Archer: A look at the Cowboys' free agents

December, 31, 2012

By Todd Archer

LANDOVER, Md. -- The Cowboys will have 18 free agents, but the biggest decision will be with outside linebacker Anthony Spencer.

The Cowboys could place the franchise tag on him for a second straight year, but that will cost them $10.6 million. Spencer has played so well in 2012 that another team could be willing to overpay him to pry him away from Dallas.

The Cowboys are not in the best of salary-cap positions and will likely have to restructure a number of contracts and cut players just to reach the expected $121 million cap.

Here’s a look at the free agents to be:

UNRESTRICTED FAs
LB Victor Butler - Can be a situational pass rusher but not an every-down player
CB Michael Coe - Late-season pickup is unlikely to be back
DE Kenyon Coleman - Age and injury make his future dicey but could be a one-year guy
OG Derrick Dockery - In his final days in the NFL
SS Eric Frampton - Good in-season pickup, who might be worth a look next year
CB Mike Jenkins - Wants a chance to start and won't get it here
RB Felix Jones - Never panned out but played hurt, so don't rule out a return at low price
LS L.P. Ladouceur- Will not cost a lot to keep and excellent at his job
P Brian Moorman - Decent job but Chris Jones returns next season
WR Kevin Ogletree - Lost playing time as year went on, doubtful return
SS Charlie Peprah - Might be worth a look in camp with injuries at position
TE John Phillips - Lost playing time as year went on, but can fill number of roles
LB Brady Poppinga - Great quote but will not be back in 2013
LB Ernie Sims - Good pickup but future here low with returns of Sean Lee, Bruce Carter
LB Anthony Spencer - Will be one of most sought-after FAs if he hits the open market

RESTRICTED FAs
C Phil Costa S - eason lost due to injury but coaches like him a lot
SS Danny McCray - Got exposed on defense but solid special teamer
DE Brian Schaefering - Finding serviceable lineman is hard, could be back at low price

Eh... keep Frampton, Ladouceur, and... well.... that's it I guess.

LB Victor Butler -no thanks
CB Michael Coe - who?
DE Kenyon Coleman - must get younger on d line
OG Derrick Dockery - must get better on o line
SS Eric Frampton - busts his ass on ST, keep him
CB Mike Jenkins - good thing we held onto him
RB Felix Jones -speed back with no speed, no thanks.
LS L.P. Ladouceur- keep. one of thebetter long snappers in the NFL
P Brian Moorman - no chance
WR Kevin Ogletree - Jones will probably keep him, I hope not
SS Charlie Peprah - it's time to finally get better at Safety
TE John Phillips - keep him if cost is reasonable
LB Brady Poppinga - later
LB Ernie Sims - move to 4-3 and keep him for competition. played well here.
LB Anthony Spencer - all depends on price tag. He won me over this year but don't want to overpay
RESTRICTED FAs
C Phil Costa S - Jones will act like he is the savior for O Line. Truth is, he is average at best.
SS Danny McCray - suspect. cheap re-sign but he should have to earn a roster spot this next camp.
DE Brian Schaefering - doesn't do anything. let him go.

I'd franchise Spencer to see if he can duplicate his big year. If not, then you saved yourself another long term bloated contract. He's easily worth 10.6 million at his current production and the risk is low on a one year deal. But that assumes the Cowboys can work out their salary cap for that type of contract.

I'd keep Butler at the vet minimum simply because who else is there? If we lose him and Spencer, we have Wilbur as our new starting OLB, or Albright.

Frampton, meh ok. Ladouceur, meh ok.

Other than that, don't care. You can let them all go and churn the bottom of the roster.

Move on from Butler. He's a one trick pony and he doesn't excel at his one trick, so yeah, time to go.

As to who's there? Well, Albright deserves more playing time. And we just drafted Wilbur.

Spencer is tricky. Franchising him is a real option. Probably the best option. But signing him to a long term deal would be a mistake.

Midswat said:

UNRESTRICTED FAs
LB Victor Butler - Can be a situational pass rusher but not an every-down player
CB Michael Coe - Late-season pickup is unlikely to be back
DE Kenyon Coleman - Age and injury make his future dicey but could be a one-year guy
OG Derrick Dockery - In his final days in the NFL
SS Eric Frampton - Good in-season pickup, who might be worth a look next year
CB Mike Jenkins - Wants a chance to start and won't get it here
RB Felix Jones - Never panned out but played hurt, so don't rule out a return at low price
LS L.P. Ladouceur- Will not cost a lot to keep and excellent at his job
P Brian Moorman - Decent job but Chris Jones returns next season
WR Kevin Ogletree - Lost playing time as year went on, doubtful return
SS Charlie Peprah - Might be worth a look in camp with injuries at position
TE John Phillips - Lost playing time as year went on, but can fill number of roles
LB Brady Poppinga - Great quote but will not be back in 2013
LB Ernie Sims - Good pickup but future here low with returns of Sean Lee, Bruce Carter
LB Anthony Spencer - Will be one of most sought-after FAs if he hits the open market

RESTRICTED FAs
C Phil Costa S - eason lost due to injury but coaches like him a lot
SS Danny McCray - Got exposed on defense but solid special teamer
DE Brian Schaefering - Finding serviceable lineman is hard, could be back at low price

Keep reading...

Other than Spencer, we'd be losing nothing if none of those other guys are back.

Frampton & Peprah are nice camp bodies who could be decent depth. Costa looked improved in the brief amount of time he saw before re-injuring himself, but he shouldnt be counted on as the answer. McCray is an ok special teamer but is a total liability on defense.