Cowboys mailbag: Questions on the effect of Dak Prescott’s deal and Jake Ferguson’s injury
Every week, we take questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook about Dallas Cowboys players and other issues surrounding the team. So let’s get9 right into it.
“After Dak signed his monster deal, how much does that effect deals for other players going forward?”
(@Riley Braggington on Facebook)
Mike: The front office has already freed up some space with the restructuring of Terence Steele’s contract. There are rumblings they are looking to do the same with Trevon Diggs contract but wait on that one. As it stands, the Cowboys have a little under $30 million in cap space next year with 40 players under contract which puts them in a reasonably good position. When you also take into account the cap space will look to go up next season this should help balance things out ready to make a deal with Micah Parsons long term.
Dana: In the short term, it should free up cap space to be able to pay more players, however, the list of upcoming contracts is a long one. Guys like Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, Tyler Smith, Jake Ferguson, DeMarcus Lawrence and others are going to need contract extensions soon as well. While the Cowboys might not be able to pay every one of these players top money for their positions, they should have enough to prioritize the guys they really want to keep. It also helps that the salary cap will continue to increase.
“Now it’s confirmed Jake Ferguson has an injury. Will Dallas be in the market for a vet TE, or are we sticking with our guys?”
(@Riley on Facebook)
Mike: It’s unlikely the Cowboys go out to grab another tight end. For one, Ferguson isn’t out for the season which is great news and is deemed week-to-week, so he could be back within a couple of weeks. The other is who realistically can the Cowboys grab? There are guys like Jimmy Graham available, but he made six receptions last year. That’s the level of tight end on the open market right now.
If Ferguson is a no-go this week then expect to see Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford take the leading roles at tight end. This may scare fans but there’s two major factors to look at. One factor is Marshon Lattimore may miss this game which puts rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry at one of the starting cornerbacks spots. With the prospect of a rookie corner facing either CeeDee Lamb or Brandin Cooks you can be sure the Saints coaches will pull a safety to help him out. That leaves room in the middle of the field for Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford to get open and make plays. The other factor is last year the Saints defense allowed the second-most touchdowns to the tight end position, making this a positive matchup for the Cowboys tight end tandem.
Dana: It looks like Jake Ferguson dodged a season-ending injury with a knee bruise/MCL sprain. According to the team, he still has a chance to play on Sunday against the Saints. If he does end up missing some time however, look for the team to use the guys that are already in house. Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and John Stephens Jr. will be the guys they rely on, but also look for Hunter Luepke to fill in as well. He got some work in with the tight end group at training camp and can help with blocking receiving.
“So are the Cowboys distractions finally gone or might we see more in the next few weeks?”
(@MrEd315 on Twitter)
Mike: Distractions never go away and for a team as media-grabbing as Dallas. You can be sure there’s plenty to distract the players and coaches. The best teams in the NFL aren’t the ones that shy away from distractions, but are the ones that deal with them quickly and don’t allow them to effect the team.
Dana: While the biggest distraction cloud looming over this Cowboys team has blown away with the news of Dak Prescott’s extension, there are still some clouds forming in the distance. Mike McCarthy is coaching on the last year of his contract and Micah Parsons’ contract will be next in line. There is still time for the Cowboys front office to make decisions on both of these but it will no doubt be something that is talked about all season. That being said, this Cowboys team does a very good job about keeping all of the distractions away from the field. It won’t be the focus of conversations in the locker room and shouldn’t affect the play on game days.