Dallas Cowboys make decision on key special teams star
The Dallas Cowboys are unlikely to bring back Pro Bowl punter Bryan Anger, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. After signing a minimum deal worth $1.075 million last season, his value has risen while the team’s cap situation gets tighter.
Bryan Anger joined the Dallas Cowboys after two seasons with the Houston Texans. Prior to that he spent three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars after going No. 70 overall in the third round of the 2012 draft.
He had one of the best years of his career in 2021, averaging a franchise-record 44.6 net average and making the NFL’s All-Pro honors as a second-team selection. Other career achievements include the NFL’s punting yards leader in 2013 and a Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team section in 2012.
Over the course of his career, Anger has 716 punts for 33,236 yards. He averages 46.3 yards per punt with 256 landing inside the 20-yard line and a career-long of 73 yards.
More Cowboys moves
Just before the beginning of the new league season, the Dallas Cowboys are making a flurry of roster moves. Between franchise tagging Dalton Schultz and resigning Noah Brown to a one-year contract, it has become a busy Tuesday morning for the Jones family.
More news has come out regarding the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott and All-Pro guard Zack Martin. Dallas has restructured both of their contracts, saving roughly $22 million for the upcoming season. Both will now be earning more guaranteed money on the remaining parts of the deal.
Prescott takes up a majority of the $22 million, saving the Cowboys $15 million himself. Last offseason, he signed a five-year, $160 million contract and fully committed to being the franchise quarterback. Even after the deal was just signed, Prescott restructured to save the team around $5 million in cap space.
As for Martin, this will be his third consecutive year with a contract restructuring. He will save Dallas $7 million and continue to be a staple on the offensive line. No matter how bad the cap situation got for the Cowboys, getting rid of Martin would never be in the plans.
With the two moves, Dallas is now under the salary cap and will be able to operate in free agency when it opens next week. This will help with the incoming 2022 draft class as well, having seven picks in late April.
Now, the two Cowboys stars will be focusing on having a better ending to the upcoming season. Both are chasing their first ring, spending their entire career in Dallas thus far.