Stephen Jones: Cowboys' inactivity in free agency doesn’t mean team isn’t still all-in
Three days into the start of the new league year, Dallas Cowboys fans likely feel lied to after team owner Jerry Jones implied at the Senior Bowl in January that the team would be major players in free agency.
But to date the Cowboys' only free-agent moves have consisted of signing linebacker Eric Kendricks to a one-year deal and bringing back long snapper Trent Sieg plus cornerbacks Jourdan Lewis and C.J. Goodwin all on one-year contracts.
Dallas’ dormant approach to the start of free agency has prompted a visceral reaction from fans on social media who have called out the front office for sitting idly by as most of the top free agents flew off the board and not making good on its promise to be all-in.
“We are going to stick with what we believe will ultimately get us a championship for our fans,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said, via The Athletic. “We don't define all-in by what you spend in free agency. It's keeping the core [together].”
Three key pieces from the Cowboys' 2023 roster — running back Tony Pollard (1,005 yards, six touchdowns), center Tyler Biadasz (1,123 offensive snaps, three sacks allowed) and defensive end Dorance Armstrong (7.5 sacks) — have all signed elsewhere.
Dallas seems to be no closer to signing their replacements or filling any other glaring areas of need like offensive tackle, linebacker or defensive tackle, stirring up some feelings of unrest among a fanbase waiting to see what going all-in actually looks like.
“Everybody certainly has that right [to be frustrated],” Jones added. “I know where the frustration is; it's the fact that we have not had a lot of success in the playoffs to their satisfaction. Until we do that, the criticism is certainly something that's going to be there.”
As the Cowboys play the wait-and-see game, the other three teams in the NFC East have seemingly upgraded their rosters.
The New York Giants signed running back Devin Singletary, backup quarterback Drew Lock, plus offensive linemen Jon Runyan and Jermain Eleumunor. The Philadelphia Eagles added star running back Saquon Barkley, edge-rusher Bryce Huff and wideout DeVante Parker.
The Washington Commanders poached Armstrong and Biadasz from the Cowboys, and they added running back Austin Ekeler, linebackers Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner, and safety Jeremy Chinn.
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