The 2016 version of the Dallas Cowboys needs to look vastly different from the 2015 version of the Dallas Cowboys if they'd like to be a bit more competitive next season. And that all starts with parting ways with several different players on that 2015 roster. But, who shouldn't make the cut, or, should we say, who should get cut?
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, it doesn't make sense to cut too many players on the current roster, as an awful lot of dead money will be left on the table for the vast majority of the players signed to play on the 2016 roster. But that doesn't mean everyone is in the clear. Here are five guys the Cowboys need to either cut from the roster, or simply refuse to re-sign.
1. Greg Hardy
Look, let's not kid ourselves. Greg Hardy is a tremendously talented defensive end who teams would love to have on their roster. But Hardy not only warrants a gigantic paycheck, but he's also pretty much the worst person in the NFL. Hardy was the subject of a brutal domestic violence incident that cost him 19 games over the last two seasons. The Cowboys took a chance on him with a one-year deal, but it just wasn't worth it. Sure, he provided the team with six sacks on the year, but he primarily served as the team's distraction and overall annoyance. When photos emerged of the injuries Hardy's ex-girlfriend sustained in the domestic violence incident, NFL players collectively rallied in their disgust of Hardy. His own teammate doesn't want him on the team. Others have opined that he's a "garbage human" that has a direct effect on how the Cowboys are viewed. Hardy will be one and done.
2. Morris Claiborne
Morris Claiborne has never really lived up to the complete expectations the Cowboys had of him when they selected the corner with the sixth-overall pick in the 2012 draft. Claiborne is set to become a free agent this offseason, and while it's certainly a possibility for him to return to Dallas, both sides might be better off if they just collectively agree to part ways with one another. Injuries have mounted against the 25-year-old, but even when he's in the lineup, he just hasn't shown that same flashy ability he had in his three years at LSU.
Claiborne was solid at times throughout the 2015 season, but if he's looking for a deal that carries a larger cap hit than his $5,175,069 deal from this season, the Cowboys are better off looking elsewhere. Claiborne may end up getting a deal like that from another team desperate for a corner, so he may be better off looking elsewhere, as well.
The Cowboys gave Rolando McClain his chance, but it's time to part ways with him. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
3. Rolando McClain
When the Dallas Cowboys traded a sixth-round pick in the 2015 draft to the Baltimore Ravens for the then-retired linebacker Rolando McClain, it was a low-risk, medium-reward kind of deal. McClain initially looked pretty good in that 2014 season as he tried to fill the void left behind by Sean Lee, who was out for the season with an ACL tear. But after taking two "show me" deals in a row from the Cowboys, McClain hasn't proven that he is worthy of any sort of commitment from the Cowboys. He's inconsistent and unreliable at times, and there's no reason for the Cowboys to deal with that in their future.
If he's willing to take another one of those single-year "show me" deals, he might be worth it, as McClain knows the system, can sometimes surprise you and will provide the team with a great contract value. But if you look at it from McClain's perspective, why would he be willing to do that? If he can get a stable commitment from somewhere else, that's his best option.
4. Matt Cassel
It was a nice opportunity for Matt Cassel when he was asked to fill in as the next option in the desperate search for the Tony Romo replacement, but it just didn't work out. Cassel just can't cut it as a backup for this team. In his eight games this season for Dallas, Cassel completed 119 passes for 1,276 yards, managed just five touchdowns and threw seven interceptions. Cassel's passes were frequently off-target, and he managed to record just a single win over the course of his entire season.
Kellen Moore was given a go in the latter part of the season. He's already signed to the team for next year on a cheap deal, but he can't cut it as a backup either. It's a much better decision for the Cowboys to let Moore serve as the third-string quarterback and either look at the draft for a high-end prospect, or look to sign or trade for a better option in the offseason than Cassel.
5. Brandon Carr
If the Cowboys cut any big-name player this season, it's probably going to be Brandon Carr. If the Cowboys choose to cut him, they need to wait until after June 1 to cut him. Once it's June 2, and Dallas chooses to cut him, Carr carries a hefty $4.717 million in dead money, but they will save $9.1 million in cap space. When Jerry Jones signed Carr to his five-year, $50.1 million deal in 2012, he envisioned Carr being his play-making corner. That's not what Carr is at all anymore. Carr hasn't made a single interception in his last two seasons. Over that same span, he's defended 15 total passes. In his first two years with the Cowboys, Carr snagged six interceptions and defended 24 passes. He just hasn't been the same over the last two seasons. And with a $13.817 million cap hit next season, he's simply not worth it.
Salary cap information provided by overthecap.com
Tommy Chalk writes about the NFL and NHL for FOX Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @Tommy_Chalk
