The mood among the Dallas fanbase is grim: Dak Prescott will very likely miss 4+ weeks, the Cowboys record is floundering, the coaching staff is uninspiring, and the front office is as frustrating as ever.
Simply put, we can’t be naive about where the Cowboys stand. Things are bad, and they will get worse before they get better.
The Cowboys are 3-5, they now have a backup quarterback starting, and Philadelphia, Washington, and Houston are on the horizon.
We may see a slew of losses coming up, and if the water goes too far over Dallas’ heads, major changes may be en route this offseason. Despite how stubborn the front office can be, it would be difficult to see them making no changes after a “tank” year.
With that in mind, it might be time to start considering what these big changes could be if the Cowboys record doesn’t improve in a hurry.
First Top 10 Pick In 9 Years
Cowboys fans have gotten in the habit of drafting late in the 1st round come April. In fact, by the time this next draft rolls around, it will be nine years since Dallas picked in the top ten.
In that draft, Ezekiel Elliott headed to the Cowboys after being picked fourth overall.
This time around, we could see another superstar college running back head to Dallas with Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
The current Heisman trophy favorite is having an incredible year, and with the Cowboys’ need at the position, rumors are already swirling about whether this could be Dallas’ next first-round pick. After all, this front office loves Boise State prospects.
Aside from the warranted Jeanty hype, a top-10 pick would be a real game-changer for Dallas because of the talent they’d be able to bring in throughout the entire draft.
The Cowboys could realistically end up with two picks in the top-40 this year, and with how depleted the roster has become, that may be exactly what they need to start getting this thing back on track.
Obviously, we are months away from having a good understanding of the draft for Dallas, but the more the Cowboys record drops, the higher their 2025 selection is.
Major Coaching Shake-Up
You don’t need me to tell you that, with the way things are going, we will likely see a full coaching shake-up in Dallas this offseason.
The Cowboys are known for keeping their head coaches around; they’ve had just two since 2012. Firing coaches is not Jerry Jones’ favorite activity, but Mike McCarthy now does not have to be fired for his tenure to end.
Just like Jason Garrett in his final year, McCarthy is in the last year of his contract. If the Cowboys want to move on, all they have to do is not extend him.
It’s hard to see him getting that extension with how this season has gone, and if that holds true, I would imagine the rest of the coaching staff would also be out of a job. This staff in Dallas is all McCarthy hires and the new guy will want to pick his own people.
With the possible exception of Assistant Head Coach Al Harris, who could be considered for the main job, and special teams coach John Fassel, we should see a full overhaul of the coaching staff.
This would include Mike Zimmer and Brian Schottenheimer, so the next head coach can hand-pick his coordinators.
Coaching staff shake-ups can be scary, but when done right, they can change the trajectory of a franchise, and that’s what Dallas needs right now.
Veteran Departures In Free Agency
Brandin Cooks, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Zack Martin could all be in their final season with Dallas. All three are free agents, and they are also 31, 32, and 33 years old. Paying those kinds of guys big money would be a mistake at this point.
It’s possible that if the Cowboys record was not as bad as it is now, those guys would still be in their last dance, considering the potentially high price tag and age.
However, that alternate reality doesn’t exist, and Dallas looks like a team positioned for an influx of young talent and a soft rebuild.
That doesn’t mean it won’t be hard to replace those guys, especially Martin and Lawrence, as they are still All-Pro level players at major positions of need, but they are both regressing some as well.
Martin in particular has not looked himself this season, and he has openly considered retirement after this season. If he does not decide to go that route, however, I can promise you teams will be lining up to pay him some decent money.
It would hurt like hell to see a Cowboys legend like him in another team’s uniform, but a $20M per year extension would hurt worse in the long term.
Dallas needs to look at itself in the mirror and recognize the opportunity at hand to replenish an organization that is desperate for change.
We’ve all heard the quote “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” If the Cowboys don’t start aiming for that high pick and moving on to a fresh start, it would be insanity.