Cowboys Wanted To Hire Jason Michael
- The Cardinals have hired former Titans quarterbacks coach Jason Michael as their new tight ends coach, as Marvez reports. The Cowboys also had interest in adding Michael to fill their vacant tight ends coach job, but Michael instead chose to head to the desert. Michael was previously Tennessee’s offensive coordinator from 2014-15, but was demoted when Mike Mularkey took over the Titans’ full-time head coach in 2016.
Updated 2018 NFL Draft Order
With the Super Bowl in the books, we now know the draft order for the entire first round of the 2018 draft. Here’s the rundown:
1. Cleveland Browns (0-16)
2. New York Giants (3-13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (4-12)
4. Cleveland Browns (via the 4-12 Houston Texans)
5. Denver Broncos (5-11)
6. New York Jets (5-11)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)
8. Chicago Bears (5-11)
T-9. Oakland Raiders (6-10)
T-9. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) (Note: The Raiders and 49ers have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broken by a coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 9 and the other club receiving the No. 10 pick.)
11. Miami Dolphins (6-10)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)
13. Washington Redskins (7-9)
14. Green Bay Packers (7-9)
15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
16. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
19. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
20. Detroit Lions (9-7)
21. Buffalo Bills (9-7)
22. Buffalo Bills (via the 10-6 Kansas City Chiefs)
23. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
24. Carolina Panthers (11-5)
25. Tennessee Titans (9-7)
26. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
27. New Orleans Saints (11-5)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
30. Minnesota Vikings (13-3)
31. New England Patriots (13-3)
32. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Cowboys Adjust OL La’el Collins’ Contract
The Cowboys have adjusted offensive lineman La’el Collins‘ contract in order to create additional cap space, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Collins will see $500K of his salary for the 2018 season converted into a signing bonus, allowing Dallas to spread that amount out over the next two years. It’s a small deal, and one that will only create $250K in extra cap room. But it’s a transaction that makes sense for the Cowboys, who rank in the bottom half of the NFL with about $18.6MM in reserves.
For Dallas, the move doesn’t carry much additional risk, as Collins is a near certainty to be on the team’s roster through 2019. Collins, 24, was projected as a first-round pick in the 2015 draft before his being linked to a murder investigation — one in which he was fully cleared — caused his stock to tumble. He eventually latched with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, and inked an extension last summer that will keep him under contract through 2019.
Collins played guard during his first two seasons in the NFL, but was transferred back to his natural tackle position following Doug Free‘s retirement prior to the 2017 campaign. Last year, Pro Football Focus graded Collins as the No. 56 tackle among 83 qualifiers.
Opinion: Cowboys Should Prioritize Martin Over Lawrence
- The Cowboys should prioritize a long-term deal for Zack Martin over pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News opines. The Cowboys need a great edge defender more than another Pro Bowl offensive lineman, but Lawrence’s history of back injuries and struggles prior to 2017 give Sherrington pause about the idea of committing to him for years to come. His suggestion is for the Cowboys to tag him for 2018 and take it from there. Meanwhile, Martin has already shown that he’s among the best in the league at his position across multiple seasons.
East Rumors: Cowboys, Bills, Fins, Giants
The Cowboys are nearly finished revamping their coaching staff, as they’ve promoted Keith O’Quinn to special teams coordinator and promoted Ben Bloom as linebackers coach, reports Todd Archer of ESPN.com. O’Quinn, who was previously Dallas’ assistant ST coach, was widely expected to be promoted to the full-time role to replace Rich Bisaccia, who left to join Jon Gruden‘s Raiders. Bloom, meanwhile, joined the Cowboys’ staff in 2011 and had most recently been an assistant coach for special projects. He’s taking over for Matt Eberflus, who is expected to become the Colts’ new defensive coordinator under presumptive head coach Josh McDaniels. Dallas is still planning to fill more two roles, tweets David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, as the club wants to hire a new tight ends coach and an assistant special teams coach to work under O’Quinn.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions:
- While the Bills‘ pass defense finished 12th in DVOA thanks to solid performances from rookie cornerback Tre’Davious White and veteran safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, Buffalo has parted ways with defensive backs coach Gill Byrd, according to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (Twitter link). To replace Byrd, the Bills have hired former Texans secondary coach John Butler, reports Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. Butler had spent the past four seasons Houston after following Bill O’Brien from Penn State to the Texans.
- The Dolphins have also found a new defensive backs coach, the club has hired Tony Oden to replace Lou Anarumo, per Marvez. Detroit parted ways with Oden last week as the team clears out its defensive staff prior to future head coach Matt Patricia‘s arrival. Oden had been with the Lions since 2014, but his tenure in the Motor City didn’t overlap with that of Miami defensive coordinator Matt Burke, who had left the club the year prior. Oden, who will now work with Xavien Howard, Reshad Jones, and T.J. McDonald, among others, has also coached with the Saints, Buccaneers, and Jaguars.
