Cowboys To Sign ‘Outside Options’? Insider’s 3 Realistic Targets
DALLAS – With Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence possibly headed to the IR, and Micah Parsons labeled as week-to-week, is the front office "exploring outside options'' for help at pass-rusher?
The price tag is steep, but New York Jets holdout Haason Reddick is an interesting option. Reddick is one of just three players in the league with 10 or more sacks in four straight seasons. The Jets gave up a conditional third-round pick that could turn into a second-round pick if Reddick plays 65 percent of the games.
Why does Reddick's name come up? Because of what CowboysCountry.com beat writer Mike Fisher is calling a "misleading'' report from ESPN.
It is ESPN's Jeremy Fowler who is "reporting'' that the Cowboys are looking outside the organization for some help . ... and then loosely connecting Reddick's name in the mix ... while finally adding that the Cowboys search for help "will start in-house.''
From Fish: "Dallas has $25 million of cap room. It could easily absorb Reddick's $14 million salary. But a) he doesn't want to play at that wage (otherwise he wouldn't be holding out from the Jets), b) that means Dallas would be giving up a trade asset for a "rental'' in his 30s, and c) the Cowboys are not giving bloated long-term contracts to older players as that would be a violation of their intentions for 2025, which we've come to call the "Blow It Up/Remodel'' plan. ...
"I'll put it kindly: ESPN's 'outside options' report is wildly misleading.''
Given the "Blow It Up'' concept, Fish suggests Cowboys Nation should prepare to see much more of rookie Marshawn Kneeland plus Chauncey Golston at end. Young Tyrus Wheat will be in the mix. So will vets Carl Lawson and Carlos Watkins.
Another Lawson, Shaq, is on the street. Signing him is infinitely more viable than trading for Reddick. Same goes for other names like vets Shaka Toney and Al-Quadin Muhammad, who were a part of the Cowboys camp roster.
Related: 'Little Alstott!' Who's Dak Comparing to All-Time Great?Fish's analysis here isn't about fantasy; it's about Dallas' reality, and if you ignore ESPN but read between the lines of the Cowboys' own statements, you see the truth.
"Well, we're always looking for help - that goes without saying," COO Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. "We have to have to some guys internally step up."
This story was originally published September 29, 2024, 4:01 AM.
