Jerry Jones, owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis that the team will spend more in free agency than ever before to end a 30-year Super Bowl drought. He admitted he's let fans down with recent poor results and vowed to borrow against the team's future cap space for quick fixes, especially on defense.
Key Takeaways
- Jerry Jones expects the Cowboys to spend record amounts in free agency after missing playoffs two years in a row.
- The team sits $56 million over the $301.2 million salary cap but plans restructures on stars like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
- Defense gets top priority with plans to 'bust the budget' there after a dismal 2025 season.
- Two first-round draft picks give trade ammo if big deals arise.
Background
The Dallas Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl since 1995. That's 30 years. Fans wait. Players grind. But results fell short lately. In 2025, they went 7-9-1. No playoffs. The year before? Same story. No postseason dance. Three straight playoff trips from 2021 to 2023 now feel like distant memory.
Defense collapsed last year. They ranked near the bottom in yards allowed. Points too. Third downs? Opponents owned them. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker steps in. He brings fresh schemes. But Jones knows schemes alone won't cut it. Talent matters most.
Past offseasons stayed cheap. Re-sign own guys. Grab bargain vets. No splashy free-agent hunts. Dak Prescott got his deal. CeeDee Lamb too. But the roster holes grew. Playoffs slipped away. Jones changed his tune. No more waiting.
And it's not just talk. The Cowboys hold two first-round picks in the 2026 draft. That's use. Trade bait. Jones hinted at deals like recent ones for Javonte Williams from the Jets and Kenny Clark from the Packers. Those moves patched spots. Now? Bigger swings ahead.
Jones turns 83 this year. Time ticks. He spoke from his bus with reporters. Voice steady. Eyes sharp. Family comes first, he said. But a Super Bowl? That's the prize. Right up there.
Key Details
Jones laid it out plain. The Cowboys face a tight cap. $56 million over the new $301.2 million limit. First step? Restructure contracts. Dak Prescott's deal tops the list. CeeDee Lamb next. Tyler Smith too. Those moves free up $66 million or so. Then hit the defensive tackles. Kenny Clark. Quinnen Williams. Osa Odighizuwa. They eat $63 million against the cap. Add void years. Push money down the road. Boom. Up to $120 million in room.
But why now? Prescott hits his prime. Lamb dazzles weekly. George Pickens wears the franchise tag. Javonte Williams just signed. Running game solidifies. Front seven? Still weak. Jones wants stops. Third-down stands. Last year they failed there often.
"I want you to know that the only way to push forward is for me to go borrow some of my future. Expect me to go borrow some of my future, OK?" – Jerry Jones
Defense eats the budget. That's the plan. Hire Parker helps. But Jones expects holdovers to improve too. Scheme change sparks better play. Still, new blood flows in. Free agency opens soon. Stars hit the market. Cowboys chase.
Salary Cap Maneuvers
Restructures carry risk. They kick pain down the line. 2027 cap suffers. But Jones bets on wins now. Prescott's career arc demands it. Lamb's speed can't wait. And that draft capital? Jones won't rule out trades. "We have the ammunition," he said. Deals like the Man City and United battle for Elliot Anderson show how clubs swap talent fast. Dallas eyes similar moves.
Reporters pressed. Jones didn't dodge. He owned the drought. Fans deserve better. Critics too. Even they see defense as the fix. "Duh," he'd hear. But he's saying it loud. Intent clear.
What This Means
Fans buzz. Hope returns. Two lost seasons stung. Now aggression rules. Free agency shifts the Cowboys from patient builders to hunters. Success? It banks on smart spends. Wrong targets flop. Cap tricks backfire later.
Playoffs beckon. NFC tough. Eagles lurk. The 49ers grind. But a reloaded defense changes math. Prescott slings. Lamb hauls. Williams pounds. Pickens stretches. Wins pile up.
League watches. Other teams adjust. Top free agents pick spots. Dallas money talks. Jones resolve steels it. At 83, he hitches his wagon to this. No half measures. Full push.
Rivals scramble. Like clubs scouting Genk trio in Europa ties, Cowboys hunt upgrades. Draft follows free agency. Two top picks land help. Trades amplify.
Players react. Locker room hums. Parker schemes. Jones funds. Momentum builds. Drought ends? Maybe. But the spend signals all-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much cap space do the Cowboys need to create?
A: They're $56 million over the $301.2 million cap. Restructures on Prescott, Lamb, Smith, Clark, Williams, and Odighizuwa aim for $120 million in relief.
Q: What's the main focus of the spending?
A: Defense. Jones wants to stop runs, win third downs, and build around new coordinator Christian Parker.
Q: Will they trade draft picks?
A: Jones says they have two first-rounders as ammo but no guarantees on deals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cap space do the Cowboys need to create?
They’re $56 million over the $301.2 million cap. Restructures on Prescott, Lamb, Smith, Clark, Williams, and Odighizuwa aim for $120 million in relief.
What’s the main focus of the spending?
Defense. Jones wants to stop runs, win third downs, and build around new coordinator Christian Parker.
Will they trade draft picks?
Jones says they have two first-rounders as ammo but no guarantees on deals.
