- 6 months ago
Jon Machota joined the K&C Masterpiece and discussed the Cowboys’ free agent moves so far. He broke down the Maxx Crosby situation, potential Osa Odighizuwa trades, roster depth, draft strategy, the Cowboys overall direction, development, and more.
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00:00Let's talk to the man. He covers the Cowboys for The Athletic, and no doubt is as worried about Caleb
00:06Foster's injury as I am.
00:07It is John Machoda. Good afternoon, sir.
00:11I mean, what a gut punch. Everything was going so well, and this is why we can't have nice things.
00:16It really is.
00:18Y'all get all the things when it comes to new basketball.
00:22Really not. I think it's funny how people talk about how old the refs are always helping out.
00:27I don't know. Where have they been helping him out the last 10 years?
00:30Good point.
00:31I mean, everything's rolling for him, and Zion blows out a shoe for some reason.
00:36Yeah!
00:37Everything's rolling last year, and Cooper Flagg has to get an ankle injury in the ACC tournament.
00:42And then we've got guys playing with one arm.
00:47I think it's funny when people act like Duke gets all the breaks.
00:50They obviously recruit very well. Nobody recruits as well as they do, but I'm just speaking on the last 10
00:57years.
00:57They have not gotten many breaks.
00:58I'm just a bitter UNT fan, I guess, is the deal there, John.
01:03See, and I've pushed really hard to become John's best friend in real life because he loves cards.
01:10He goes to the Dallas Card Show.
01:12He loves Duke basketball, and he knows all the things about Cowboys.
01:15What more could you want in another human?
01:18I have no clue.
01:18Yeah, I don't either.
01:20All right, so a lot going on.
01:22John, I was hoping that, obviously, we'll start with the one you probably guessed,
01:26why the Cowboys would not re-enter or do not appear as though they'll re-enter into Max Crosby discussions.
01:34Yeah.
01:35I mean, obviously, the medical part, and then having Dr. Dan Cooper knowing what the situation looks like,
01:42I just think that from whatever the Ravens found in that procedure, I think it's going to give a lot
01:48of teams a little bit of,
01:50hey, let's wait a little bit longer before we invest these type of picks in him.
01:55And I still don't think he's playing for the Raiders this upcoming season.
01:58I think something ends up getting done with him somewhere, somehow.
02:02Now, obviously, the price has come down, and so it doesn't make sense for the Raiders to just be like,
02:06okay, anybody want him now?
02:07Like, we'll just take the highest offer.
02:09I mean, they might not even get a one-off for him right now, and so, you know, I don't
02:13know.
02:14Can they wait until the draft or after the draft?
02:16I mean, because his contract's so big, but, I mean, you know, I just look at the Cowboys as a
02:19team
02:20that we never would have thought they ended up with George Pickens, and somehow that happened.
02:22Now, obviously, much different contract situation, but it just seems odd that Max Crosby is just going to go back
02:29in that Raiders building, and everything's going to be fine, and he's going to, again, be the face of their
02:32franchise,
02:33and they're just going to roll in this season like none of this trade ever even happened.
02:37And so, until he's on another team, I don't think you completely close the door,
02:41but it does seem like from the Cowboys' perspective that they made the move for Rashawn Gary,
02:46and they're being a little bit more, you know, they're not looking to spend as much at the position
02:53as it would cost to get a Max Crosby.
02:55And so, yes, if you think that they're busting the budget,
02:58it was going to be them spending big on the first couple days of free agency,
03:00then they've shown you that that isn't the case.
03:03If it were long-term medical issues, and I don't know that to be the case,
03:09I'm just saying, and they thought, well, the doctor said he should be good to go
03:12for the next two years, would that have you like, all right, that'll work, two years,
03:17that's all I need him for?
03:19Yeah, I would be fine with that.
03:21I don't know if they would.
03:23I would think they would if you go off of what Jerry was saying at the Combine about,
03:27you know, it really seemed like he was, you know, leaning into the maximizing
03:32this Dak Prescott window, and you clearly have the offense that can get you
03:36as far as you possibly could want to go in January.
