Dallas Cowboys: Three worst moves of the offseason … (so far)

As the Dallas Cowboys embark upon offseason minicamps, let’s take a few moments to review the worst moves from the 2018 offseason … so far.

On Sunday, I wrote about what I thought were the four best moves of the offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. As we strive for balance in all things, for every “ying”, there must be a “yang”.

Today, we’ll take a look at what I consider to be the Cowboys three worst moves of the offseason. We will start with the continual failure to fix what has been a problem for far too long.

No days off

The Dallas Cowboys are one of a precious few sports organizations where family members litter the front office positions of power. When you have a scenario like this, it seems ill timing, at best, to schedule a vacation during the first week of free agency. Doing so this year cost Dallas from addressing a position of need for over a decade at this point.

Darren Woodson retired in 2003. Fifteen years later, the Cowboys have tried every method possible to acquire a top end safety. No option has been successful.

So, when Tyrann Mathieu became suddenly available after being released by the Arizona Cardinals, one would think this would be a prime time to strike.

Unfortunately, the Joneses were sipping cocktails in the Bahamas while a 26-year old former All-Pro safety was out there to acquire.

Let Stephen and Jerry tell it and they’ll say they thought he would cost too much, he wouldn’t fit their scheme and they like what they have at the position.

Regarding the money situation, the Joneses were sure Mathieu would be looking for a big payday. Instead, he signed with the Texans for one year and $7 million.

Strike one.

What they have at the position is two young players and a five year veteran.  The three have combined for eight interceptions in their collective careers. Mathieu has 11 by himself. Mathieu, also a five year veteran, has more tackles and sacks than Jeff Heath, Xavier Woods and Kavon Frazier combined as well.

Strike two.

Lastly, if you can’t fit a guy like that into your scheme or maybe adjust your scheme to employ such a talent, maybe the problem is your scheme.

Strike three.

The Dez Bryant situation

Look, we can agree to disagree on whether or not releasing Bryant was the right thing to do. Dallas gets $8.5 million in cap savings by doing so but adds $8 million to their pile of dead money. Tack that on to the other $15 million in dead space and they currently have about $24 million they are paying to people who will not help them in 2018. That’s not a sound business strategy.

It also is not exactly a sound business model to let your franchise leader in receiving touchdowns twist in the wind for five months before cutting him. Treating franchise guys like is a great way to dissuade future free agents from showing interest.

Aside from all that, this team is void of a true number one receiving option. You can place blame for Bryant’s recent decline wherever you choose. What you cannot do is place 100% of the blame at his feet. This team will miss his presence this year, both on and off the field.

Farewell Big Witt

Let’s be clear. There is no way to fairly blame the Cowboys for Jason Witten deciding to retire.  So, why is this being mentioned as a negative for their offseason? The answer is in the failure to plan for this day.

Yes, I know that Witten recently said he would like to play until he was 40-years old. Sure, the Cowboys have tried to get him a running mate several times over. The problem is that if the organization was so fixated on Bryant’s decline, how did they miss Witten’s?

Witten has had fewer catches and yards for three straight years. He has not had more than 80 catches or 1,000 yards since 2012. And, if we’re being honest, he’s never really been a touchdown machine.  He has put up six+ touchdowns just twice in the last decade.

Next: Dallas Cowboys: 4 best moves of the offseason … (so far)

With the focus being on making the offense more “Dak friendly,” missing a security blanket like Witten opposes that theory. Maybe Rico Gathers can be the second coming of Antonio Gates.  Hopefully Geoff Swaim and Blake Jarwin can bring something to the table.

Regardless, maybes and hopefullys are not what you want to have to rely upon after having someone like Witten around.