–It’s not an ideal landing spot, but it’s better than it could have been.

There was fear Greg Hardy could have ended up in the NFC South, a worry that lasted until the Bucs bailed Wednesday. The thought of him chasing Cam Newton twice a year made many Panthers fans understandably uncomfortable. Of course, it would have been even better if Hardy would have been out of sight, out of mind in the AFC instead of landing in the NFC.

–The Cowboys are on 2015 schedule, but that doesn’t mean the Panthers will face Hardy.

The NFL still hasn’t ruled on Hardy’s status for next season. He remains in limbo on the commissioners’ exempt list, and many expect him to face some sort of suspension. The schedule won’t be released for another month, so we don’t know yet when the Panthers will play in Dallas. If it’s early in the season, there’s a chance Hardy could be sitting out with a suspension.

–A compensatory pick is possible, but it’s a complicated.

The formula for compensatory picks is one of the league’s biggest mysteries, and it’s especially murky in this case. The highest pick the Panthers could get for Hardy’s exit is a 3rd rounder in 2016. But it will be a while before all of that shakes out. For example, two of the stipulations to earn an extra 3rd rounder would call for Hardy to make more than $8 million and play at least 10 games next year. So we won’t know if and what the Panthers gain until Hardy’s status becomes clear, and even then, the season needs to play out.

–A one-year deal is perfect for the Cowboys.

Dallas isn’t risking much of its future by giving Hardy a one-season chance. They also protected themselves with a team-friendly contract that according to Pro Football Talk breaks down like this:

–$750,000 salary

–$1.3116 million workout bonus

–$1.3116 million in incentives based on sacks

–$9.25 million in per-game roster bonuses

In total, Hardy can earn up to $13.1 million in 2015, and yes, that’s ironically the exact number he made while playing one game with the Panthers last year. The Cowboys will ultimately pay for what they get from Hardy. How much he earns mostly depends on how many games he plays.

–A one-year deal is great for Hardy.

According to Pro Football Talk, Hardy’s Cowboys’ contract has a no-franchise/transition clause. That means he’ll be a free agent in 2016, and if he proves himself on and off the field, he could finally land a long-term deal. But if and when that happens, it won’t be in Carolina.