03:39Now, do you have a defense that's close enough that can fill in the gaps?
03:43As of right now, no, you don't.
03:46The roster right now is not a playoff roster.
03:49Now, obviously, they have a draft coming up,
03:50and there are other moves that this team has shown that they like trading
03:54far more than they like signing big players and competing against other teams
03:57in terms of being the highest bidder for things.
04:00So there still could be trades in the future,
04:03but if you tell me I can get two years of Max Crosby, yeah, I'm making that.
04:07I'm doing what I need to do.
04:09I'm not giving him two firsts, but I'm giving him a first and maybe something else.
04:13John Shota joining us here on the KNC Masterpiece on 105.3 The Fan.
04:17Why so many defensive tackles?
04:20From UCLA, too.
04:22That is a good question.
04:24It does make you wonder if someone that's on the current roster might not be here
04:29once the season comes around.
04:31And, you know, obviously, I'm sure you guys have seen the things being floated out there
04:34about Osa Digizua.
04:37Yeah, I don't know if something happens for sure or not,
04:40but it does seem like there's a little bit of a logjam at defensive tackle,
04:43which is kind of entertaining from our perspective because for so many years we covered a team that
04:49really didn't do much at defensive tackle.
04:51So now all of a sudden there's a surplus there.
04:54And I understand the change to the 3-4.
04:57I mean, yeah, it changes up things a little bit,
04:59but at the same time you really don't need that many defensive tackles.
05:03So I would think a move is going to be made there in the near future.
05:06What would you think the potential compensation would need to be for the Cowboys?
05:11They would take a decent size, dead money hit at $16 million,
05:14but would still theoretically come out ahead on the cap.
05:18Any idea what they would be wanting in compensation there?
05:23No, that's a great question.
05:26I really couldn't tell you exactly what that would be.
05:30I mean, I can tell you this.
05:31I didn't think that it would take a fourth-round pick to get Rashawn Gary,
05:35who posted on social media that he was basically out of Green Bay,
05:38and everybody that I know in Green Bay that covers the team,
05:41so they thought he was gone.
05:42So the compensation part of it, it can be kind of all over the place.
05:46So, yeah, I wish I had a better answer for you.
05:48You did mention you don't think this is a championship roster right now,
05:52and I'm still leaving the offense out of this conversation at the moment
05:56because I like the offense.
05:57But on the defensive side, adding Locke and Tito, those to me are two backups.
06:02Do you see any other options for those guys or advancements for them on this roster?
06:08No, I think it is to add depth.
06:10I mean, obviously what they were trying to do last year from a coaching standpoint
06:16did not work with the team, but we shouldn't act like that.
06:18It was great talent on the defensive side of the ball either.
06:22I mean, it was a great combination of some mistakes on both the roster building
06:27and from the coaching standpoint.
06:28And so you obviously get a new defensive coaching staff in there,
06:31and so there's plenty to be excited about there.
06:33I just think that this new staff is trying to provide more of what they're looking for,
06:39and it certainly seems a more multiple, particularly on the back end,
06:44guys' safety that can do multiple things.
06:45And then I imagine that they will be the same for linebacker,
06:48and I imagine that there will still be a player for another notable edge rusher.
06:52So it is interesting.
06:54It's not the type of defense that we're used to seeing from the Dallas Cowboys.
06:59And so, you know, because Christian Parker hasn't called a defense anywhere,
07:03you're just sitting kind of speculating on what his defense is going to look like.
07:07And, heck, maybe it's even changed for him.
07:09Maybe he had a whole plan for what it would look like if he got N'Kobe Dean or Quay
07:13Walker,
07:13and obviously that didn't happen.
07:14So there could be a little adjusting on the fly there about what they do at inside linebacker.
07:19And so there's still some pieces that need to be added that are going to play some key roles.
07:23I don't think that they've added a ton right now that makes me think that they don't still need
07:26a starting caliber corner, obviously at least two inside linebackers and another edge rusher.
