“We've done a good job in the draft, so we're not frustrated,” said Stephen Jones, executive vice president and director of player personnel. “I think he had 10 Pro Bowlers, he probably had 11. That, in my mind, is a great way for our organization to… [McClay]the scouting department did our job in terms of player development.
“The challenge we have in front of us with Micah, Sheedy and Dak is great in terms of them being under the cap. We're all committed to achieving that.”
Once again, that polarizing phrase is one that has defined the entire offseason thus far.
The original declaration by owner/manager Jerry Jones has since been reinterpreted and clarified by the younger Jones, stating that the Cowboys never intended to go “all in” on signing non-free agents. It was revealed.
“When you want to keep guys that you developed and worked hard to get that are playing at a Pro Bowl level, you can't just go out and chase them.” [big-money, external] He’s a free agent,” Jones added. Inflated.
“We also believe that player acquisition happens 365 days a year. It's not just the first or second day of free agency.”
On the latter point, when asked to explain the Cowboys' free agency plans going forward and in the coming weeks leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft.
“I don't think that will happen in the next few weeks,” he said. “That's what we're looking at throughout the season and throughout the season in terms of how we continue to deal with this issue. As we all know, the first day of negotiations is a big deal and it costs a lot of money. But , things are calming down.'' That's where I think we can be efficient and do good things. ”
It's worth noting that the Cowboys are also checking their pool of released talent on a daily basis, looking for any that might be of interest.
“I think it's happened in the past, whether it's through trades or like yesterday against Kendricks. I think as people move forward and work within the cap, more players are released across the league. I'm sure,'' Jones added. “You never know what you're going to see that you don't see today. With all of these things, we feel prepared to make the right decisions and we're looking forward to it.” .”
As it stands, no one can legitimately argue with the fact that the Cowboys' roster is weakened by the loss of internal talent, whether it's through free agency or outright releases (and retirements).
It's also true that the season doesn't start tomorrow, and there's still time to find the right rails to get the team back on track in what has been one of the most important seasons in recent memory. To achieve this, the salary cap will need to be revised.
Only time will tell how everything will unfold.
