The 5 top most expensive cow boys Player in 2024 revealed.
players best represent the balance between performance and salary?NFC Wild Card Playoffs – Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys. As the Dallas Cowboys move into the salary cap space this offseason, some players are making the job easier than others. While the team has some tough decisions and great maneuverability with certain parts of the roster, others offer flexibility because they are relative finds.No, Dak Prescott is not on this list. Neither is Zack Martin or DeMarcus Lawrence, who continue to be outstanding performers but also top the charts with hits over $20 million. Today we’re going to focus on guys who aren’t doing what they would when they hit the open market.Since he will likely get a big extension this season, we are not including Micah Parsons on this list. His current cap hit of $5.4 million is ridiculous for a top five defensive player in the league. Padres know it, the Cowboys know it, and it will likely change before September to avoid a stalemate.After that, let’s get to work!WR CeeDee Lamb$17.99M CapLamb was so good in 2023 that his cap size quadrupling from $4.5M to roughly $18M won’t make anyone nervous. The jump comes as Lamb moves from the regular four-year option on his rookie contract to the five-year option that Dallas exercised last spring. Lamb posted career numbers last season and established himself as an elite receiver in the NFL.While $18 million would make Lamb the fourth most expensive player on the 2024 roster, at least based on current numbers, it wouldn’t even put him in the top 10 of the annual WR compensation league. Tyreek Hill makes $30 million a year and the rest is $28-23 million.Lamb led the NFL in catches last year, was second in yards and third in touchdowns. He would be a steal for as little as $18 million, and there’s a good chance that number will drop if the Cowboys give him a long extension this offseason.CB DaRon Bland$1.06 million cap hitFrom fifth-round pick to First Team All-Pro just 20 months later, Bland is now the biggest deal on the roster. While his league-leading interception number led his season, Bland also did well overall despite being forced out of position after Trevon Diggs was injured.Although he should get a boost under the league’s performance-based pay program, Bland only has three years left on his rookie contract and his compensation won’t skyrocket. At one of the top positions in football, you can multiply Bland’s salary many times over and come out victorious.The rise of Bland along with the return of Diggs will give Dallas some leverage at cornerback this offseason. They can play hardball with Stephon Gilmore in free agency, either bring him back at a lower salary or let him walk. Bland’s ability to play outside or in the slot also allows the Cowboys to be more flexible in replacing Gilmore when he moves on.TE Jake Ferguson$1.16M capAnother member of the 2022 draft class, Ferguson, like the team, has become a great asset. He was in the top 10 in catches, yards and touchdowns and continues to make peanuts in the third year of his rookie deal.With Ferguson at the helm, Dallas can build a capable TE group for next season with minimal cost. Like Bland, he should get a raise based on PBP. Hopefully, that will at least push Ferguson’s 2023 compensation above Luke Schoonmaker’s ($1.4 million).G Tyler Smith$3.65M CapTyron Smith’s relatively healthy year allowed Tyler to focus on playing guard, allowing his physical talents to shine more and his inexperience to be used less. He was named a second-team All-Pro last season and is now a financial cornerstone of the offensive line in a transition season.With Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz both free agents in 2024, the Cowboys still have some work to do. Fortunately, the younger Smith remains a huge asset to the team’s salary cap and gives them options going forward, whether he gets called up or comes back to contend.LB Damone Clark$1.05MClark led the team in tackles and took on more responsibility after Leighton Vander Esch was injured. While the team hopes to add a linebacker in 2024, Clark is still an important part of the rotation going in.Ideally, Clark would play more of a weakside role and the rookie (assuming Vander Esch doesn’t return) would do more work in the middle and against. Clark is a taller, more athletic defender who can do well in pursuit but excels as a base defender.However, at only $1 million per year, Clark would be a steal even at backup power. He offers fantastic value as a starter and should only get better in year three..