07:32Is there a corner in mind that's still available that you're like,
07:35that's one that I would love to add to this team?
07:38There's not one that I would love, no.
07:40And to be honest with you, I said this going into free agency that I felt like this team
07:45is more likely to make a trade, and they ended up doing Rashawn Gary before they did any other moves.
07:50And I really feel like that will be the way that they, whether it be corner, whether it be linebacker.
07:55I mean, we just saw them do it last offseason.
07:57I mean, that's how they got Kenneth Murray and Kyrie Elam.
07:59Now, neither worked out.
08:00So you can easily make the argument that's not the way to go.
08:04But I'm leaning towards now with where we see the cornerback and linebacker market being in free agency.
08:10I'm leaning towards that it's more likely that trade filled those holes.
08:14Was there any part of you that was hoping, or do you think the Cowboys were hoping,
08:18when we heard that the Max Crosby deal was not going to go through,
08:21that then the Raiders wouldn't have to honor all their contracts,
08:24and Walker and or Dean would go back on the market?
08:28Because when you talk about linebackers, that is my concern.
08:32Yeah, no question.
08:33That had to be a big part of it for them, because it wasn't just them adding those two linebackers,
08:38which you had interest in, but it was that, you know, obviously Linderbaum deal,
08:41where you're like, well, they're obviously spending a ton of money thinking that Max Crosby's money is off the books,
08:46and that's not the case now.
08:47But everything that I've seen reported nationally says that they still believe that they can handle all of that,
08:53and maybe they're just saying that, but I'm sure the Cowboys would be pretty thrilled
08:57if they couldn't sign both of those linebackers just going off of how close it sounds like they were
09:02to potentially getting to Kobe Dean.
09:04Do you think this is going to, because I know everyone right now is saying all the right things,
09:08do you think this is really going to impact, like, the Ravens' standings when it comes to making deals in
09:14the future?
09:14Or do you think, kind of like Corey said, people say that now, but if you have something they want,
09:19well, then they'll forget about that.
09:21It will a little bit, but the big takeaway for me over the last, whatever it's been, 12 hours, 20
09:28hours,
09:29is that how different it would be if Max Crosby had been traded to the Cowboys and this was going
09:35on.
09:36Because Jerry Jones would be the number one thing talked about in sports right now
09:41if the Cowboys backed out of this deal.
09:43Yes.
09:43The Ravens kind of fly under the, I mean, are there a lot of people really going after Eric DaCosta
09:49right now?
09:50I mean, I'm sure his name is, I've seen it tweeted a little bit,
09:53but, like, if this is the Cowboys that backed out on that, I mean, just everybody is jumping in on
09:57Jerry Jones.
09:58I mean, they're probably talking about it on, like, Good Morning America taking shots at Jerry and stuff like that.
10:04And with the Ravens, you really don't get that.
10:06You have a little bit more cover because you don't really usually move in that way from a national perspective,
10:11and you have been, you know, a really solid organization for a couple decades now,
10:16but it would be way different if the Cowboys are one backing out.
10:19So I do think in a trade proposal, especially for a big-time player like a Max Crosby in the
10:23future,
10:23yeah, I think it's, you know, affecting the Ravens, but not like the level it would with the Cowboys.
10:29I like T.J. Bass, and I think we all love Brandon Aubrey,
10:33but it'd be pretty sweet to have a second-round pick or two, wouldn't it?
10:37That would be interesting.
10:39I don't see how a team's giving up a second-round pick for either of those players.
10:43That would be a pretty big surprise, and I think that if that was the case,
10:46I think something would have leaked out by now if that was the case.
10:49So I don't see that happening.
10:51So I maintain, I expect Brandon Aubrey to be kicking for the Cowboys next season,
10:56and there's been nothing that's happened since that changes my thought on that.
11:01And then the same thing with T.J. Bass.
