Cowboys monitor Crosby, eye Fitzpatrick and Taylor. Plus, insights on potential draft picks and contract maneuvers as free agency approaches.
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Fish’s Top 10 Takes ...
1 - A source tells me the Cowboys are “monitoring’’ the Maxx Crosby trade situation. I know Dallas is interested. I know Dallas doesn’t want to swap pick No. 12. Does No. 20 plus Osa cause the Raiders to answer the phone?
2 - Can I get Alontae Taylor and Minkah Fitzpatrick for free? The Cowboys like the Miami safety Fitzpatrick, and he’s available. But maybe instead of a trade, Dallas should gamble that he’ll get cut - and then chase him at that time?
And Taylor, the Saints cornerback? We’ve discussed him in this space before; he might be the best corner on the free agency market.
But …
He’s made a statement. Taylor shared a cryptic message, writing, “If only y’all knew what I knew haha ... can’t believe everything you read.’’
Well, this you can believe (see below): The Cowboys are interested in these two guys as defensive fixers.
3 - Donovan Ezeiruaku is set to miss most of the offseason after hip labrum surgery. Does that worry anybody? Does that increase the edge need?
4 - “No redshirts,’’ says owner Jerry Jones. And so based on Jerry’s own info … that’s a “no’’ on Tennesse cornerback Jermod McCoy at 12. But a “yes’’ on LSU cornerback Monsoor Delane.
Right?
5 - Some think George Pickens will react to the tag by staging a holdout … forever. So, he’s a holdout until Week 10 while living unhappily under the tag? Maybe … but jerry and Steven and McClay and Schottenheimer all talk a lot about how much “George loves football.”
If you love football … You give up $27.3 million guaranteed and you sit out all of May, June, July, August, September, October and half of November? And then maybe don’t get activated until December? Seven months away from what you love?
George “loving football’’? That may be the Cowboys greatest leverage of all.
6 - Lots of folks are saying the Brandon Aubrey deal should get done soon. I think the positive leaks are coming from the Joneses. Cool. No problem.
Now quit leaking and sign him. Show me.
7 - There are no plans to cut Kenny Clark. As I’ve reported, there are plans to move his money. One way or another.
Meanwhile, your daily cap reminder as to how Dallas will soon get cap-compliant with a series of “flip the switch’’ moves …
QB Dak Prescott - $31 million in savings
WR CeeDee Lamb - $19 million in savings
OL Tyler Smith - $17.6 million in savings
DT Quinnen Williams - $14.6 million in savings
DT Osa Odighizuwa - $12 million in savings
Add it up: almost $100 million moved - nobody cut! - and you suddenly got almost $40 million worth of room.
8 - A source tells me the Cowboys believe they can ‘fix’ OT Terence Steele rather than cut him for $14 million in cap savings. We shall see.
9 - Should Dallas bring home just-cut center Tyler Biadasz? If they did, the now ex-Commanders starter plays center and they move Cooper Beebe to his natural guard spot … and then kick Tyler Smith to tackle?
Or …
Is the second round tender that’s going to be put on guard TJ Bass mean that he’s a starter?
10 - More free agency names for when legal tampering opens on March 9? Let’s also eye Denver linebacker Alex Singleton, Eagles defenders Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship, Seattle corner Riq Woolen, Denver safety PJ Locke (first noted by Calvin Watkins), Arizona safety Jalen Thompson, and Ravens edge Dre’Mont Jones, Packers linebacker Quay Walker, Raiders corner Eric Stokes and Texans linebacker EJ Speed (all noted by Nick Harris).
Prediction: I think Dallas will end up adding two veteran starters to help the defense - and I think they might even be “Tier 1’’ guys … a major change (as promised) in the way Jerry usually does his springtime business.