In 2024, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves in a precarious position that owner Jerry Jones aptly describes as "up in the air." While the team has consistently qualified for the postseason with at least 12 wins over the last three seasons, they have yet to break into the conference championship round. This comes amidst significant financial and contractual hurdles that the team must navigate to sustain its success.
Financial Strain and Key Contracts
The financial strain on the Cowboys is undeniable, with quarterback Dak Prescott posing a $55.1 million cap hit in 2024, the league's second-highest. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is not far behind, carrying a $17.991 million fifth-year option. Lamb has chosen to opt out of both the spring offseason program and training camp, signaling his dissatisfaction with his current contract. According to Stephen Jones, Lamb aims to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, aspiring to surpass Justin Jefferson’s $35 million per year deal.
The Cowboys have yet to take actionable steps to address the expiring contracts of several major players, all set to lapse by 2025. This inaction adds another layer of complexity to an already tangled web of commitments. Notably, Mike McCarthy and his coaching staff are also in the final year of their contracts in 2024, further contributing to the urgency of the situation.
Past Moves and Current Risks
Last year, Zach Martin held out briefly during camp to resolve his contract issues. Though his situation was settled, it serves as a reminder of the kind of turbulence that Dallas can ill afford right now. The team re-signed Ezekiel Elliott to a six-year, $90 million extension before ultimately deciding to release him in the 2023 offseason, another move that indicates the high stakes involved in managing player contracts.
"I know that I have had a lot of mistakes in these years," admits Jerry Jones. "But the same imagination, the same risk-taking, the same taking risks but being pragmatic, that's how we got here. I don't know for sure if it's going to work. But I am giving it everything I've got."
Strategic Dilemmas
The Cowboys face a unique organizational challenge as the only NFL team where the owner’s family runs the day-to-day football operations. Stephen Jones disclosed that the team saw the highest rate of season-ticket renewals he has ever seen, reflecting unwavering fan support despite ongoing uncertainties.
The Cowboys have a storied history with only two general managers: Tex Schramm and Jerry Jones. This historical continuity contrasts starkly with the current climate of apprehension and tentative planning. "I think the Cowboys have had two GMs ... Tex Schramm and me. Two. In the history," Jerry Jones reflects, emphasizing the long-standing nature of his leadership.
The Road Ahead
The stakes are particularly high for both Prescott and Lamb, each entering the final year of their deals in 2024. For the Cowboys, this is not merely about securing wins but about reshaping their future while contending with a formidable cap situation. Jerry Jones sums up the uncertainty: "We’re option-quarterbacking, and we’re going out toward the sideline, and we haven’t handed it off or pitched it. That's what we're doing. We're waiting for something to happen in the morning."
The Dallas front office's failure to address expiring contracts hints at a broader issue of strategic foresight. As the organization navigates these choppy waters, the key question remains: can the Cowboys leverage their long-standing strengths to break their 13-year streak of playoff appearances without reaching the conference championship? Only time will tell if Jerry Jones’s risk-taking philosophy will finally pay off in a significant way.
"I listen to the people around me. Otherwise I wouldn’t be sitting here," Jones states frankly. His words encapsulate the careful balance Dallas must strike as they prepare for another crucial season, aware that each decision carries significant ramifications for their future.