Earlier this offseason, Dallas proprietor Jerry Jones indicated the Cowboys would splurge, claiming they might go “all-in.” Now he is altering his tune.
On the annual league assembly in Orlando on Sunday, Jones expanded on the crew’s offseason philosophy and acknowledged they need to do extra with much less in 2024.
“I believe that we now have been in a state of affairs the place we will get it achieved with lesser,” he stated, through Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Price Star-Telegram. “Extra would not essentially beat Inexperienced Bay. There are different issues. Perhaps having it higher strategically in several spots, however greater than essentially beat them, both. So we’re gonna be requested to do some issues totally different as a result of we acquired some totally different gamers.”
Making a splash in free company would not all the time lead to a Tremendous Bowl. For instance, in 2023, the Denver Broncos spent essentially the most in free company ($259.48M), per Spotrac, and missed the playoffs for an eighth consecutive yr.
Nevertheless, the Cowboys had been too frugal throughout the first wave of free company. They let six starters stroll, together with former Professional Bowlers operating again Tony Pollard (Titans) and offensive deal with Tyron Smith (Jets), and have not re-signed cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Dallas signed former Professional Bowl linebacker Eric Kendricks to a one-year, $3M deal — its solely addition up to now.
Austin Mock of The Athletic named the Cowboys as one of many 5 largest losers in free company. In his projection mannequin — which measures how gamers have an effect on a crew’s level unfold in a sport — Dallas misplaced 12.8 factors, the fourth-most within the NFL.
Spotrac estimates the Cowboys solely have $4.99M in cap room, however they may’ve saved $35.72M in the event that they prolonged Professional Bowler broad receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott, each getting into the ultimate yr of their contracts.
Together with Prescott, head coach Mike McCarthy has one yr left on his deal. Maybe Jones needs to see if they will carry a crew to find out their futures. Nevertheless, that is a substantial danger and will result in a regression after the crew gained 12 or extra regular-season video games and two NFC East titles over the previous three seasons.
