At the annual league meeting Sunday, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defended his reasoning for not keeping a vital piece of the offense around for the 2024 season. The Cowboys have been heavily criticized for a boring free agency this offseason.
Star Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons said earlier in his offseason he wanted management to literally put their money where their mouth was when it came to winning a Super Bowl. Parsons wanted help on the interior defensive line and at linebacker. The only offseason signing in free agency from outside Dallas was linebacker Eric Kendricks, brought in to replace a retiring Leighton Vander Esch.
Jones said before free agency the Cowboys would be “all-in” this season. He walked back his comments days later by saying “all-in” meant keeping core players.
Jerry Jones doesn’t have money for the 2023 core
But core players like Tony Pollard and Tyron Smith left in free agency. Jones was asked about losing left tackle Smith to the New York Jets. According to Clarence Hill Jr. with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jones said the Cowboys couldn’t afford to keep Smith on the team for the 2024 season.
Jones was afraid Smith would hit too many incentives this season. The Cowboys plan to try offensive guard Tyler Smith at left tackle.
Jones is correct about the Cowboys’ cap being shallow. They have $5 million in cap space before the draft. They could have worked to clear enough cap space for Tyron by extending some contracts and restructuring others. But the plan isn’t to run it back with the core from the 2023 season.
Jones wasn’t being honest about being “all-in” for 2024. He wants his money to be spent on a team with a better chance of winning a Super Bowl.
