The Cowboys are expected to be very busy in these few weeks leading up to free agency, and one of their main negotiations will be that of Brandon Carr’s bloated contract.
Carr signed an elite cornerback type contract (5yr/$50 mil) and the Cowboys have not reaped the benefits at all. At the time the Cowboys were looking at replacing Terence Newman who was struggling on a regular basis, and Carr has now become the player he replaced.
Orlando Scandrick has steadily worked his way up the ladder and is now fully entrenched as the Cowboys best cornerback and it’s not even close. The Cowboys have a lot of work in revamping the defense, and some of the secondary troubles can be remedied with a stout pass rush, so we’ll see what the Cowboys do up front.
During the Combine the Cowboys met with Carr’s agent to discuss a paycut and reporters asked him if anything came from those talks.
“I don’t have anything to report there,” owner Jerry Jones said at the NFLScouting Combine. (ESPN)
My gut feeling is that Carr will not take the paycut and he will follow the steps of Jay Ratliff, Miles Austin, and DeMarcus Ware. I’ll be shocked if a new deal is brokered. I would also expect the Cowboys to tender a decent offer to Sterling Moore, he’s a restricted free agent.
That being said, if Carr is going to be released, expect the Cowboys to get a mid-tier free agent in Charles Tillman who is familiar with the way Rod Marinelli runs his defense and he can still play. Tillman turned 34 today and is coming off a second tricep tear, so that will come into play if we ever reach that bridge.
What type of contract would Tillman garner in the open market? My guess would be a 2yr deal with incentives, along with some protections due to his age and possible chronic tricep injuries.
Obviously, bringing in Tillman to replace Carr would be a stop gap, but would not deter the Cowboys from drafting a cornerback in the early rounds. In fact, if Tillman was onboard, he could take a rookie under his wing and guide him. If the Cowboys drafted a player like Marcus Peters, who has immense talent, but also comes with some red flags, then it would be a smoother transition with a player of Tillman’s caliber.
Tillman plans on returning for some more football, but wants to win a championship, and what better place than a team like the Cowboys who are on an upward tick.
“I love the game. I’m not going to stop ’til I’m dead,” Tillman said. “Obviously, I can’t play until I’m like 50 or 60. But I just want to keep going. I’m feeling good. I just have unfinished business. I want a championship. I think that’s my main reason (to keep playing): I’m hungry for a championship.” (NFL)
Keep an eye on the Brandon Carr situation, Tillman could be a perfect fit for Marinelli’s defense.
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