Here is an interesting experiment. Go to overthecap and open up the 2014 Cowboys page and the 2015 Cowboys page.
From a financial standpoint, I think Dallas actually did some fairly smart things this year. I've been saying all offseason that the Ware contract is an albatross and something needed to be done. Personally, I think you could have gotten something for him. And I probably would have taken the whole Miles hit this year to open up more cap space in 2015.
Anyway, back to my point, if you look at guys like Witten, Carr, Free.....it actually costs you money against the cap this year to let them go. Next year, you actually see a cap savings to move on from them. However, for this year, other than young guys, you get no real cap savings by moving on from people unless you tag them as June 1 cuts and push more dead money into next year.
The Ware cut, in my opinion, was to create enough space to make sure you can lock up Dez and Tyron to extensions this year. Then in 2015, you move on from some other vets (Free/Witten, Carr if he sucks again), open up a bunch of cap space and try to rebuild around youth.
Now, there are certainly plenty of things you can question. Why cut Ware to sign nobodies to overpriced contracts? No idea, but my guess is someone is trying to outsmart themselves. If this is McClay's new stroke, I'm scared. But, maybe the thought is "If we just have enough DL depth to get through the season, we can slip into the playoffs". Horrible strategy, but I could see the argument.
Anyway, I think OT is a very real possibility in this draft. I'm sure Martin is appealing because he could play guard this year and slide out to replace Free next year. I think LB is a real possibility since they probably plan to let Carter walk unless the light comes on.
Plenty to still criticize though. Dallas is always a year late addressing items. They are constantly in the mode of trying to stick their finger in a hole in the dam while others sprout up around them. Thinking their safeties are adequate is horrible. They can't evaluate the position to save their lives. I think they are once again overestimating the ability of the coaches (Marinelli) to get more out of players.