Jerry Jones has continually been asked to explain his franchise’s 2024 inaction regarding outside augmentations. Most recently, the longtime Cowboys owner/de facto GM fired back at radio hosts — during his 105.3 The Fan appearance — when this topic came up.
Issues at running back and at both defensive end and defensive tackle have come up since training camp, with the pass-catching situation beyond CeeDee Lamb being an issue essentially since the team’s post-Amari Cooper offense revealed itself. The Cowboys checked on Davante Adams but quickly bowed out when it became clear the Raiders wanted a team to pick up his full salary.
The Cowboys still managed a 12-5 record in each of the post-Cooper seasons, but they have been on the wrong side of two NFC blowouts this year and sit 3-3 after the second — a 47-9 Lions dismantling — brought more concerns about Mike Zimmer‘s defense.
Jones already responded in the negative when asked about potential coaching or coordinator changes, showing faith this batch will craft a turnaround. Though, the owner already put Mike McCarthy in a rare lame-duck season due to how poorly the team played in a wild-card loss to Green Bay. As far as roster improvements at the deadline, however, Cowboys fans should not be expecting much. Jones told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini the team will not be active in deals before the Nov. 5 deadline.
Although the Cowboys beat the Bills by six years in trading for Cooper to spark a midseason turnaround, Jones said this Dallas team has “great personnel” and is not leaning toward an aggressive direction he once did. The Cowboys then considered the 2019 receiver free agent class to be shaky, leading to the team giving up a first-rounder for Cooper. That acquisition helped Jones’ perception given what happened following the Joey Galloway and Roy Williams trades. The Raiders import helped turn Jason Garrett‘s team from 3-4 to a making a divisional-round appearance.
That round has been a rather infamous stage for Jones’ franchise in the years since Super Bowl XXX, as the team’s streak of seasons without an NFC championship game berth has reached 28. Thanks to the Lions’ cameo last season, only Washington surpasses Dallas’ run of active seasons without an NFC title game berth. McCarthy has gone 36-15 during the past three regular seasons but is now 1-3 in the playoffs in his second-chance HC gig.
Zimmer’s defense, which has played the past two games without Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence while going the full season without DaRon Bland, ranks 27th in DVOA. More damning, McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer‘s offense is 25th despite Lamb’s big- ticket extension and Dak Prescott‘s market-resetting payday hours before Week 1’s kickoff. Following those deals, the Cowboys hold $21.7MM in cap space — seventh-most in the NFL. They are in the bottom 10 for projected 2025 cap space, however, and Parsons will then be due a monster extension.
The Cowboys ranked first in scoring offense last season; they now sit 19th. The run game, which the team did not reinforce this offseason, ranks last in total yardage and YPC (3.5). Dallas added Dalvin Cook to its practice squad but has yet to elevate the former Vikings 1,000-yard rusher. Jones has famously said he could not afford Derrick Henry, to whom the Cowboys were connected dating back to 2023, but beyond the Ezekiel Elliott signing (which has produced scant production), the team punted on the backs in free agency and did not draft one. Pro Football Focus also ranks the Cowboys’ O-line 22nd after Week 6.
Although Parsons will have a chance to come back in Week 7, both Lawrence and second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland have gone down with injuries expected to sideline them into November. Third-year DE Sam Williams is out for the season. The Cowboys signed K.J. Henry off the Bengals’ practice squad, doing so after trading for Jordan Phillips (now on IR) and signing Linval Joseph in August. Departing DC Dan Quinn also poached regulars Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Tyler Biadasz in free agency. Dallas’ run defense ranks 26th.
The collection of Cowboys rostered will face significant pressure following the team’s bye week, but Jones has said McCarthy is safe for at least this season. The team will begin its inward-focused post-bye mission in San Francisco.
They could just save all of their money by folding entirely for one or two years. Planning for cap future is one thing, but pretending to want to contend while refusing to address needs is…well, rather depressing to watch. They don’t seem to want to do anything until 2026 at best.
I am not a Cowboys fan, but handing out the highest QB contract, and second highest WR contract in one offseason isn’t exactly “not doing anything.” Whether it was the right thing to do is debatable.
Fair enough, but my comment was more aimed at what else the Cowboys have done since. They re-signed two potent contributors, and have lost a score of others-either due to injury or free agency. Their response has been to do nothing to replace those players. Depth only goes so far.
… nor the Playoffs.
Dunce
Duh
Especially after last week, no shot they should do anything. Nothing they can do mid season will make them a contender this year.
They might be better off long-term by leaning into lightly selling this year and trying to supplement the roster with cheap, affordable talent. Their top 6 cap hits for 2025 (Dak, Lamb, Parsons, Steelers, Diggs, Martin) total around $189M.