The Cowboys owner said there was no big gap to deal with with the team, and even if that was the case, a free agency wouldn’t be the solution.
The Dallas Cowboys are not looking to make a splash in free agency.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team doesn’t have a big hole to fill, and even if they do, they won’t use free agency to fill them up.
The Cowboys have signed a long-term deal with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, but are set to lose some key contributors to the free agency. The Cowboys finished third in the NFC East last season.
However, during the previous offseason, the Cowboys lost many major players to free agents. Wide receiver Michael Gallup and linebacker Leighton Vanderech have retired. Left tackle Tyron Smith left for the New York Jets. Center Tyler Biadas, defensive ending Dolance Armstrong and Dante Fowler, defensive tackles Neville Gallimore and Jonathan Hankins and cornerback Noah Igbinogene all followed Washington’s manager. Then Stefon Gilmore in the corner set off for the Minnesota Vikings.
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Jones assured reporters that the team is working to develop homemade talent, and that it will be part of last year’s free agency decision and this year.
He pointed to defensive tackle Magismith, the first round pick in 2023, as a player he is confident his team will grow into a reliable contributor.
“An opportunity arises now, so not from the draft, not from the inside, but from within, and we wait. Seeing the opportunity to improve our plans, essentially both defense and offense complement what we want to do with a DAK-led team.”
The Cowboys have 13th cap space this year, with rooms worth over $50 million. There are also many gaps in the roster.
Rico Dowdle rushed for 1,079 yards this season, but is set to leave for free agency, with only Deuce Vaughn and Fullback Hunter Luepke remaining in the backfield. Longtime right guard Zach Martin will retire this week, with the rest of the tackle Chuma Edga set to become a free agent. Wide receiver Cedeelam had 1,194 yards, but 610. No other receivers had over 500 except for both the backup QBS Cooper Rush and Tray Lance.
In defense, the Cowboys are defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, reserve defensive linemen Chauncy Golston, Limbal Joseph and Carlos Watkins, linebackers Eric Kendrick and Nick Vigill, and defensive back Jordan Lewis, Amani Oluwarier and Israel Mukuam.
However, Jones said the Cowboys are not offensive when pursuing external help. “I don’t think aggressive is the right word,” he said. “If we see players who can take us in the direction, I think we can really improve where we come from if that opportunity wasn’t there. I don’t really invalidate us in any area. …I don’t see free agency as a place to fill the blanks.”
“When we see players who can take us in a direction that can improve where we’re getting quite big if we’re not there if that opportunity wasn’t there, whether it’s the talent of that individual player or whether it’s addressing the perceived locations we need help. I don’t really invalidate us in any area. If you include what we’re trying to do in the draft, I won’t see it – I won’t see it – it’s about your question when addressing a free agency, I don’t see it.”
Linebacker Mika Parsons told the team’s official website in February that she hopes the cowboys will actively build their teams through free agency.
“I don’t want to sit down and see others build, build, build, build, and (the Cowboys) stay the same, so we definitely need to encourage action,” Parsons said. “I want to see us being offensive, and we want to see that we get players that are going to help us, and let’s get back our own players who are just as important and see what we can do there.”
