The Dallas Cowboys have $10.5 million of available space and are about to add more.
That amount is about to double, and then some. Dallas has yet to receive the cap space from the release of Ezekiel Elliott back in March.
The result of cutting Zeke will bring in the extra $10.9 million within 24 hours, bringing the grand total to $21.4 million.
So what does that mean for the team?
Well, don’t expect it to be spent on trying to sign DeAndre Hopkins or anything like that.
Most of the money, which isn’t a ton in today’s NFL, will likely be used on players or other miscellaneous needs.
Needs include incentives in players’ contracts, practice squad elevations, and injury settlements.
Then, of course, some will be put toward the extensions of CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs, and even Terence Steele, all of which would raise cap figures.
Before we get into all that, I wouldn’t rule out some crazy type of situation that happens.
Very unlikely, but Jerry Jones has surprised me this offseason.
Let me be clear, I don’t think it will happen, but maybe Dallas can bring back Zeke for cheaper. Never know what gets talked about behind closed doors.
Now, as far as possible, extensions go. Lamb is clearly ready for his.
He showed last season that he could step up and be a true No. 1 guy and should have an even better year with Brandin Cooks now in the fold.
I still need to see one more year for Diggs, and I say that because of the money he will get from Dallas.
He has proven to be a No. 1 corner, but consistency is key. A season ago, he was on much of an island, being Dallas’s only real lockdown guy.
He played well, but now with Stephon Gilmore on the other side, we should see this play out well. Go earn that contract, Diggs.
Todd Archer, Dallas Cowboys reporter for ESPN, is the one who mentioned the possible extension for Steele. Check out that tweet by clicking here.
My problem with that is that the team isn’t even sure he will play right tackle. As Jerry Jones said last season, they just like their guys. I don’t know.
Either way, cutting Zeke back in March was the correct move.
They are about to benefit from that release and can sprinkle around the extra money that is about to be handed to them.
The obvious is using some to resign Lamb and Diggs at some point. It will only be enough for some of the money they will get, but it will cover a nice chuck for the short term.
For me, I would like to see one other player added to this roster. The window is starting to close on this core group as a whole.
The offensive line is getting older, and this is one of the last best chances Dak Prescott has.
The team is sitting in a GREAT spot either way. If the roster that walked into week one a season ago won 12 games, this one could win even more.