11:02I just, that's a lot to give up for a guy that, now, if he had stepped into a starting
11:07role
11:07and really looked like, hey, this is a guy that, you know,
11:11he can step in immediately and be a day-one starter for us,
11:13that would be a little bit different, I guess, if a team feels that way,
11:16but that's still asking a lot for a guy that's been basically mostly a reserve.
11:20The Brandon Aubrey deal, would you expect that to come in under Kai Fairbarn,
11:26or would you expect to get a little more?
11:29I would expect it to be more than that.
11:31I mean, the Cowboys feel that he's the best kicker in the NFL,
11:34and obviously his side and his representatives feel the same.
11:38So, yeah, when you see that deal, I'm sure that his camp is fine with seeing those numbers
11:45and seeing the position value go up.
11:47That only helps them.
11:49So, yeah, when he gets his next contract, he'll be the highest-paid kicker in the league.
11:53That's what I expect.
11:54And I'll probably say that name about 30 different ways before we ever get there,
11:59but he's a Houston kicker, so I'm just going to leave it there.
12:01As far as offense goes, though, if you're sitting there at 12,
12:05is there an offensive player that you're like, okay, this is it?
12:09I'm just looking at this offense isn't getting a lot of additions in this offseason,
12:13and that makes a lot of sense.
12:14They were very good.
12:15Clayton Adams says he sees Dak underneath center more, creates more explosive plays.
12:21What are they looking for?
12:23Just kind of the Chris Young, we're going to get better from within thing with this offense?
12:28Yeah, I would be stunned if they took an offensive play.
12:30They can say whatever they want.
12:31They've never needed defense, at least since I've covered the team,
12:34as bad as they do right now.
12:36And so I don't believe that there will be an offensive player there.
12:38If there was, if you told me right now, you're like,
12:40I've already been told that as an offensive player that's going at 12,
12:43it would be an offensive tackle.
12:45I don't see them going after Jeremiah Love at 12.
12:48I don't see them taking Carnell Tate at 12.
12:51I don't see them going tight end at 12.
12:53It would be an offensive tackle, and then maybe that leads to them moving away from,
12:57I don't know, a Tyler Guyton or something like that.
12:59But I just don't think that they're going to do that.
13:00I just think there's too much, and especially with the way that they've moved these first two days of free
13:05agency,
13:06I don't see how they can go anything but defense, and everyone in the league is going to know that.
13:11And so I think there's a good chance they trade back on one of those picks,
13:14and they add a second-day pick in there because I think they're going to need more bodies than what
13:18they have right now,
13:19what they're going to be able to get early in the draft.
13:21So I do see that happening.
13:22But, yeah, I do think that they believe they're going to improve from within.
13:25And when they talk about being more under center, I do think that helps out at Terrence Steele,
13:30where I think the concern with Terrence Steele is when you're just in the gun
13:34and everybody knows you're going to throw the ball and you're going against these incredible edge rushers,
13:39I think that's where you see his weakness.
13:42Oh, okay.
13:42Whereas if you can keep those edge rushers guessing, is this going to be run or pass?
13:49Even that little split second where they're hesitant, that can be the difference.
13:53So I think that's where they feel a lot better about Terrence Steele than probably fans do.
13:58Was Sam Howell picked up as just a guy, or are they looking for like,
14:03hey, we'll see about Joe Milton, but we need a different backup quarterback?
14:08For me, it's all about when it happened.
14:10If you told me that they did this move with Sam Howell like next week or something
14:14because he was just out on the open market, I'd feel a little bit differently to do that right away.
14:19That makes me think that they want competition for Joe Milton
14:22and that they still have questions on if Dak goes down for a game or two
14:27and you need someone to kind of fill the gaps there,
14:30it seems like they still have questions about Joe Milton or why would you even make a move?
14:34You wouldn't even spend anything on another quarterback.
14:36He'd be like, Joe's our guy at two and then our three is Will Greer
14:38and we're going to keep operating as usual.
14:40But for them to add in a Sam Howell, they clearly want competition for Joe
14:45throughout training camp and in the preseason to potentially win that No. 2 job.
