Recent comments by Dallas Cowboys Owner/General Manager Jerry Jones have Cowboys Nation slamming their fists on the table.
Jerry Jones, in an interview at the 2024 NFL Combine, was asked about free agency and whether the Cowboys are taking an “all-in” approach.
His response was, for lack of a better word…frustrating.
“So you could have a free agent, and rather than have that free agent, (he) would cost you as much as three other players would cost you. Well, we are going to be all in with the three other players. That’s all-in.”
Sound familiar? Sure does sound like the same regurgitated words and recycled thinking that have kept the Cowboys from being aggressive in free agency over the past decade.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. What happened to the uber-aggressive Jerry of the early 1990s and 2000s?
What happened to the owner who wrote a blank check to the top free agents to help him get his team over the top?
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want the Jerry who sent two first-round picks for WR Joey Galloway or years later when he sent a first, third, and sixth for WR Roy Williams.
The Cowboys have become much more responsible with their draft picks since those days, credit to Will McClay & Co.
Jerry was too cavalier with draft picks in the past, but free agency doesn’t require sending draft picks away to other teams.
Last offseason, I was bouncing off the walls with the acquisitions of WR Brandin Cooks and CB Stephon Gilmore via trade.
It was an uncharacteristic pair of moves from the Jones’, but it was enough to rejuvenate the fanbase.
It was finally happening. Dallas was “all-in”, and we were going to the Super Bowl in February.
A couple of months after an inexcusable home playoff loss to a seventh-seeded Packers team, the fanbase is again wanting an all-in approach in 2024.
Sadly, sending two late draft picks for a pair of aging veterans might be as all-in as the Cowboys’ front office gets.
With Jerry’s last comments in mind, Cowboys Nation should expect nothing different than past offseasons when it comes to free agency.
Jerry Jones’ version of all-in is far from fans’ expectations.
Today I want to list the top team needs and discuss how unlikely it is that the Cowboys will sign a blue-chip player to help fill those needs.
Free Agency
Before free agency opens, the Cowboys currently have nine starting-caliber players who saw their contracts expire as the clock hit all zeroes in their final game in January.
Those players are as follows, along with their 2023 snap percentages at their respective positions:
- LT Tyron Smith (94%)
- CB Stephon Gilmore (94%)
- RB Tony Pollard (71%)
- CB Jourdan Lewis (73%)
- C Tyler Biadasz (93%)
- DE Dorance Armstrong (42%)
- S Jayron Kearse (83%)
- DT Johnathan Hankins (43%)
- LS Trent Sieg (31%)
Don’t let the lower percentages for Armstong, Hankins, and Sieg fool you. They each play a vital part in the rotation, especially Sieg, the team’s long snapper.
Top Needs
The biggest loss has to be the cornerstone of the offensive line, LT Tyron Smith.
Smith has been a stalwart at the position for the past 13 years, protecting the blindside of both Tony Romo and Dak Prescott.
Throw in C Tyler Biadasz as a loss as well, and the Cowboys offensive line will be facing questions on 40% of their starting front.
Two of the top three starting cornerbacks from 2023 are also on the list. Stephon Gilmore and Jourdan Lewis are free agents.
Although it isn’t listed as a free-agent loss, the Cowboys were already thin at linebacker, and now have to deal with the likely retirement of Leighton Vander-Esch.
Offensive Line
Left tackles don’t grow on trees. When teams find a franchise left tackle, they should be doing everything possible to retain that player.
Question marks at the left tackle position is the worst type of questions that a team can have after the quarterback.
It’s slim pickings in the free agent market for left tackles, so I’m almost positive Tyler Smith will kick out to protect Prescott’s blindside.
This will now leave a Texas-sized hole in the interior of the line at left guard and center.
Never fear, Cowboys fans. The front office likes their guys so get ready for the dynamic duo of TJ Bass and Brock Hoffman at left guard and center.
Here are a few high-dollar names on the free agent market at those positions that there “won’t be enough pie for”:
- Laken Tomlinson
- Andrus Peat
- Cody Whitehair
- Mitch Morse
Cornerback
Another of the five premium positions, cornerbacks are important to the success of teams looking to be successful.
The NFL has become a passing league, and the days of only needing one good cornerback with a serviceable player opposite him are over.
Teams now need two cornerbacks to compete with elite wide receivers, and even a third to deal with slot players.
As it stands now the Cowboys are in better shape than most with All-Pros Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland on the boundary, but you can never have enough.
Here are some top names that Cowboys Nation would love to have, but Grandpa Jerry won’t get for us:
- Stephon Gilmore
- Tre’Davious White
- JC Jackson
- Adoree’ Jackson
Linebacker
It’s no secret that the Cowboys’ defense was missing a thumper and sideline-to-sideline presence in the second level.
Before the season started, there were already questions about depth at the linebacker position, and those questions were magnified after season-ending injuries to Vander-Esch and rookie DeMarvion Overshown.
Former DC Dan Quinn, with no outside help, tasked his safeties with playing hero ball by doing their best linebacker impression.
The instincts were there, mainly for Markquese Bell, but his physical limitations at only 205 pounds was something that instincts couldn’t overcome.
Damone Clark did his best, but he is still a young player and was often found out of position.
Overshown will be back, but recovering from a torn ACL. There is essentially no depth behind those top two.
Here are a few linebackers that should be on fans’ wishlist, but don’t expect to see them wearing a star on their helmet:
- Devin White
- Eric Kendricks
- Josey Jewell
- Bobby Wagner
- Azeez Al-Shaair
- Frankie Luvu