The Dallas Cowboys are wise to avoid some of the money being thrown around in free agency, but their overly-conservative approach is also infuriating
There used to be a time when the Dallas Cowboys were huge players in the first wave of free agency. There were the 1990s dynasties that saw them land players such as Deion Sanders in 1995. The dynamic cornerback came in and pushed them over the top in their quest for a third Super Bowl in that decade.
They continued to land key players for years after that with defensive tackle La’Roi Glover joining in 2002, guard Leonard Davis and safety Ken Hamlin in 2007, and cornerback Brandon Carr in 2012. However, since that last big move, something has changed in the organization.
Frustrated by these moves not always working out to their liking, the Cowboys have gone from one of the more active teams in free agency to one that hibernates from season’s end until the draft. And through the first day of the league’s ridiculous ‘legal tampering’ period, Dallas again looks like a team that’s about to sleepwalk through this portion of the offseason.
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While no deals can be finalized until Wednesday, March 13, there have been several big deals struck all over the league — including some names the Cowboys probably should have had some interest in. Making matters worse, the two best fits for their team are now playing on divisional rivals.
The Philadelphia Eagles struck on Monday, landing defensive tackle Malik Jackson. They also made a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which brings wideout DeSean Jackson back to The City of Brotherly Love. Also improving was the Washington Redskins, who landed safety Landon Collins, who stays in the East after leaving the Giants.
Seeing players who could help Dallas sign elsewhere is becoming all too common, and it’s understandable that fans are starting to get infuriated with the inactivity. As for the team, the word that constantly comes out is that these players are too expensive, which is partially true.
Jackson just signed for three years and $30 million whereas Collins got a massive $84 million deal that spans six seasons. Looking at those numbers for a 29-year old defensive tackle and an in-the-box safety does seem like a lot. It especially seems expensive when you consider Dallas has several players needing new deals — including DeMarcus Lawrence who is currently in a heated contract dispute with Dallas after receiving the franchise tag for the second season in a row.
As much practical sense as it makes to avoid these moves, the Cowboys front office needs to realize their approach isn’t working. The teams who are making moves, however, are getting results. The Eagles have been aggressive for several seasons now and won the Super Bowl following the 2017 Season. There is also the Los Angeles Rams — who just landed safety Eric Weddle — who beat Dallas in the playoffs and represented the NFC in the title game last season.
If the Cowboys continue to completely ignore free agency, these teams will continue to surpass them. Drafting and signing your own is a great philosophy to have, but there comes a time when a team has to be willing to break the bank for a difference-maker.
This isn’t to say that owner Jerry Jones needs to go back to his high-risk ways of the past, but he and his son Stephen Jones — the man behind the stubborn approach to spending in free agency — need to find a happy medium. If not, there will be plenty more years of frustration and falling short.