- One of the least productive units in the NFL has a new position coach, as the Giants have hired Hal Hunter as their offensive line coach, reports Marvez. Hunter boasts a lengthy coaching history that dates back to 1984, but he only first entered the NFL in 2006. He coached the Chargers’ offensive line and subsequently became San Diego’s offensive coordinator, and also had stops in Indianapolis and Cleveland.
Ryan Switzer Underwent Arthroscopic Surgey
- Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Switzer underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle, the team reported. Primarily deployed as a kickoff and punt returner in his rookie season, the North Carolina product is expected to assume a heavier workload on offense in his second season.
Lawrence Talks To Begin Next Month
To no one’s surprise, Pro Bowl defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is priority No. 1 for the Cowboys this offseason. Though he is the top target, Lawrence and his camp have yet to begin discussing a contract extension with the Cowboys and don’t expect to until later in February, ESPN’s Jenna Laine writes. 
Lawrence’s agent, David Canter, says he expects to sit down with Cowboys brass at the NFL Combine, which begins on Feb. 28 in Indianapolis. Judging from Canter’s comments, Lawrence will not be giving Dallas a hometown discount.
“It’s really up to them to want to do a deal that’s in line with what the market is for a young, ascending, elite franchise-caliber defensive end. Whatever that number ends up being remains to be seen. But I do imagine and believe that we’ll have multiple conversations over the next month or so. I think it’s early right now.”
Even if a longterm deal is not struck, it is fully expected that the Cowboys will use their franchise tag on the pass rusher. In 2017, Lawrence posted 14.5 sacks — tied for second in the league with Calais Campbell — and registered 27 quarterback hits. His sack total was the highest by a Cowboys defender since DeMarcus Ware in 2011.
The last time the Cowboys used the franchise tag was on Dez Bryant in 2015, shortly before signing the receiver to a contract extension. Using the franchise tag on Lawrence would cost the Cowboys about $17.5 MM.
Canter is also the agent of Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon, who signed the largest contract in NFL history for a defensive end when he landed a five-year, $85 MM deal in 2016.
Cowboys Looking For LBs/DEs
- Colts general manager Chris Ballard could be active during his second offseason at the helm, as Pauline hears Indianapolis is hoping to acquire as many as three new linebackers plus several cornerbacks during the free agent period. Former Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus is expected to become the Colts’ next defensive coordinator under presumptive head coach Josh McDaniels, so any additions will likely be made with Eberflus’ scheme in mind. At cornerback, specifically, Indianapolis could seek to re-sign 2017 breakout star Rashaan Melvin, who will hit free agency coming off the best campaign of his career.
- The Cowboys, too, have potential need areas in mind that could be addressed over the coming months, and linebacker and edge rusher are among them, reports Pauline. Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is the top free agent defender on the market, and Dallas will almost certainly retain him via the franchise tag if a long-term deal can’t be arranged. Meanwhile, the Cowboys could express interest in Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, per Pauline, who is expected to “blow up” the scouting combine with an athletic performance.
[SOURCE LINK]
Cowboys Won’t Extend David Irving
The Cowboys could, theoretically, work out an extension with defensive end David Irving this offseason. However, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones Stephen Jones isn’t optimistic about that happening. 
[RELATED: Cowboys Notes: Dez, Lawrence, O’Quinn]
“It’ll be a difficult one and probably, if anything, he needs to put together a full season and consistency and all of that,” Jones said. “Obviously played outstanding when he was healthy. DeMarcus Lawrence put together a full, great year and obviously that’s important. So therefore, I think it’d be real difficult to figure out something long-term with David.”
Last year, Irving turned in a career-high seven sacks, but he missed half of the season with a suspension at the beginning and a concussion at the end. The Cowboys are willing to wait and see what Irving can do over the course of a full season since he will be a restricted free agent this offseason. It seems likely that Dallas will place a second-round tender on him, giving Dallas the option to match any offer and the ability to collect a second-round pick should they choose to not match.
Last year, the second round tender was worth $2.746MM. This year, we’re likely to see an increase in the $2.85MM-$2.95MM range. Meanwhile, the first round tender will probably be north of $4.1MM and the original round tender should approach $2MM. Because he is a former UDFA, it would make little sense for the Cowboys to use the original round tender on Irving.
Cowboys Interviewing Marc Colombo For TEs Coach
- The Cowboys interviewed assistant offensive line coach Marc Colombo for their vacant tight ends coach job today, reports Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link). Colombo, who played for Dallas from 2005-10, was reportedly “in the mix” to become the Cowboys’ full-time offensive line coach earlier this year after Dallas fired Frank Pollack. However, the Cowboys ultimately selected former Bengals OL coach Paul Alexander for the job. Colombo, for his part, joined Dallas’ staff in 2015.