoring games this year.

Sean Lee missed several tackles or got fooled. Hopefully just a fluke. We found some players for our secondary. How is Byron Jones just now being moved back to corner? Awuzie is a stud.

Dlaw is beastly

Kavon Frazier played really well, and he’s been an afterthought for a lot people. Of course JJ Wilcox had some good games too and we’ll see how it goes. Looked really comfortable for a SS making his 1st NFL start at FS though.

Would moving La'el Collins back to guard be the worst thing? I think Connor Williams is in for a long season.

Maybe, but that probably means releasing somebody to add another tackle, or converting someone else to play swing, because all three tackles would be starting on the line. Right now they’ve got injury issues with their interior OL depth and might need to make do.

Of course Chaz Green is still a free agent tackle/guard, and could be signed to basically a week-to-week deal at negligible cost...but signing that Sua Filo guy suggests they’re not moving tackles inside

Really enjoying the aggression & energy we are showing on defense tonight

Feels like they could convert Austin to a poor man's Tyreek if they really try.

Austin is a legit terrible player.

Wonder what the D is going to look like when you add Irving and Gregory! To the credit of the Cowboys writers, a lot of them called this.

Can't help but think they draft oline/TE/WR next draft and we could be on to something. Wonder if Jerry sits pat this year or does something drastic on the trade market. Offence still feels like it's all over place. Any time they're behind in down and distance you're basically holding your breath.

So ironic if we've finally built a respectable defense, and now find ourselves with a game-manager QB and basically one above average skill-position player on offense.

But it makes good sense. We slammed the drafts with picks on the D side for years. They just didn't do a good job anticipating having to move on from Wit and Dez. And the oline stuff is a bit of bad luck.