14:49I'm not saying that they don't think that Joe Milton still doesn't have a positive future in the NFL,
14:56but it shows to me that they still have some questions about if he is their for sure backup.
15:01All right, somebody texted this in.
15:03I would love this. I'd be perfectly good with it.
15:05If the Cowboys walked away from the first two picks with Delane and C.J. Allen, how would you feel?
15:12Yeah, no, I think that would be great.
15:14I wonder, though, if Delane's gone.
15:18That's the part where any time you do a mock draft, it seems like he's right there on the edge.
15:22And then if he does go, that's where I think that's when they move back.
15:26People are like, oh, he's talking about how you need a trade partner.
15:29I just think the value on what the trade back will be just won't be as high as it's been
15:33in previous years
15:33because I just don't think this draft is that strong.
15:35And so, yeah, you might not get that second-round pick or whatever that you got in previous years.
15:40Maybe it has to be an early third or something.
15:41But I think they would take another top 100 pick and move back four or five spots.
15:47And maybe that's the spot where they take C.J. Allen.
15:49And then let's say they have picks 17 or 18, and then you also have 20 to add maybe Avion
15:55Terrell
15:55or an edge rusher there or something like that.
15:57And so you fill two of those needs, but then you also got that other top 100 pick.
16:01That, to me, I think that's a very, very high probability that the Cowboys end up going that route.
16:07If, for some reason, they came away with Jeremiah Love and Makai Lemon,
16:11would you stop talking about the draft forever?
16:15Yeah, probably.
16:17Probably hang up the cap for a little bit.
16:19No, of course not.
16:20I think we all talk about this stuff very matter-of-factly to the point where
16:24I just wonder how much the scouting staff gets annoyed with how much.
16:29I'm sure.
16:30I mean, because it's something they're doing 365, and we all kind of jump in and act like we're at
16:36versus we watched a couple of Georgia games last year in the fall.
16:41But it's become so popular, and it's such a big lifeblood of the NFL being a 365-day business
16:46that I don't think that you can do my job or your guys' job without talking about the draft quite
16:51a bit,
16:52especially when you're in a city like Dallas.
16:53Yeah, it's very similar to Olympics every four years.
16:56We're ski jump experts.
16:58Oh, yeah.
16:58March Madness, we're filling out our bracket with complete confidence every time.
17:03Hey, we will, John.
17:04We will be on Friday at the Dallas Card Show.
17:07So when you go, are you always hunting something, or do you just kind of show up sometimes,
17:12and you're like, I don't know, I've got $300 to spend.
17:14We'll see how it goes.
17:15Yeah, definitely the second one.
17:17And I just enjoy walking around and seeing if there's stuff that I don't have that I've really wanted.
17:24You know, the thing for me is that the vintage that I really like, the price just keeps going up.
17:30So I've kind of chilled out on the Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays crowd that I used to be
17:35into a little bit more.
17:36It's just kind of climbed a little bit to a spot where I'm not really that interested in it as
17:40much.
17:40So now I'll just walk around, and yeah, if there's something good, then I buy it.
17:44If not, I have a good time.
17:46Just, I don't know, I feel like a kid when I'm there again, you know.
17:48Like, there's like this gap in my life where, like, you know, I moved away from sports cards,
17:54and then, you know, I became an adult, and then all of a sudden that pandemic hit,
17:57and it's like kind of sucked me back in.
17:59Are you going to be there on Friday?
18:02I'm not sure yet.
18:03I'm going to try and go there tomorrow for a little bit, and I'll definitely be there on Saturday.
18:07But if I'm there on Friday, I'll definitely come look for you guys.
18:09Yes, and we'll put you to work.
18:11So I don't know.
18:12Or you can just come say hi, John.
18:13That's what I meant.
18:14I don't know if that's an incentive or not.
18:16We'll talk a lot about when Patrick Ngungbo is going to come back, and we'll figure this all out.
18:21All right, John, thank you so much, as always, for the time and for all of the info.
18:27Absolutely, guys.
18:28Thanks for having me on.
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