Dallas Cowboys: The view from the free agency sidelines
Every year, the Dallas Cowboys watch as teams spend money to get free agents. While they sit on the sidelines. But which is better – sidelines or spending?
As we speak teams are signing free agents while the Dallas Cowboys sit on the sidelines waiting. In the past, the Cowboys would have been offering large contracts competing with other teams. The problem with that is players’ production on the field doesn’t always reflect the contracts they’re being offered.
Now, people will bring up the Philadelphia Eagles and how they were very active in free agency last season and won the Super Bowl. But if you think about it, when was the last time a team did that and was able to win a championship?
Even if you brought in a ton of high-priced free agents, it doesn’t mean you will have the same conclusion the Eagles did. Just look at the Washington Redskins and New York Giants back in 2016, with splashy signings like pass rusher Olivier Vernon and cornerback Josh Norman respectively.
With the new leadership of vice president of player personnel Will McClay and chief operating officer, Stephen Jones, they have changed business as usual for the Dallas Cowboys in free agency.
Much to the chagrin of Cowboys fans, the signing of free agents from other teams to lucrative contracts has become a thing of the past. Re-signing their own veterans and drafting players has become the new approach to building their team.
Once McClay took over, the scouting and drafting departments the players drafted by the Cowboys are performing at higher levels. This makes decisions for Stephen Jones in free agency easy. Sign your free agents to keep team continuity in tack. After that, ink players to reasonable contracts that can help with depth at positions of need. I believe they are on to something in Dallas and this is how you really build a team, but it’s not for everyone.
Next: Ranking every top-10 pick in Dallas Cowboys’ history
How do you feel about it? Would you rather sit on the sidelines paying your own players or take the risk and spend the big money on a free agent that might or might not live up to the newly signed contract?
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