How 'bout that 'all-in' season, Cowboys fans? Here's what's going wrong

Perhaps it's time for Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones to let someone else make the football decisions. 

In 2024, Jones has made several head-scratching moves — all key reasons the Cowboys are 3-5 after finishing 12-5 over the previous three seasons.

Here are five moves that have contributed to Dallas' disastrous start: 

Saying we're "all-in" for a Super Bowl

At the Senior Bowl in January, Jones told the media the Cowboys would be "all-in" during the offseason, suggesting they would splurge in free agency.

Jones broke his promise. According to Spotrac, Dallas has spent the least on free agents ($18.85M) in the league. 

The Cowboys' frugality is one reason they failed to upgrade their ground attack and run defense. Through the season's first nine weeks, Dallas ranks second to last in the league rushing yards (82 YPG) and 30th in rushing yards allowed (147.8). 

Not signing RB Derrick Henry

Henry certainly would have kick-started Dallas' run game. Through his first nine games with the Baltimore Ravens, he leads the league in rushing yards (1,052) and rushing TDs (11). 

In March, Henry — who owns a house in Dallas — told "The Pivot Podcast" he would've been interested in joining the Cowboys, but they never contacted him. 

After Henry rushed for 151 yards and two TDs in a 28-25 Week 3 win over Dallas, Jones said the Cowboys couldn't "afford [Henry]" That claim may be incorrect.

Henry signed a two-year, $16M deal with the Ravens in free agency. His 2024 cap number is $5.105M. Per CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry, a former agent, the Cowboys could've signed Henry to a similar deal with a lower cap number ($2.768M) if they added three void years.

Delaying deals for QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb

The Cowboys waited until the last minute to sign Prescott and Lamb. In August. Lamb got a four-year, $136M deal. Then Dallas signed Prescott to a four-year, $240M deal hours before their season opener against the Cleveland Browns. 

Prescott is now the league's highest-paid QB, while Lamb is the second-highest-paid WR. The Cowboys could've signed them for less at the beginning of the offseason. 

Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson signed a four-year, $140M deal in June, and Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love signed a four-year, $220M deal in July. Those deals increased the price for Prescott and Lamb.

Signing the QB-WR tandem earlier would've cleared cap space, which the Cowboys could've used to make a splash in free agency. 

Moving on from RB Tony Pollard, replacing him with Ezekiel Elliott

In March, Pollard signed a three-year, $21.75M deal with the Tennessee Titans. Dallas then reunited with former Pro Bowler Elliott in April.

Through seven games, Elliott has averaged a career-low 3.1 yards per carry. He's also a distraction.

Elliott didn't play in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons for disciplinary reasons. On Sunday, NFL Media's Jane Slater tweeted he was late to several team meetings and had missed three altogether.

Pollard, meanwhile, has the league's 10th-most rushing yards (622) through his first eight games. 

Trading for Carolina Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo 

Before the trade deadline passed Tuesday, Dallas sent a 2025 fourth-rounder to Carolina for Mingo and a 2025 seventh-rounder (via NFL Media's Tom Pelissero). The deal doesn't make sense.

In nine games with Carolina, the second-year WR out of Ole Miss only had 12 receptions for 121 yards and no TD catches. 

Dallas gave up too much for Mingo. The Kansas City Chiefs recently dealt a conditional 2025 fifth-rounder to the Tennessee Titans for WR DeAndre Hopkins, a former first-team All-Pro.