With the NFL season officially over, we’ve decided to give you a quick financial look at the Cowboys and who has the highest salary- cap figures for 2014.
Of course, the Cowboys will restructure, release or ask some players to take a reduced salary to lower salary- cap figures to create room.
Here you go:
Outlook: The Cowboys will restructure the deals of Romo, Carr, Witten and Lee to create cap space. The Cowboys are nearly $25 million over the 2014 salary cap and getting under it shouldn't be a problem. Ware is another player the Cowboys could restructure. However, the team could ask Ware to take a pay cut, something he said he wouldn't do. So, if the team wants to move on from Ware, cutting him creates $7.4 million in cap space. Austin is another player in a similar situation as Ware. If Austin is a post-June 1 cut, the Cowboys save $5.5 million. Of course, the team creates space if Austin takes a pay cut. Free did this last year and is making $3.5 million in base salary this season. Orton's value to the Cowboys is important to note here. He's got the 10th highest cap figure on the team and he's the backup quarterback. Orton's cap figure is higher than starting guard Mackenzy Bernadeau ($4.074 million) and starting left tackle Tyron Smith ($3.976). Smith is still on his rookie contract and he along with wide receiver Dez Bryant ($3.898 cap figure) are expected to get new contracts.