Dallas Cowboys

Record: 7-10 (3rd in the NFC East) 

Coach: Vacant

The Dallas Cowboys season was once again filled with unfathomable losses, a Dak Prescott injury, and a lack of an identity. This led to a similar result to the previous 4 seasons. The Cowboys fell on their face and there’s only one man to blame. The scapegoats are the usual suspects for Dallas. Mike McCarthy was fired, Dak Prescott and the defense were blamed for the team’s struggles but here is the bottom line, the Cowboys have a Jerry Jones problem.

Dallas has been a dumpster fire in so many ways for years. With the Commanders moving on to the NFC Championship the Cowboys have become the team with the longest title drought in the NFL. America’s team last dared to show their face in the NFC Championship in 1996. Now they sit with a talented roster, with some major holes and no coach. I could go into all the nitty gritty details of what Dallas should do coaching wise and what signings they need to make but lets be honest they probably aren’t going to happen.

Jerry is getting cheaper by the year. How cheap you ask, cheap enough to bench Cooper Rush a few snaps short of a 500,000 bonus. Cheap enough to not sign anyone in free agency last year. And now we are supposed to expect him to wake up from his dream that it’s still the 90’s and actually spend money on talent. I don’t see it happening. 

Here’s the deal, the Cowboys have negative 4 million in cap space. This of course means some money will have to be moved around or Jerry will have to take out of his own pockets if the boys want a big free agent. This is not happening. Cowboys fans need to prepare for the idea of losing Zack Martin and signing a mediocre guard to replace him cause it looks better on Jerry’s books. And any fans dreaming of getting Tee Higgins or Javon Holland are even more delusional than Mr Jones, cause they are not coming. This team will once again be cutting corners and looking around for where success went. 

As far as the coaching hire goes I think that there are plenty of candidates who would love to coach this Cowboys roster. However, I don’t think Jerry cares about that as much as getting a guy who lets him meddle with every decision known to man. Jerry Jones wants a puppet not a head coach. I’ve heard Aaron Glenn and Robert Salahs names being thrown around, and while they would be great hires I can not see either of them bending the knee to Jerry. I expect Dallas to hire someone like Kellen Moore or Deion Sanders, two guys who already know Jerry and will either put up with or at least know how to work around his antics. 

Then there is the draft. The Cowboys hold the number 12 pick in the first round and are in prime position to take generational running back talent Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty has come out publicly and said he wants to be a Cowboy. He is Texas born and raised and after a few years at Boise State I’m sure the young phenom would love a homecoming. That being said I hope they don’t take him. I am not prepared to watch another top 5 running backs career get wasted on the Cowboys. They did it with Zeke and they will certainly do it with Ashton as well. The best case scenario for Dallas is taking Jeanty at 12 but the best case for NFL fans is for them to target anyone else. 

This includes Tennessee EDGE James Pierce Jr, or Mizzou WR Luther Burden III. The Cowboys could use some depth at the EDGE and WR positions so either of these would be a huge boost to the roster. I would also look out for the Cowboys to take Will Campbell with the potential loss of Zack Martin. Though Campbell is a tackle the Cowboys could slide some guys around and figure out a combo that works for them. 

Unfortunately the Cowboys are trending toward another lackluster season. They will probably get lucky with their first round pick, as they always do and get a genuine talent to help them out but will still be lacking in other areas. Injuries will most likely pile up and there will be minimal depth to take over. Jerry Jones is what is standing in between Dallas and another title appearance and until he gives up control this team will continue to be worse off. Buckle up Cowboys fans it’s going to be a rough offseason.