As a whole, no handling of a single position group has faced more scrutiny in Dallas than that of the defensive line. Whether it’s their inability to sign a “War Daddy” in free agency through the years, or the selection of Michigan Defensive End Taco Charlton in round one last year, Cowboys Nation hasn’t agreed with most of the front office’s decisions on the defensive line.
And yet, the defensive line was downright dominant through most of the first 10-12 weeks of the 2017 season. DeMarcus Lawrence finished second in the league in sacks with 14.5, Maliek Collins continued to develop on the interior, Charlton showed some signs of improvement throughout the season, and David Irving was nearly unblockable when healthy and available.
When healthy and available.
For the Cowboys, it’s that caveat with Irving which seems to be holding them back from a long-term commitment.
David Irving enters the offseason as a restricted free agent, but how the Cowboys’ plan to handle his free agency are not clear. This week, Stephen Jones expressed the team’s concerns with signing Irving to a lengthy contract.
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones on plan to re-sign restricted free agent DL David Irving: "He needs to put together a full season and consistency & all of that. Obviously played outstanding when he was healthy. I think it’d be real difficult to figure out something long-term with David.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) January 25, 2018
Jones is clearly concerned with two things in terms of Irving:
- Health
- Past suspension
Whether or not these concerns are valid, however, is up for debate.
Much of Cowboys Nation is hoping they place a first-round tender on David Irving, meaning that if a team were to outbid them, the Cowboys would be compensated with that team’s first-round pick. Considering the concerns Dallas has for Irving, it’d be hard to imagine a team giving up a first-round pick for him.
Even if they placed a second-round tender, they may be okay. Of course the risk of losing Irving would be greater, but the Cowboys might be comfortable losing out on him with the second-round tender in order to gain an extra early pick.
Should they be comfortable with that? Well, that’s a totally different question. The odds of finding a day-one starter who will perform better than Irving did in 2017 (when healthy and available) with a day two pick are not great. They would likely take a step back at the 3-technique position in the now, while hoping the improvement would come over time.
Someone like Michigan 3-technique Maurice Hurst would be a solid replacement for David Irving, but would require a first-round selection. Also, as much as I love Hurst, I don’t see him being as good or better than Irving his rookie season. Maybe over time, but probably not immediately.
Things are getting complicated as we near free agency, but it seems pretty clear that the fans feel keeping Irving around is much more important than the organization does.
Whoa! What about Maliek Collins? He was going to be our 3-tech until all our 1-techs went away. He slid over due to not having a true 1-tech on this team. Collins is a true 3-tech and handled the position as a rookie with aplomb. Many thought he’d have a breakout year this year, but due to the loses at the 1-tech and him dealing with an injury for the second half of the year kept him from having that breakout.
Don’t count out Collins. He’s our 3-tech of the future, not Irving.
Agreed. That is why I would be OK with a Vita Vea or a DaRpn Payne with the 19th pick.
The truth about a player is between JJ (soft) and SJ (strong) words, that´s how they play it out. Having said so, Irving won’t receive a long term contract, but neither he will be lost in FA, because, for now, he is the best option as you clearly stated Kevin. However, I can understand the more open and direct tone of SJ, recognizing that their DL key players don´t help yet to solve the situation (Irving hast to put a complete season, D Law played lights out on a contract year, Crawford is overrated and overpayed, and the rest are starting to click, like Taco and Collins), so SJ does not see locked players and moreover, Irving and not Crawford results the odd man. Because all of that, FO has another position to address in the first rounds of the draft, along with OT, G, WR or LB, increasing the opportunity cost. So, the DL situation will take another season to be solved (adding preassure to Marinelli) and as insurance policy for the aforementioned players, they need to pursue a DE (which absolutely is an upgrade to Crawford) or grab a DT (and then Irving would be expendable next year). Is that is the case, and being realistic that the likes of Vita Vea, Davenport, Hurst and even Payne will be gone at 19, FO won´t have any insurance at all (besides Taco starting at RDE), which is the why OL and WR will be the targets to plug and play. And talking about plug and play, Isaiah Wynn would be great at 18 of round 2, because he will start at G and, at any moment, he can take the place of Tyron and then Cooper the place of Wynn (round 1 is for Ridley or Washington at round 3). Sorry for my long answer.