The Dallas Cowboys are not looking to make any splashes in free agency.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team does not have any major holes to fill, and even if they did, they would not use free agency to fill them.
The Cowboys signed defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to a long-term deal, but is set to lose several key contributors to free agency. The Cowboys finished third in the NFC East last season.
But during the prior offseason, the Cowboys lost a number of key players to free agency: running back Tony Pollard left for the Tennessee Titans; wide receiver Michael Gallup and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch retired; left tackle Tyron Smith left for the New York Jets; center Tyler Biadasz, defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler, defensive tackles Neville Gallimore and Jonathan Hankins, and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene all followed defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the Washington Commanders; and corner Stephon Gilmore left for the Minnesota Vikings.
Jones assured reporters that the team is committed to developing homegrown talent, and that their free agency decisions last year and this year are part of that plan.
He pointed to 2023 first-round pick, defensive tackle Mazi Smith, as a player the team is confident will grow into a reliable contributor.
“Now, as opportunity would come up from without, then—not the draft, not from within—as opportunity comes up, we‘ll wait, and we’ll look and see the opportunity to improve on the plan, that basically both defense and offense is to complement what we’re wanting to do with a Dak-led team.”
The Cowboys have the 13th-most cap space this year, with over $50 million in room. They also have a number of gaps in the roster to fill.
Running back Rico Dowdle rushed for 1,079 yards this season but is set to leave in free agency, leaving only Deuce Vaughn and fullback Hunter Luepke in the backfield. Longtime starting right guard Zack Martin retired this week, while left tackle Chuma Edoga is set to become a free agent. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had 1,194 receiving yards, but no other receiver had more than 500, except for Jalen Tolbert, with 610. Backup QBs Cooper Rush and Trey Lance are both set to become free agents.
On defense, the Cowboys stand to lose defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, reserve defensive linemen Chauncey Gholston, Linval Joseph, Carlos Watkins, and Carl Lawson, linebackers Eric Kendricks and Nick Vigil, and defensive backs Jourdan Lewis, Amani Oruwariye, and Israel Mukuamu.
But Jones said the Cowboys would not be aggressive in pursuing outside help. “I don’t think aggressive is the right word,” he said. “I think when we see a player that can take us in a direction, that can improve where we’re going to be pretty significantly from where we’re going to be if that opportunity wasn’t there—whether it be the talent of that individual player or whether it be addressing any perceived places we need help. I wouldn’t call us really void in any area. ... I’m not looking at free agency as a place to fill voids.”
“I think when we see a part that a player that can take us in a direction that can improve where we’re going to be pretty significantly from where we’re going to be if that opportunity wasn’t there -- whether it be the talent of that individual player, or whether it be addressing any perceived places we need help; I wouldn’t call us really void in any area, void if you include what we’re going to do in the draft, I wouldn’t see that -- so as to your question in addressing free agency, I’m not looking at free agency as a place to fill voids.”
Linebacker Micah Parsons told the team’s official website in February that he wants the Cowboys to aggressively build the team through free agency.
“I don’t wanna sit back and just watch other people build and build and build, and [the Cowboys] stay the same, so we definitely need some call to action,” Parsons said. “I want to see us be aggressive, and I wanna see us get players that’s gonna help us—that’s gonna come in and make an impact. And I wanna see us bring back our own players that are just as important, and let’s see what we can do there.”
