We are just three days away from the deadline to designate players for the franchise tag. Jerry Jones has often said deadlines make deals, so what if anything are the Cowboys going to do with Dez Bryant. Everything we have heard suggests the Cowboys will in fact use the franchise tag on Bryant, that’s not to say the deadline will ignite a long-term deal at the 25th hour.
If and when the Cowboys decide to use the franchise tag on Dez, it’ll then be a matter of Dez signing the tender. Once the tender is signed the money is guaranteed. Anthony Spencer was tagged consecutively in 2012 and 2013. Spencer did not hesitate and took the money and made off with a buttload of cash in two seasons.
Fast forward to this year, and it would be in Dez’s best interest to sign his franchise tag tender immediately as well, or would it?
If Dez really wants to get a bigger pay day this season and beyond, he could wait to sign the offersheet and wait. By not signing the offersheet, he would in essence allow any potential suitors to come in and offer him new deal.
The main thing about signing a player designated a franchise player is draft picks and here’s where it could get interesting.
I’m looking at the Cleveland Browns, and it’s no secret they have wanted a legit franchise wide receiver for awhile now. They wanted Sammy Watkins last season and they have lost Josh Gordon possibly indefinitely with his habitual drug problems.
The Cleveland Browns have the cap space and they have spare 1st round picks to give up without hurting too much. They own the #12 and #19 picks in this year’s draft. So, for the Browns, they could give up that #12 1st rounder for Dez and their 1st rounder in 2016. (From what I understand, you would give up the current year 1st and the following year 1st, and not both of their 1st that they have this year, if that is incorrect please let me know)
Sure the Browns could use one of their two 1st rounders on a wide receiver, but they would not be anywhere close to Dez Bryant’s level.
For Dez, this could help him get the money he wants this year. The Browns would sign the offersheet and the Cowboys would need to decide to match the Browns offer.
There hasn’t been a player of Dez’s caliber under the franchise tag on the market in recent years, so this could be the first time in a long time that a team has given up draft picks for a player.
Jimmy Graham was available last year, and he’s a spectacular tight end, but he did not garner any offersheets. Alex Mack, the center for the Browns was given an offersheet from the Jags, but the Browns matched the offer. Dez is a truly elite player, possibly the best at his position right now. So, it would be insane to think no other team would even think about signing Dez to an offersheet.
The one thing that may scare other teams away from signing Dez away is all this trumped up video tape that does not exist and his issues from earlier in his career; however, this is the Browns, and they are desperate at jump starting their brand name.
We’ll see what the Cowboys and Dez do in the next coming days, it could get very interesting around here.
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