ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys’ trend of starting free agency on a low-key note has become a source of frustration for their fan base, especially following another disappointing end to the team’s season.
Stephen Jones, the team’s executive vice president of personnel, reinforces the organization’s stance on sidestepping the rush for high-cost free agent contracts, regardless of the salary cap situation.
“I’ve always believed that during the first few days of free agency, there’s a tendency to overpay. You end up paying good players like they’re great and so on,” Jones asserted on Thursday. “We consider the market to be overly inflated at that time. That’s our viewpoint.”
The Cowboys did make a modest move by retaining cornerback Jourdan Lewis on a one-year deal and bringing back long snapper Trent Sieg.
Among all NFL teams, the Cowboys were the last to acquire a free agent from another team, securing an agreement with linebacker Eric Kendricks after his initial intention to join the San Francisco 49ers.
Kendricks ultimately chose the Cowboys for a chance to work with Mike Zimmer, the team’s new defensive coordinator and Kendricks’ head coach during his first seven seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
With the Los Angeles Chargers last season, Kendricks addresses a major need for Dallas.
It’s been over a decade since the Cowboys invested heavily in a free agent, a move that didn’t yield expected returns on the five-year, $50 million commitment to Brandon Carr.
“A lot can happen between now and our first game next season,” Jones commented. “Winning a Super Bowl isn’t something that happens in the first few days of the league year.”
The Cowboys have not reached a Super Bowl, nor the NFC championship game, since their victorious 1995 season. The latest setback was a 48-32 wild-card loss to Green Bay, marking the second time in three seasons that Dallas was the sole home team to fall during the playoffs’ opening round.
“We understand the fans’ discontent, driven by our lack of playoff success. Until we change that, we expect to face criticism. However, we remain committed to our strategy, which we believe will bring a championship to our supporters. We don’t equate going all-in to spending in free agency,” Jones stated.
Jones also addressed the topic of quarterback Dak Prescott’s contract, indicating that the near $60 million salary cap hit in the final year of Prescott’s $160 million, four-year deal isn’t restricting the team’s free agency moves.
Discussions with Prescott have been ongoing, with talks of an extension to ease the cap pressure in the near future.
Dallas faces the challenge of forthcoming expensive contracts for stars such as All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons, who won the 2021 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“We’ve been working with Dak who understands the situation and is cooperative,” Jones remarked. “We’re keeping our conversations with Dak confidential and, while avoiding a deadline, we prioritize this matter.”
Regarding eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith’s future with the team, Jones mentioned that the Cowboys have not discounted the possibility of his return, despite injury issues that have marked the latter part of his 13-year career. Smith played 13 games in 2023, the most he managed in four years.
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FAQs about the Dallas Cowboys’ Free Agency Strategy
Q: Why are the Cowboys not active in signing expensive free agents?
A: The Cowboys believe the market is inflated during the initial phase of free agency and prefer not to overpay for talent, which is consistent with their long-term team-building philosophy.
Q: What recent move did the Cowboys make in free agency?
A: They re-signed cornerback Jourdan Lewis to a one-year deal and also brought back long snapper Trent Sieg. Additionally, they agreed to terms with linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Q: Why did Eric Kendricks choose to sign with the Cowboys?
A: Kendricks opted for the Cowboys to reunite with Mike Zimmer, the team’s new defensive coordinator with whom he worked in Minnesota.
Q: Is Dak Prescott’s contract affecting the Cowboys’ ability to sign free agents?
A: According to Stephen Jones, Prescott’s contract is not limiting the team’s free agency capabilities. Discussions for an extension to help alleviate salary cap strain are ongoing.
Q: Could Tyron Smith return to the Cowboys?
A: The Cowboys haven’t ruled out the option of Tyron Smith coming back, despite his issues with injuries over recent years.
Conclusion
The Dallas Cowboys’ patient and calculated approach to free agency may not align with the urgency fans expect, but team management, led by Stephen Jones, remains confident in their strategic approach. By focusing on value and long-term roster construction over immediate high-profile signings, the Cowboys maintain a stance that they believe will lead to sustainable success and, ultimately, a championship that has eluded them since the mid-1990s. Whether this method will satisfy the aspirations of their supporters and change the tide of playoff disappointments remains to be seen, but for now, the Cowboys are staying their course.