The initial frenzy of free agency has come and gone and the Dallas Cowboys are leading the NFL in one aspect of free agency.
Well, “leading” is a strong word. A nice way of saying it would be to say they lead the league in frugality, but the reality is they've spent less money this offseason than any other team and it's not even close.
First in savings and last in spending is not the formula that Cowboys Nation wants to see for a team that is supposedly all-in for the 2024 season.
We all should have known better than to take Jerry Jones' words at face value when he made that comment.
Shortly thereafter he elaborated on what all-in means to him, and it's a completely different perspective than the fanbase.
Jones defined all-in as being able to retain your own guys, but Dallas watched 13 contracts expire and six of those players have already signed with new teams.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter sat down for an exclusive interview with Cowboys' Head Coach Mike McCarthy this past weekend to discuss the Cowboys' lack of activity in free agency.
McCarthy shines some light on the Cowboys' offseason plans.
McCarthy Speaks
In a comfortable setting in the NFL Live studios, Schefter sat with McCarthy to discuss the Cowboys' puzzling free agency strategy.
Here's what McCarthy had to say:
“I'm a big believer in the 2nd and 3rd year jump. You know we have some young players, some guys coming off of IR (Injured Reserve), young players that we are excited about. We are definitely improving, you know. We just aren't part of the free agent market right now.”
Schefter then asked what we were all thinking:
“So is that what Cowboys fans can hang their hat on? The fact there are guys coming back that are going to be getting better because people keep waiting for the Cowboys to make moves.”
McCarthy's response:
“Well, I think that and also there's a lot left. You'll probably have a market right before the draft, post-draft. Then you have the June 1st market and obviously, we will have another draft class so I have great confidence in our roster.”
The formula hasn't changed. Dallas is operating in the same manner that they operate every offseason.
It's just magnified this season because the window for several players in their prime is getting smaller and it feels the Cowboys aren't any closer to a Super Bowl.
McCarthy Wins
With Cowboys Nation wading through the doom and gloom of the inactivity from the front office this offseason, I feel it's important to remind everyone what McCarthy has done for this team.
For the first time since the Super Bowl runs of the 1990s, the Cowboys completed three consecutive seasons of 12+ wins.
The offense has been one of the best in the NFL since the 2021 season.
McCarthy arrived in Dallas for the Covid-shortened 2020 season and the offense was on pace to set records before losing starting QB Dak Prescott to a gruesome lower leg injury in Week 5.
Upon Prescott's return in 2021, the Cowboys have finished 1st, 4th, and 1st in points scored per game.
Even after the departure of former OC Kellen Moore to Los Angeles in the same capacity, the Cowboys again finished 1st in scoring for the 2023 season.
That's a testament to McCarthy and the culture that he has established in Dallas after several mediocre seasons under former HC Jason Garrett.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel a little more confident about the team for the 2024 season after hearing McCarthy speak.
It doesn't sound like coach-speak to me. It sounds like a genuine response, and it makes me feel like maybe the Cowboys do have a plan that doesn't involve a small level of tanking.
Only time will tell.
