MARK PLEASANTONSMYRNA, TN
It's great to have Frederick locked up. But will this deal cost the Cowboys in different areas later?
David:The answer is always going to be 'yes' – that's the way the NFL works in the salary cap era. I'm honestly fairly surprised to see them sign Frederick so quickly, because we all know they've got another expensive contract coming up for Zack Martin. I can't imagine them letting Martin get away, so what does that mean for the rest of the roster? If they're going to hold on to this offensive line, they likely won't have a ton of other money to spend – which means they're going to have to start hitting on some draft picks on the defensive side of the ball.
Rob: It's a possibility thanks to the salary cap. They now have huge long-term extensions committed to two-fifths of their offensive line – easily the most combined guaranteed money committed at one position. You can bet re-signing Zack Martin at some point remains a high priority, but La'el Collins also has two years remaining on his rookie deal. Can they re-sign both? The Cowboys have been creative with the cap before. It's a good problem to have.
STEVEN BENTONASHDOWN, AR
I think Dak performed great, but I also think Showers did well to given the level of players surrounding him. Do you think they will let Showers start next week to give him a chance to work with some talent (Dez, Williams, Beasley, O-Line) on the first team, or do you think it's more important to the coaching staff to keep Dak's confidence high going into the season?
David:I would love to see Showers run with the first team, but I don't think it's going to happen. Tony Romo will likely play in both of the next two preseason games, which eats up some of the first-team snaps. Maybe Showers can get some second-team snaps, but I think the coaching staff wants to continue to evaluate Dak – he is their fourth-round draft pick after all. It's not that they don't like Showers, it's just that there are other, clear-cut priorities. That's why I was worried about Showers' odds to make the roster before training camp.
Rob: I would expect Tony Romo to start the second preseason game, then Prescott plays, then Showers. It's not so much about keeping Prescott's confidence high as continuing to evaluate him as a No. 2 option behind Romo. The Rams game was a great start, but overall it's a small sample size. They need to be sure he's ready and prepared to go win regular-season games if needed; if not, then a veteran backup still might be a possibility.
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