Cowboys Weighing Their Options With DeMarcus Ware’s Contract

Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones discussed the team’s current cap situation as well as some of their high-priced players with reporters on Tuesday.

The two players who have consistently been mentioned as potential cap causalities are DE DeMarcus Ware and WR Miles Austin.

“We’re still gathering all of our information and getting the lay of the land,” Jones said of Ware’s contract, via the Dallas Morning News. “Obviously, DeMarcus had a hell of a career, but when we’re in the cap situation that we’re in and obviously counting as much as he is obviously you have to look at it along with several others.”

Jones also mentioned that they will consider their options with Austin’s contract and whether or not they’ll meet with the agents for these players at next week’s Scouting Combine.

Ware, 31, has a cap figure close to $16 million for the 2014 season and a base salary of $12.75 million. Should the Cowboys elect to release Ware outright, they would gain $7.432 million in cap space, which would go a long way towards getting them cap compliant.

Designating Austin as a June 1 cut would add another $5.5 million in cap space that could pay for their 2014 rookie class.

The Cowboys are still projected to be over the cap by $23 million, so it’s going to be interesting to see how they get this straightened out in the next few weeks.