The Dallas Cowboys are in a bit of a pickle. Coming off a 12-4 season, their first year above .500 since 2009, two of their best players will become unrestricted free agents this offseason. Both star wide receiver Dez Bryant and the NFL's leading rusher this season DeMarco Murray are scheduled to hit the open market.
The perennially cap strapped Cowboys will have a difficult time retaining both players. Even team owner and general manager Jerry Jones has admitted that it will be a "challenge." But Dallas is desperate to build on this successful year and is likely feeling the pressure from its fan base to continue winning. Most NFL observers have assumed that Jones' first priority will be hammering out a deal with Bryant. But Joel Corry of CBS Sports isn't so sure that is still the case.
"I spoke to a team contract negotiator today that expected Jerry Jones to open his checkbook & put a 2012 RB market price on DeMarco Murray," Corry tweeted yesterday.
The value of running backs on the open market has decreased significantly over the last few years. But if Jones is serious about keeping Murray in a Cowboys uniform, than he'll likely have to pay big bucks to do it.
The Seattle Seahawks gave running back Marshawn Lynch a four year deal worth $31 million (with $17 million in guarantees) back in 2012. Murray would likely be looking for something similar. But the Cowboys must also keep in mind Murray's injury history. He missed 11 games through his first three seasons in the NFL, and suffered a broken bone in his hand toward the end of the regular season this year. Murray's workload also approached 450 total touches, an enormous amount for any running back.
I'm not saying that Dallas should just let Murray walk without a fight. I'm just saying they should have a limit on what they are willing to spend.
Is it wise for the Cowboys to hand Murray a mega deal when teams are getting production at the running back position so cheaply these days? The Baltimore Ravens signed Justin Forsett to the veteran's minimum this past offseason, and he finished fifth in the NFL in rushing yards. Undrafted free agent Branden Oliver helped the San Diego Chargers weather a storm of injuries at the running back position this year. Neither player is as talented as or as valuable to their teams as Murray is to Dallas though. With an offensive line that features three first-round picks, should the Cowboys consider saving their precious little cap space for defensive upgrades?
It's still possible for Jones to re-sign both Murray and Bryant. But the question remains: Is that the right move for the Cowboys?
