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What Is Jerry Jones' Cowboys' Salary Cap Plan?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Mar 20, 2025 6:58 AM ET

The Dallas Cowboys' offseason has been far better than last year. In truth, the bar wasn't exactly set too high, but once again, the manner in which the franchise is doing its business is causing questions to be asked.

Last year, the franchise didn't make moves due to the "blow-it-up" theory our own Mike Fisher detailed for months, but this year, things seemed different.

First were the contract restructures of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb as the Cowboys had roughly a little over $70 million in cap space to work with.

Then, a host of cost-effective free agents were then signed with Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Dante Fowler Jr., Parris Campbell, Robert Jones, Soloman Thomas, Payton Turner, and Jack Sanborn, plus the re-signings of KaVontae Turpin, C.J. Goodwin, Brock Hoffman, Osa Odighizuwa, Markquese Bell, and Israel Mukuamu.

So that is a good start, right?

Based on last offseason, we have to say so.

But something is sticking in our paw here, and it makes for a fascinating conversation.

As things stand right now, per Over The Cap, the Cowboys still have $39,673,304 in cap space (10th-most), and we can then add roughly $10 to $13 million, give or take to that total with a Micah Parsons extension.

Why are no more signings coming in?

That is a lot of cap room to have "just sitting there," and this is where our question comes from.

With that cap space, moves for say, Asante Samuel Jr, Keenan Allen, Calais Campbell and Will Hernandez can all be done rather easily and the Cowboys will most likely still have some left over. Why hasn't the franchise been more proactive?

Right now, it's a waiting game with the Cowboys having ample cap space, but seemingly aren't in the mood to use it.

And to that, we ask, why?

That, my friends, is the $39 million question.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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