The Dallas Cowboys have tried to build a championship roster based largely on the strong draft selections they have made in recent years.
Using that model, the organization has been strong enough to record three straight 12-win seasons. No, it has not good enough to reach the conference title game. But it can be argued that it is an "almost-winning'' idea.
So, in that spirit, a "Contrarian Cowboys'' view ...
Instead of altering their offseason plans, Dallas is doubling down on building through the draft, ignoring needs along the defensive line, receiver, running back, and safety room. It's left several fans and analysts frustrated over the team's initial "all-in" statement.
Do the Cowboys - maybe - have the right idea, though?
Dallas has limited cap space. But there are ways of making more. And Dallas is at present passing on those ways.
CowboysSI.com has put forth one theory: The Cowboys are approaching a 2025 "Blow it Up!'' rebuild. Consider ..
Dak Prescott's $59 million cap hit is a major chunk of the organization's resources, as is defensive lineman DeMarcus Lawrence's. What if the Cowboys are considering escaping the Lawrence and Prescott contracts, waiting one more season is all that is needed, with future cap space being allocated to other positions the team could be looking to address? Combine that with a possible Zack Martin retirement after 2024, and there is your start-over (albeit without a QB.)
There is also this: Yes, "all-in" was thought to mean big spending. But is paying top-dollar for top talent always wise? We know it doesn't always work. So maybe "winning the Super Bowl in the first week of free agency'' isn't smart.
Of course, that doesn't mean Dallas should never spent anything.
And there is this: With seven selections in the 2024 NFL Draft and three in the top 100, Dallas has an opportunity to swing big in one of the deepest all-around draft classes in league history. The opportunity to improve as positions of need will be quite easy with the current rookie class.
"Build through the NFL Draft'' can be why the Cowboys may not be willing to attach a large cap number in free agency or dish out extensions to aging players.
While there will be those who demand the Cowboys to change with the current times and become aggressive in free agency, it's understandable why the organization may be quiet over the first few weeks. Building through the draft is a tried-and-tested objective that keeps organizations competitive for years on end.
We're just offering a contrarian thought here amid all the Jerry Jones-directed hate. We can argue the logic as to why the Cowboys may be right to not give massive contracts in Week 1 of free agency, though we do come back to this: In addition to smart spending, the best teams use all avenues to roster-build.
So we wait to see what avenues Dallas plans to travel besides not buying above-market. Or, frankly, so far, even at-market.
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