Why the Dallas Cowboys should not break the bank on Randy Gregory
Randy Gregory enters the offseason as priority No. 1 for the Dallas Cowboys. Gregory plays a premium position and is set to sign a new deal in free agency. That makes his value as high as ever, and he would be smart to cash-in in a big way. The market will certainly be there for […]
Randy Gregory enters the offseason as priority No. 1 for the Dallas Cowboys.
Gregory plays a premium position and is set to sign a new deal in free agency. That makes his value as high as ever, and he would be smart to cash-in in a big way.
The market will certainly be there for Gregory if the Cowboys allow him to hit the open market. Drafted in the second-round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Randy Gregory has used the last two seasons to flash his explosive pass rushing ability.
Gregory is an important piece to the Cowboys defense thanks to what he brings off the edge. He gets after the quarterback in a hurry and is always a threat to make a big play. His strip sack against the Patriots was one of the more notable moments of the season.
All of that said, the Dallas Cowboys should think twice about dropping the bag on Gregory. There are a lot of pros when it comes to the pass rusher, but there are also some valid concerns, too.
OPPOSITE SIDE OF GREGORY ARGUMENT
Looking at the other side of the Randy Gregory argument, there are a handful of things to consider. While the Cowboys would like to keep their stud pass rusher, it may not be the smartest idea in the world.
First, Gregory has yet to play a full season in his professional career. Marijuana-related concerns off the field limited his ability to play early in his professional tenure.
Even with that in the rearview mirror, Gregory missed multiple games in 2021 due to a calf strain and is set to have offseason knee surgery. Those kind of surgeries are always tricky.
Secondly, the money that Gregory is going to demand might be tough to swallow. Spotrac sets the Dallas Cowboys defender's market value at a $13.2 million annual salary. The Cowboys are already having to make tough decisions in regards to the salary cap.
Stephen Jones and the Cowboys front office are notorious for being cheap. Paying Gregory big money would bring even tough decisions to the table. That makes it a bit of a tricky situation.
Placing the franchise tag on Gregory would cost the Cowboys around $20 million for just the 2022 season. So, that takes that possibility out of the equation.
Overall, the Dallas Cowboys must weigh the pros and cons of paying big money — in an already tight salary cap situation — to a defensive end that has a history of struggling to stay on the field.
Featured image via Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
