The Dallas Cowboys continue to find a way to win by double digits in the regular season, which is no easy feat, but expectations change if they can't advance past Super Wild Card Weekend. The Packers came into Dallas in a dead-on boat race with the Cowboys, putting head coach Mike McCarthy in the spotlight despite winning the NFC East and having success in the regular season. In the end, McCarthy kept his job, but defensive coordinator Dan Quinn left to take a head coaching job with the division-rival Commanders, replaced by longtime NFL coach Mike Zimmer. .
The big offseason questions in Dallas center around the team's three stars and their contract situations. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons need contract extensions and restructuring, but Prescott's extension is likely to come first, as an extension would reduce the cap burden for the 2024 season. But how can this team get better? What additions will get them over the hump, and how will they navigate this offseason within the constraints of their current salary cap situation?
Dallas Cowboys effective salary cap space
(How much money a team would have to spend after adding a rookie class expected to be at least 51 players to the roster.)
-$13,660,043 (6th least in the NFL, per OverTheCap.com)
Dallas Cowboys pending free agency
| player | position | type | snap | Year | Current APY | guarantee |
| stephon gilmore | C.B. | UFA | 87.20% | 34 | 10 million dollars | $9.51 million |
| Tyler Biadasz | C | UFA | 86.80% | 27 | $947,350 | $494,400 |
| Jaylon Kearse | S | UFA | 76.60% | 30 | 5 million dollars | 5 million dollars |
| tony pollard | R.B. | UFA | 70.60% | 27 | $10,091,000 | $10,091,000 |
| jordan lewis | C.B. | UFA | 68.40% | 29 | $4,500,000 | $4,750,000 |
| Tyrone Smith | L.T. | UFA | 60.10% | 34 | 6 million dollars | 6 million dollars |
| dorance armstrong jr. | corner | UFA | 41.70% | 27 | 6 million dollars | 6 million dollars |
| Chuuma Edga | RT | UFA | 35.40% | 27 | $1.08 million | $0 |
| Jonathan Hankins | IDL | UFA | 32.80% | 32 | $1,317,500 | $1,092,500 |
| Trent Gieg | L.S. | UFA | 30.70% | 29 | $1.08 million | $0 |
| Neville Gallimore | IDL | UFA | 26.90% | 27 | $1,500,000 | $1,250,000 |
| dante fowler jr. | corner | UFA | 25.20% | 30 | 3 million dollars | $ 1,000,000 |
| Rico Doodle | R.B. | UFA | 20.90% | 26 | $1.04 million | $100,000 |
| Sean McKeown | T.E. | UFA | 8.40% | 27 | $1,010,000 | $0 |
| Noah Igbinoghene | C.B. | UFA | 2.30% | twenty five | $2,813,551 | $10,718,036 |
| CJ Goodwin | C.B. | UFA | 1.50% | 34 | $1,165,000 | $0 |
Dallas Cowboys' top offseason decisions/position needs
cornerback
Stephon Gilmore, Jordan Lewis, CJ Goodwin, and Noah Igbinoghene are all set to become free agents this offseason. Trevon Diggs is scheduled to return after missing most of the season, and Deron Brand also had a great breakout season and showed he can play inside and outside, but they'll be able to keep up with those two playmakers. We need to upgrade our depth and talent.
offensive line
Tyron Smith, 34, is a free agent, and so is his primary backup, Edoga Chuma. Tyler Smith was drafted as Taillon's eventual replacement, but we'll see where they want him to play after playing left guard last season. Starting center Tyler Biadasz is also a free agent, so continuity and talent up front will need to be a focus for Dallas this offseason.
linebacker
The Dallas Cowboys have selected Texas linebacker Demarvion Overshawn with a second-day pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Demarvion Overshawn had a great camp before his season ended with an injury before the start. Starting linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was out with a neck injury early in the season, forcing Dallas to play Markus Bell and Damone Clark out of position due to lack of size. Asking Overshawn to play a key role after missing his entire rookie season is a big ask, so adding a veteran run staffer to anchor the position should be on the offseason to-do list. There should be.
defense line
Last season's first-round pick Maji Smith is expected to do more, but reinforcements will also be needed. This could be a spot for the Dallas Cowboys to explore the veteran free agent market and find someone who fits into new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's plans. This is historically different than what Dan Quinn was running in Dallas last season.
run back
There was optimism heading into the 2023 season, with Tony Pollard set to take over the lead back role after the team moved on from longtime starter Ezekiel Elliott. Pollard never lived up to his preseason expectations, and while he probably hasn't fully recovered from a foot injury he suffered late in the season last year, both Pollard and backup Rico Doodle are expected to hit the open market. is.
2024 NFL Draft
Dallas Cowboys draft picks by round
Offseason trade winds streamlined the Cowboys' draft space, leaving them with only five picks before compensatory picks were awarded. Dallas holds his first three picks, but he doesn't have a 4th, 5th, or 6th round chest in the war room.
The good news for the Dallas Cowboys is that their team will have to fit in with what they could potentially get with this year's first-round pick, No. 24.
The Cowboys lost a fourth-round pick when quarterback Trey Lance arrived from San Francisco. On draft day last year, the strategy to acquire cornerback Eric Scott Jr. ate up a fifth-round pick. Finally, they sent a sixth-round pick to Houston in a trade for wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
The Dallas Cowboys own the Las Vegas Raiders' seventh-round pick acquired in the Jonathan Hankins trade, adding a late-round flyer to their draft board.
