Dallas Cowboys: Tyrone Crawford is playing for his job

The Dallas Cowboys may very well cut defensive lineman, Tyrone Crawford, if he doesn’t step up his game in 2017.

Fifth year defensive linemen, Tyrone Crawford, is widely regarded as one of the Dallas Cowboys top defenders entering the 2017 season. Yet the 27-year old product of Boise State will find himself playing for his job in 2017 or face the chopping block in the offseason.

Playing on a 5-year/ $45 million contract, Tyrone Crawford is by far the highest paid defensive line on the Dallas Cowboys. But with great pay come great expectations and it’s those expectations that Crawford has failed to live up to and may ultimately cost him his job.

This season Tyrone Crawford will cost $10,350,000 against the cap. It’s safe to say for $10M plus you expect more than the four sacks per season he’s been delivering. That’s why 2017 is so crucial to Crawford’s future.

A man of no position

At some point Tyrone Crawford is going to be seen as a progress-stopper.

You could say Tyrone Crawford is “a man of multiple positions” but since he’s never exactly excelled in any singular spot, “a man of no position” is decidedly more appropriate.

After playing defensive end in college, Crawford was moved to defensive tackle shortly after joining the Cowboys.

In Rod Marinelli’s 4-3 defense, the 3-technique undertackle is regarded as one of the optimal playmaking spots on the line. The man who played the spot before Crawford, Jason Hatcher, logged 11 sacks in his final season with the Cowboys. Crawford was expected to seamlessly replace Hatcher’s production.

He did not.

Three years later we’re still waiting for that production, with a pedestrian five sacks marking Crawford’s most successful season.

Amidst multiple suspensions to Dallas’ defensive ends last season, Crawford was asked to fill in on the edge. The move actually did him quite well. Pro Football Focus rated Crawford as the 56^th edge rusher in the NFL last season. It’s not what you expect from your highest paid linemen but it was arguably better than what he had been doing at under tackle.

Where he ends up playing in 2017 is still unknown. Many expect him to be a movable part to accommodate other, less versatile, linemen. But wherever he plays, production is a must in 2017.

Dollars and Sense

Money plays as big of a part in this as anything. If you strip away the paycheck, Tyrone Crawford quickly becomes a prized asset. But at roughly $10M due each of the next four seasons (if options are picked up), Crawford is a misallocation of resources.

More from Dallas Cowboys

Crawford is exceptionally safe this season. Releasing him would result in $17,650,000 hit against the cap. It’s next year were this becomes an option. Cutting him next offseason would result in a much-more-digestible $7,300,000 hit.

That was the dollars, but here’s the sense – At some point Tyrone Crawford is going to be seen as a progress-stopper. Defensive tackle, Maliek Collins, flashed greatness last season as a rookie, collecting five sacks primarily from the under tackle spot.

On the edge the Dallas Cowboys have promising young ends in Taco Charlton (22) and David Irving (23). Does anyone want to stunt their development with someone entering the back half of their career and has never had more than 5 sacks in a season?

If Tyrone Crawford wants to be part of this team beyond the 2017 season he’s going to have to produce nothing short of a career year. And frankly, that may not even be enough.

Next: New Expectations for Rico Gathers and Jaylon Smith

At some point Tyrone Crawford needs to meet the expectations that come with being the highest paid defensive linemen. If he doesn’t, expect the Dallas Cowboys to move on and continue their youth movement.

Home/Dallas Cowboys