The Dallas Cowboys have some tough decisions to make outside of their current coaching dilemmas. The team is currently roughly $25 million over the 2014 salary cap and will likely have to make several crucial moves in order to clear the necessary amount of cap space needed to add free agents and draft picks. As a result, both Miles Austin and DeMarcus Ware could find themselves as cap casualties this offseason.
Austin is an $8.2 million hit to the salary cap next season and ESPNDallas.com is reporting he could be the first cut during offseason moves. The Dallas Cowboys could save $5.5 million by releasing the wide receiver by June 1. Austin is an easy target after the disappearing act he pulled in 2013. Currently getting paid like one of the top receivers in the league, Austin only managed 244 yards off 24 catches. He spent most of the season injured, producing career-lows in most stats.
The 29-year-old was then replaced by rookie Terrance Williams who proved to have all of the potential in the world to develop into a top playmaking threat. Pair him with clear No. 1 Dez Bryant and Austin will not be missed. Austin signed a deal worth $57.1 million with $18 million in guaranteed money back in 2012 after a breakout year. He restructured that contract last season and could do so again if the Cowboys feel he is a necessary player or they could simply release him and save the cash.
Ware could be the second cap casualty for the Dallas Cowboys. Ware is set to make $12.24 this season with a $16.003 cap hit. If released, the Cowboys save $7.4 million. The Cowboys could take a lot at restructuring his contract to possibly free up $8.6 million, but he would be a bigger cap hit down the road.
Normally a mode of consistency, Ware only put up six sacks this season. It was his first time not in double-digit numbers since his rookie season in 2005. Injuries and his age certainly played a large factor in this, two things that will likely not improve over time. To make things worse, owner/ King Cowboy Jerry Jones heavily criticized Ware during the December slump, saying the veteran needed to play harder and push the defense more.
Both Ware and Austin had their names mentioned for all the wrong reasons this season. As the Cowboys work to get their financial situation cleaned up, the two veterans could be on their way out.
