The Dallas Cowboys may move on from DeMarco Murray this offseason, as Dez Bryant has been the free agent priority and if that happens, Jerry Jones could target Adrian Peterson in a trade or if he is released, while names like Frank Gore, Mark Ingram, Justin Houston, Cecil Shorts, Jordan Cameron and Marshawn Lynch also could be potential options in free agency for the team.
The Cowboys are coming into the offseason with two of their best players hitting free agency in Murray and Bryant. The two had fantastic seasons in 2014 and that will make it tough for Jones to keep both and build up the rest of the roster after winning the NFC East division. According to ESPN Dallas writer Todd Archer, the Cowboys have the means and the money to sign both Murray and Bryant, but that they may avoid doing that so they don't hamstring the cap for years to come.
The Cowboys ranked second in the league in rushing yards per game and they reshaped their offensive line over the past couple years and that has worked out beautifully. Murray played in all 16 games for the first time in his career and set highs with 13 touchdowns, 1845 yards and a whopping 393 carries. Murray touched the ball over 400 times and that is some concern for the Cowboys, as that could lead to some regression next year. The team could look at Frank Gore or Adrian Peterson as options if they are not brought back to their current teams.
The team is planning to sign Bryant to a major deal no matter what happens and with Tony Romo's contract also eating up a big chunk, they can't risk overpaying Murray. The team loves Murray and wants him back, but with his injury history, age and the fact that running backs break down as they get older, they have to weigh whether he is worth it. The Cowboys are currently just under the cap number and according to ESPN Dallas and Over the Cap, they are currently projected to have about $7 million in space.
That number is deceiving though, as the team is likely going to make some major cuts and other moves as the offseason progresses. Archer writes that the team actually could end up as one of the teams with the most cap space this offseason, as they could free up themselves to over $40 million in space. Archer writes that both Doug Free and Henry Melton will be off the cap once the league year starts and the team is going to either cut or work out a new deal with Brandon Carr.
Carr signed a huge deal with the team a few years ago and making a move with him could help make up nearly $10 million in cap space. The Cowboys also could look at restructuring Tyron Smith's contract and that could give the team more money, while Archer adds that Romo could have his contract restructured and save over $11 million in cap space. All that adds up to some nice money and this is why Archer writes that if the Cowboys let Murray go, it will be their choice and not because they can't afford to keep both him and Bryant.
