The one area where Jerry Jones truly comes up short for the Cowboys

No NFL owner gets more criticism than Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. The idea of an owner also operating as the general manager has come into question by analysts, former players and coaches alike.

While it is easy to point the finger at Jones for being a poor general manager, it may not be for the reason you think. As a GM, drafting talent is a big part of the job. When you look closely at the numbers, Jerry’s draft choices tell an obvious story.

Jones drafts better than most general managers in the NFL.

Since 2015, Dallas has selected the following players who went on to earn Pro Bowl recognition:

That's 11 drafted players producing 21 Pro Bowl appearances over less than a decade. Teams that consistently falter in the NFL Draft do not generate that kind of output.

So, if the draft is not an issue, what is the Cowboys primary issue? And is Jones the problem?

Yes, Jones is still the issue.

Because despite the success in the draft, how Jones operates in free agency is a completely different story.

Very rarely does Jones make a splash in free agency. And while that homegrown talent is more important, some years you must make that big headline grabbing splash. Proven leaders from outside of the Cowboys umbrella rarely make their way to Dallas. Jones and his team are great about pushing internal growth, but they lack that veteran leadership in positions of need.

NFL salary cap analyst Jason Fitzgerald was quoted in Sports Illustrated saying the following about Dallas’ approach to free agency.

“Their use of free agency is pretty absurd. They haven’t had any type of playoff success and have been very inconsistent from season to season.”

Colin Cowherd discussed Jones previously about his lack of spending in the free agency market

“They’re not big spenders in free agency. You think of Jerry, the oil maverick, as a wild spender. He’s not. They draft and then sign to validate their draft picks.”

While that internal growth is key to developing a core roster, it places a lot of weight and expectations on young players in the postseason who have never had that experience before. Pairing these young stars with veteran leadership in key roles would be pivotal in their development. Championship teams often blend young talent with seasoned veterans who bring both production and composure.

You don't need to look any further than the last two Super Bowl champions to see the importance of supplementing a roster with free agent additions. The Eagles added Saquon Barkley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson ahead of their run to the Lombardi, while the Seahawks added Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp and DeMarcus Lawrence.

Blaming Jones for draft failures feels simple. The numbers suggest something more complicated. The Cowboys evaluate well and develop well.

Jerry Jones wins in April.

But until Jones consistently supplements that success with the right veteran presence to provide leadership on the field, they will not see themselves playing in February.