The Dallas Cowboys got the band back together for one last attempt at glory and it did not go well. Facing a ton of decisions over the 2024 offseason, Jerry Jones and the front office decided against making long-term investments early in the spring. Instead they let their coaching staff, almost all on the final years of their deals, navigate the summer work with giant question marks over the head of their two most important offensive weapons, QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb.
The Joneses waited until the end of training camp to ink those two to long-term deals, but the damange was done. The inactivity of the offseason served as an infection, rotting the 2024 season from the inside out. Now, with just seven games remaining on the schedule Dallas will play out the string. It’s almost assured Mike McCarthy and his staff will be replaced, making decisions on the 27 free agents on the current roster more difficult to project. The next staff will have some say in the matters, though as everyone who follows the Cowboys knows, not the ultimate say.
Here’s a look at who will hit free agency come March 2025, and whether or not Dallas should look to lock them in to be part of next year’s roster.
The future first-ballot Hall of Famer will have $27M of dead money spread across 2025 ($10M) and 2026 ($17M) if he isn’t extended beyond this next campaign.
Bring Back? If he doesn’t retire, let that man find a team that wants to win.
The 32-year old, 10-year vet will have $7.5 million in dead cap hit in 2025 unless he returns to the team.
Bring Back? How is he not in Washington the first week of March? But if not, yes bring DLaw back.
Cooks’ will count against the 2025 cap as well, $4 million, due to his void year that was used to stash cap hit.
Bring Back? Naw.
Bring Back? If at all possible. Get the line right and his metrics say that he’s a capable starting back, or at minimum tandem guy with a mid-round draft pick.
Bring Back? Yes he absolutely should get a 2nd round qualifying offer. But get him a coordinator who isn’t afraid to use him.
He’s still yet to break out statistically, but a strong 2024 could lead to untold riches that Dallas may not be willing to offer in 2025.
Bring Back? This might be the toughest one. Agent OO97 is continuously near the top of the interior list, but with so much edge talent, to never convert that into sacks feels like his pressure numbers are the result of their work, but the cause of their benefit. I’d let him walk.
So much to walk and talk about with Lance and the fact he isn’t playing despite Prescott being on the shelf for the last two weeks.
Bring Back? For $3 million or less.
Bring Back? We’re just going to drop this off here.
Bring Back? No. Too expensive. They should go for it every fourth down anyway.
Lewis returned on a one-year deal to continue his career in Dallas. Will he return with a fourth Cowboys’ contract? Lewis is one of those players who has excelled under every staff. He should be one of those, “I can’t believe he got to be with Dallas for life” guys.
Bring Back? Yes.
If Kendricks has an interest in continuing to play, I like him as a backup and continued mentor for the linebacker corps, even without Mike Zimmer as the DC.
Bring Back? Yes.
Bring Back? No.
Bring Back? No.
Bring Back? Yes.
Bring Back? No.
Probably the lone “surprise” guy on the defense, Golston has emerged from bust to serviceable and should be available as a depth guy on the cheap.
Bring Back? Yes.
Bring Back? No.
Bring Back? Yes as back-end depth.
Bring Back? Yes as a right-of-refusal qualifying offer.
Bring Back? Yes as a right-of-refusal qualifying offer.
Bring Back? Yes as a right-of-refusal qualifying offer.
Bring Back? Yes.
Bring Back? No.
Bring Back? No.
Bring Back? Yes.
Bring Back? Yes, he’s flashed enough to return as a camp consideration.
Bring Back? No.