Four out of eight ESPN analysts named the Dallas Cowboys as the team that took the biggest step backward following free agency. The Cowboy s didn’t do much in free agency to show they were “all-in,” as owner Jerry Jones said they would be.
The Dallas Cowboys added one outside player
The Cowboys’ only outside signing in free agency was linebacker Eric Kendricks, who was necessary for Dallas because of Leighton Vander Esch’s retirement. However, the real problem for the Cowboys hasn’t been their unwillingness to add outside help to improve their roster; it’s been losing the talent from their 2023 roster.
Running back Tony Pollard, left tackle Tyron Smith, and center Tyler Biadasz have signed with other teams. Jones tried to save face by saying he wanted to keep the Cowboys’ core intact when he meant “all-in,” but that hasn’t been the case.
The Dallas Cowboys lost core players
ESPN is calling them on it. Jordan Reid and Mike Tannenbaum were two of four ESPN writers who suggested that the Cowboys had taken the biggest step backward in free agency. Three writers think the Baltimore Ravens took a major step back, and one writer has the Buffalo Bills as trekking backward. Reid and Tannenbaum cite the Cowboys as now having issues at several key positions:
Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst: Cowboys. They have lost key players and have failed to replace them so far. Not re-signing Tyron Smith creates a huge void at left tackle, and allowing Pollard to hit the open market without a succession plan was also questionable. The draft is still yet to happen, but it places a lot of pressure on hitting on those draft picks to replace players that were an integral part of the team’s success.
Mike Tannenbaum, NFL front office insider: Cowboys. They still have needs at left tackle, center, running back, defensive tackle and receiver. While a lot of their resources will be tied up in extensions for Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, it was surprising not to see them make a move on Henry or AJ Dillon. They deserve credit for outstanding drafting and patience in the past, but they’re going to need an almost perfect draft to fill all of their needs.
Has the Super Bowl window passed the Cowboys?
The Cowboys have seven draft picks slotted for April. Their first pick is at No. 24, and they have just two more inside the top 100. The Cowboys aren’t likely going to be able to replace all of the positions Tannenbaum named in the draft as Day 1 starters this fall.
The team will likely be less competitive in the 2024 season and will use this season to rebuild for another run when they figure out their quarterback situation. The Super Bowl window passed in 2023, and they didn’t get through the NFC Division round.
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